In 1970, Norma McCorvey, desiring
to terminate her third pregnancy, filed a law suit under the pseudonym "Jane
Roe," challenging Texas laws criminalizing abortion. The case eventually reached
the U.S. Supreme Court as the now-famous Roe v. Wade.
Norma describes herself as being relatively ignorant of the facts of her own case. She claims to not being aware of all the implications of abortion or even what the term itself meant. Nor did she realize the process would end a human life. In the end, she never did have an abortion but gave her baby up for adoption.
Norma describes herself as being relatively ignorant of the facts of her own case. She claims to not being aware of all the implications of abortion or even what the term itself meant. Nor did she realize the process would end a human life. In the end, she never did have an abortion but gave her baby up for adoption.
Around 1992, she began to work at abortion clinics, until in
1995, a pro-life group moved into the same building as the clinic. This led to a series of encounters between
Norma and pro-life activists. It was the
7-year-old daughter of one of the pro-lifers, who in a particular way affected Norma. Norma
eventually started going to church and began to reject her past involvement
with the pro-abortion movement.
Since her conversion, she has dedicated herself to pro-life
work, starting her own ministry, "Roe No More," in 1997. She continues to speak out against abortion
and for life and in 1998, she became a Catholic convert working to overturn Roe
v. Wade.[1]
What will God remember about Norma McCorvey when she passes
from this life?
Today’s first reading celebrates the potential of
conversion. Ezekiel takes up the case
first of a sinful person who repents and changes his life—and then of a
virtuous person who turns from the path of righteousness. He offers hope by emphasizing individual responsibility
for choosing to make a personal commitment to abide in God’s law. While there’s a warning, there is also the reminder
God has nothing to gain from the death of the wicked. God rejoices when someone
turns away from evil to do good.[2]
God does not want us to simply give lip service to what we
believe. The rituals and words we participate in today must be real for us. The
confiteor, prayers of intercession, the Eucharistic prayers and the Our Father, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us," all must
challenge us to take the words of Mass and the Lord’s words seriously. When we say, “I confess to you, my brothers
and sisters,” or “Lord, I am not worthy,” we are making a choice to commit to and affirm
our own continual conversion.
We are not called to simply listen without being changed. We are obliged to do as St. Augustine advises:
“…become what we have eaten.” To
illustrate the endless demands of such love, Jesus prohibits our making an
acceptable offering to God while knowing that a brother or sister has anything against
us.[3]
The priority is to be reconciled with one
another and to rejoice over a sinner’s conversion.
[1] The
Mystical Humanity of Christ Publishing. “Here are 10 of the
Most Unexpected Catholic Conversion Stories” by Sara & Justin Kraft.
[2] Weekday HomilyHelps. Exegesis by Dr. Mary Ann
Getty.
[3] Ibid. Homily Suggestion by Jeanne Hunt.
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