Tag: pregnancy

On
Fr. Donald Lange

Supporting the rights of the unborn

When I taught religion at Beloit Catholic High, I invited pro-life speakers to give talks. I especially remember a pro-life doctor who described the tragedy of aborted babies. During his talk, he wept. Each tear convinced us that he truly believed that unborn babies were persons. Aborting them was destroying human lives.

Tears flowed from the eyes and hearts of committed pro-lifers when on January 22, 1973 in the Roe v. Wade decision the Supreme Court legalized abortion. Their ruling made it legal for mothers to abort their unborn baby.

The Church position on life

In no. 2270 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church it says, “From the first moment of existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person . . . among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.” The Church’s position, which recognizes the individual as human from conception until death, is supported by natural law.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Pregnancy Helpline promotes diaper collection

MADISON — Through the effort of Pregnancy Helpline of Madison and the National Diaper Bank Network, the week of September 8 to 14 has been proclaimed Diaper Need Awareness Week in Wisconsin as a result of the great amount of needed support.

People are encouraged to aid this critical issue by donating funds or diapers during Diaper Need Awareness Week. Diapers can be dropped off at three Madison Shopko stores September 8 to 14. Diapers can also be brought to the Lil Badger Consignment Sale in Monona September 11 to 13.

Donations can be made online at www.pregnancyhelpline.net

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On
Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

Is artificial insemination wrong? Even among married couples?

Editor’s note: This column contains some information that might not be suitable for younger readers.

Artificial insemination introduces sperm into a woman’s body by use of a thin tube (cannula) or other instrument to bring about a pregnancy.

Artificial insemination can be either homologous (using sperm from a woman’s husband) or heterologous (using sperm from a man she is not married to). Both forms of artificial insemination raise significant moral concerns.

Treating people as objects

Bringing about a pregnancy by introducing a cannula through the reproductive tract of a woman and injecting sperm into her body raises concerns about reducing her to a kind of conduit for the purposes of obtaining a child.

These actions fail to respect the most personal and intimate aspects of a woman’s relational femininity and her sexuality. She ends up being treated or treating herself as an “object” for the pursuit of ulterior ends.

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On
Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

Facing difficult moral decisions

Making Sense out of Bioethics column by Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

CNN recently profiled the case of a woman named Marlise Munoz, who was both pregnant and brain dead.

Its report noted that Mrs. Munoz was “33 years old and 14 weeks pregnant with the couple’s second child when her husband found her unconscious on their kitchen floor November 26. Though doctors had pronounced her brain dead and her family had said she did not want to have machines keep her body alive, officials at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, argued state law required them to maintain life-sustaining treatment for a pregnant patient.”

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Allow free speech in Madison: Common Council should vote against buffer zone

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

Last fall, a couple leaving the Planned Parenthood Clinic in Madison stopped at the driveway to tell the sidewalk counselor with Vigil for Life that they were going to keep their baby.

Vigil for Life volunteers didn’t know if this couple had come to the clinic for a pregnancy test or for an appointment for an abortion. In any case, these parents chose life for their baby.

Praying and working for a change of heart

In an email named “Baby Saved,” sent to volunteers after that incident, Bette Weisshaar, then director of Vigil for Life-Madison, said, “That’s why we’re out there — to pray for a change of heart, for God’s graces to show them a way other than abortion. Our prayers on the sidewalk are offered for parents, that they will choose life for their babies . . . and that’s exactly what happened today!  Praise God!”

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On
Alissa Hirscher, For the Catholic Herald

Pregnancy Helpline seeks new volunteers

MADISON — Need a purpose? Want to impress your mom? Looking to make a difference in your community?

We know people volunteer for a variety of reasons. This fall, consider doing all that with the Pregnancy Helpline (PH).

Answer calls from home

PH is looking to increase the number of volunteers who staff its phones.

“The nice thing about answering calls on our Helpline is that you can answer all calls from home,” says Jessica Vinson, Pregnancy Helpline phone volunteer coordinator and member of St. Ann Parish in Stoughton.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Pregnancy Helpline Sharing Center relocates to CMC, schedules open house

MADISON — The Pregnancy Helpline (PH) Sharing Center has relocated to the Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC), 1862 Beld St., in the lower level.

To celebrate its new location, PH will be holding an open house on Saturday, May 4, from 2 to 4 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

“We are so pleased to be in this beautiful location, partnering with an organization that has a similar mission to ours — to serve all people in a holistic and caring way,” said PH Executive Director Alissa Hirscher.

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