Bishop calls for renewed commitment to 'winning hearts' in efforts to stand up for life

By Julie Asher

WASHINGTON (OSV News) -- Bishop Earl K. Fernandes of Columbus, Ohio, called for a renewed commitment to "winning hearts and converting people more deeply to the love of Jesus Christ" in efforts to end abortion, support expectant mothers in need and protect life at all stages.

More also must be done to help Catholics form their conscience on the issue of abortion because he fears that in "over 50 years of legalized abortion, the conscience has become dull," he said in his homily at the early morning Mass Jan. 19 to close the National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.

Bishop Fernandes was the main celebrant of the Mass, joined by concelebrants Bishop John O. Barres of Rockville Centre, New York, and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph L. Coffey of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services.

The vigil is held each year the night before the annual March for Life, and also begins with Mass. This year the main celebrant of the Jan. 18 evening Mass was Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities. Following the Mass, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, a former pro-life committee chairman, led the National Holy Hour for Life.

Over the years, the pro-life movement has experienced both light and darkness, successes and failures, Bishop Fernandes said, echoing Bishop Burbidge's homily from the night before.

"From the first appearance of the Savior … there are always forces of darkness bent on extinguishing this light, destroying this life," the Ohio bishop explained. "One need only think of King Herod who ordered all the innocent children to be slaughtered rather than rejoicing at the birth of a child he cared little for. (He) cared only for his rights and his power and so there was this dark force opposing the light."

"In January of 1973, there was the infamous Roe v. Wade decision," legalizing abortion nationwide, he said. "Then we had the Dobbs decision, and I thought finally the people in darkness have seen a great light."

The Supreme Court overturned Roe with its June 24, 2022, ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, returning abortion policy to the states.

"But as Bishop Burbidge preached last night, sometimes you have victories and sometimes setbacks," Bishop Fernandes said. "In my own beloved state of Ohio since the Dobbs decision, abortion has been enshrined in our constitution. So too in Michigan, and (in) state after state, (ballot) initiatives have been lost by pro-life forces. Sometimes we wonder how could this have happened?"

"We must accept our responsibility for our failure at times to proclaim the Gospel of life and the fullness of the Gospel in its integrity," he said. "We must accept responsibility and ask God for his mercy for the times that we not only have not treated unborn life with respect, but even the life of children and minors. We must accept responsibility for our failure to properly form conscience(s), especially of Catholics, because over 50 years of legalized abortion, the conscience has become dull."

"But in the light of these defeats, do we simply give up?" he asked.

Christ "fell three times under the weight of his cross, but he got back up," he said. "Even after defeats we get back up and we march for life in radical solidarity with women and children, and radical solidarity with unborn children, who are the weakest and most vulnerable members of our society. … Why? Because God is the author of life. He created man and woman in his image and likeness, all of us share the same human nature and have inherent dignity. Every person is willed by God, loved by God, created for love. Every life matters and that is why we march."

Bishop Fernandes warned against being indifferent about the cause of life or thinking, "I am too busy. It's somebody else's problem."

He recounted the parable of the good Samaritan. A priest and a Levite are the first two people to see a beaten man and they pass by, thinking, "What will happen to me if I stop to help? Perhaps I will be beaten and robbed. I will lose friends, lose respect," the bishop said.

"The good Samaritan," he said, "asks a different question, 'What will happen to him if I do not stop?' We cannot be indifferent to the plight of unborn children or to mothers who are looking for help, looking for a network of support."

Don't be afraid "to boldly proclaim the Gospel of life," he urged.