Theology Thursdays: Black Catholics Cite Methods To Counter Abortion Problem by Joseph Kenny

The Archdiocesan Committee for the National Black Catholic Congress is suggesting actions Catholics and others can take in support of abortion awareness month in the black community.

The June observance was sponsored by Black Americans for Life, an affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee. The 2004 theme was "Join us as we restore hope and save our race from the evil of abortion."

"There are nearly 1,200 African-American babies killed by abortion in America every day," said Franciscan Father Jim Goode, president of the apostolate.

"Approximately 35 percent of all abortions in America are performed on black women, while they represent only 13 percent of the female population of the country."

Material from the archdiocesan committee points out that abortion has caused twice as many deaths in the black community as crime, cancer, accidents and AIDS combined.

The suggestions include:

Pray the rosary to end abortion.

Join the Archdiocesan Pro-Life Committee for an 8 a.m. Mass the third Saturday of each month at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.

Learn the facts about abortion and read the Church’s teachings.

Help a pro-life pregnancy center.

Start a parish outreach ministry to help pregnant women in need.

Promote Project Rachel and other post-abortion ministries that help men and women hurt by abortion.

Sign up with the National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life.

"Black Catholics will not remain silent," Father Goode said. "Together we must pray, educate, motivate and mobilize the African-American community against the evil of abortion."

A brochure for abortion awareness month in the black community noted that the 14 million black children who have been aborted since the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision equals the combined population of eight Midwestern states.

"A disproportionate number of the nation’s abortion clinics are located in low-income and minority neighborhoods, where a majority of African-Americans live," the brochure said.

During June at every Mass and event in the black Catholic community, the apostolate is asking that the faithful offer prayers and distribute literature on the call to save the African-American community "from the evil of abortion."

For more information, call the Archdiocesan Committee for the National Black Catholic Congress at (314) 792-7648 or write to gcrimm@archstl.org.


Joseph Kenny is a staff writer for The St. Louis Review where this article appeared

Thursday, July 1, 2004