I was excited to read that at least 1,000 members and students of the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross community went to Washington, D.C. for the 2018 March for Life. To my disappointment, I later read a Viewpoint opposing the March for Life.
Take a close look at the billboards surrounding the Michiana area and you will see a number of Right to Life advertisements supporting women and offering them assistance if they do not have the needed support from family and friends. You will likely hear other advertisements as well, like this one I ran across while listening to Live 99.9 radio.
It’s important that men and women, regardless of religious belief, step up and support the precious and innocent lives of the unborn. That breath you just took — let’s not throw away something that many of us take for granted every day.
There are options out there that are safer and more ethical than abortion and contraceptives. Natural Family Planning classes have their arms opened wide to the public. The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend and Saint Joseph FertilityCare Center are just a couple right here in our area.
Let’s not forget about all of these Women Care Centers, including Hannah’s House. These programs are not just for women, either. Fathers-to-be hold an equally important role in the birth and growth of a child, and there are resources out there for them as well.
Adoption is another great resource if a couple is not ready to raise a child. Families who cannot have children of their own, or simply want to expand their family and give a child a better life, will be floored to adopt what very easily could have been an aborted child.
So what does a human life mean to you? I hope that we all can better appreciate the decision our parents made for us by understanding the facts and options readily available. Maybe then we will know that each day is a gift. Let’s give this gift, this adventure we call life, to the unborn.
Jenae Newberg class of 2014 Jan. 19