Faith and Choice

When there is discussion about issues like abortion, assisted suicide, and LGBT issues, often one of the arguments used regarding other people being allowed to choose these things is the argument of choice.  People using this argument will claim that you might think it is wrong but everyone must be allowed to choose for themselves. 

God gives us free will.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that people must be allowed to follow their consciences (1782).  However, that does not mean we can do whatever we want.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church goes on to say that each person is obligated to have a well-formed conscience (1783).  This means that they must make deliberate efforts to learn what our faith teaches and why so that they can make an informed decision.  This is very different than just saying, “Well, I think…” and saying that is our conscience. 

Aside from its political connotation, what does it mean to say one is pro-choice? 

A couple of years ago I wrote an article, “Pro-Choice or Not?,” about people who claim to be pro-choice but want to force pro-life doctors to perform abortions.  They want to use my tax dollars for procedures like abortion that I believe are wrong and immoral.  What about my choice? 

Are we free to make our own choice? 

God gives us free will.  The question is what do we do with our free will.  Do we choose to do good or do we choose bad things?  Who gets to decide what is good and what is bad (see my articles on truth and/or morality). 

Some choices are a matter of personal preference.  For instance, choosing what flavor of ice cream to eat does not seem likely to be a moral choice.  However, using an extreme example, choosing to take all the milk in the world to make as much ice cream as you can eat and keep it all for yourself is a moral choice because it prevents others from having the milk they need. 

Sometimes major decisions are made based on convenience without regard to morality.  Some abortions can fall under this category when a woman has an abortion because it is not convenient for her to have a child at this time (or ever). 

Some decisions are made for purely selfish reasons without any regard how it affects other individuals or society as a whole.  These people seek a world where there is no consequences to our choices.  That is not the world we live in. 

When we make decisions, if we care at all about other people, we must ask ourselves how others might be affected by our decisions. 

As I write this I think of one of my daily prayers.  I pray every day that those who hold government office set aside their personal ideologies, partisan politics, and popular opinion to do what is right and just in God’s eyes.  Individuals do not determine whether actions for/against life are good or bad. Neither does politics.  God does.  Popular opinion might be important to the stores to know what items to stock but popular opinion in and of itself does not determine morality. 

As a person of faith, of course, I turn to the Bible and all that our Catholic Church teaches for moral answers.  Our actions must be determined by the two greatest commandments, loving God and loving our neighbor.  If we love others, we will not kill them, treat them as objects for sexual pleasure, steal from them, or lie to them.  If we understand how much God loves us, we will be deeply appreciative of his love and trust him to lead us to what is good. 

The love that God has shown for us serves as proof that we can trust him to do what is good.  John 3:16-17 tells us that the Father sent Jesus to save us.  John 15:13 speaks of Jesus’ love for us as He lays down his life for sins. 

When we sin, we cut ourselves off from God’s vine.  We cannot fix that but God can. 

God has blessed us with the gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation where He forgives our sins when we ask with true contrition in our hearts.  We can always count on God’s forgiveness but we must never take it for granted.  After all, how do you feel when someone takes you for granted? 

God loves you.  To help us love and choose and do good, God gives us the gifts of faith and reason.  God wants us to use our mental faculties (reason) to learn what is good and what is bad but reason cannot answer all moral questions.  We must rely on our faith. 

Will we make mistakes? 

Yes.  We are not perfect.  Do not be afraid!  When you make a mistake, God can see into your heart.  Will He see goodness in your heart?  Will He see that you did your best to love your neighbor or will He see that your only concern has been for yourself?  Will He see forgiveness you have offered to others who have wronged you?  Is your heart full of love or is it full of grudges and anger? 

Will God see that you tried to follow him or will God see in your heart that you have always done things your way? 

Each decision we make shapes not only one action but how we look at life as a whole. 

Have you followed Jesus as the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6)? 

Peace, 

Fr. Jeff