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Euphemisms prevent honest discussion.

Whether one calls it a child, fetus, embryo or clump of cells, at conception, the fertilized ovum is undoubtedly a human life. It is clearly alive and clearly human, albeit at a very early and unrecognizable stage. That early stage, however, does not make it any less human.

Abortion is the intentional termination of that human life and claiming otherwise is intellectually dishonest. The only honest discussion is, at what point is a human life worthy of protection?

Similarly, euphemisms like, “quality of life” and “meaningful consciousness” are used in the elderly and infirm to also make them less worthy of protection. The “scarce medical resources” straw man argument often surfaces here, that is, why use scarce medical resources on those who are afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease, other dementias and severe brain injuries?

We Catholics believe that every human life, from conception to natural death is inherently and unconditionally valuable, regardless of age, disability, economic circumstance, parentage and any other modifier. Every human life, in the Catholic view, is in the likeness and image of God and equally deserving of protection. People can disagree, but those should be honest discussions.

“Reproductive health care” and “meaningless existence” are little different than the terms “special handling”, “evacuation” and “lebenswertes leben” (life unworthy of life), which the Nazis used to obfuscate extermination of Jews, Gypsies, the disabled and mentally ill. Anytime a human life is made less equal because it is somehow less human and less worthy of protection, we start down a slippery slope that has, over and over again in history, had horrific results.

Can’t happen in this era? Iceland has practically eliminated Down Syndrome by simply aborting each and every unborn human life with that diagnosis. Even those who believe abortion is acceptable in some circumstances, should be chilled by this. #prolife