Have you ever wondered why many of the people calling themselves “pro-life” are some of the fiercest advocates for the death penalty? The death penalty sentence for Robert Roberson, the man in Texas convicted on what is now considered to be faulty science is a case in point. Roberson was convicted of shaking his two-year-old daughter to death.
About a month ago, a Texas legislative committee subpoenaed Roberson as he was on his way to the execution chamber, stopping the execution. However, now the Texas Supreme Court has ruled that the execution can proceed because the committee went beyond its power. And the governor had refused a reprieve before.
Governor Abbott who prides himself on being “pro-life” with an abortion ban that has caused the deaths of at least two women denied medical care as they miscarried their pregnancies, one of them leaving a young child. Is this “’pro-life” or twisted ideology?
Prayer for the Day
Looking for visible symbols of your grace, O God,
We are perplexed for we want simple answers to our complex world,
Seeing only our frailty, we are afraid of our confusion,
For we do not see the strength that comes from you.
Move us beyond our fears and give us discernment,
So we can move beyond the rigidity that now exists.
In the name of the One who opens our minds,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
One of the main tasks of theology is to find words that do not divide but unite, do not create conflict but unity, do not hurt but heal.
Henri Nouwen, theologian, teacher (1932-1996)
When you have a conflict, that means there are truths that need to be addressed on each side of the conflict. And when you have a conflict, then it’s an educational process to resolve the conflict. And to resolve that, you have to get people on both sides of the conflict involved, so they can dialogue.
Dolores Huerta, union organizer, community activist (b. 1930)
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying God and holding fast to God. For that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
Deuteronomy 30: 19-20