Incivility hurts pro-life message

I am unapologetically pro-life. I have participated in pro-life vigils, rallies, protests, and marches, and I will continue to be as active as I can in the pro-life movement. But I agree with John Allen, who has several good points here. Whatever your view of Sr. Carol Keehan or Fr. Tom Rosica.

One bit of gallows humor in Catholic circles is that sometimes the worst enemies of the pro-life movement are pro-lifers themselves. The point is that a handful of activists occasionally come off as so shrill, so angry and judgmental, that fair-minded people simply tune out the pro-life message.

Allen mentions some of the antics of "LifeSiteNews", a newsite that I generally avoid as I have caught them distorting facts on several occasions. I also generally avoid the bloviating of Judie Brown and the American Life League. I realize they are sincere, but when American Life League proudly takes credit for producing signs like this, it's hard to believe we can be taken seriously in this country. I'll echo John Allen in closing:

... There’s a world of difference, however, between respectful disagreement and character assassination, and some of what we’ve seen in recent days doesn’t just cross that line but obliterates it.

There’s much more I could say, but I’ll restrict myself to this: If Sr. Carol Keehan or Fr. Tom Rosica are your idea of enemies of the faith, it’s time for a reality check.

Moving forward, it’s important that influential Catholic leaders, particularly those with the greatest credibility in pro-life circles, find ways to call off the rhetorical fireworks. They don’t help the pro-life cause, and good people end up as collateral damage.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends.” Pro-life activists, like everyone else, ought to remember that this principle also works in reverse.