January 18, 2018 — January 22 will mark 45 years since the
Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision made abortion legal in the United States,
and today the Society of Jesus in the U.S. is asking Jesuits and
their collaborators to continue to stand in solidarity with the unborn and with
mothers in difficult situations.
“Protecting the Least Among
Us: A Statement of the Society of Jesus in the United States on Abortion” reiterates the Jesuits’ support for the unborn, calling abortion “part of the massive injustices in our society.”
“A spirit of callous disregard for life shows
itself in direct assaults on human life such as abortion and capital
punishment. … We also seek justice in ensuring that pregnant women and
mothers have the resources they need to care for their children and live full
lives.”
Father Timothy Kesicki, SJ, president of the
Jesuit Conference of Canada and the U.S., says, “From the beginning, St.
Ignatius founded the Jesuits for the promotion of the faith and the progress of
souls in the teachings of Christ. As Jesuits, we continue this mission, to
accompany the child in the womb and the community into which each one of us has
been born.”
The statement comes one day before members of
the Ignatian family, including many students at Jesuit high schools and
colleges, will gather in Washington, D.C., for the annual Jesuit Mass for Life.
Noting that the work to end abortion requires not just a change in policy, but
a change in culture, it says, “We see great hope in the large number of
individuals, especially young Americans, who are active in pro-life efforts.”
In addition to calling for Jesuits to stand in solidarity with the unborn — the “least of our brothers and sisters” (Matthew 25:40) — through prayer and
political activism, the statement asks Jesuits to deepen their accompaniment with women who have had an abortion.
Jesuits and their colleagues must “find ever
new and creative ways to bring the protection of the unborn and solidarity with
mothers in difficult situations into whatever mission they serve.”
To read the full statement, available in English and
Spanish, click here.
