Because no one has the right to deny another their life, even though they disagree with it, because everyone has the right to live the life they so desire of it doesn't harm another and because discrimination has no place in America, my vote will be for equality and against Proposition 8.
Now, on its face, we realize that this statement is made in favor of same-sex marriage. The irony of it is, this very same statement could have been made by Mr. Pitt in defense of innocent preborn children, which is why this column is being written. Could it possibly be that without knowing it, Brad Pitt has made one of the most profoundly pro-life statements ever made by a Hollywood icon? I think so!
Bear with me for a moment while I share my thought process with you.
Brad Pitt is the father of six children, two of whom were adopted by Angelina Jolie and then by Mr. Pitt. Apparently, the man loves children. While we might be able to debate his lifestyle choices, we do know, from the public record, that his children bring great joy to his life.
That being said, we could further surmise that perhaps he is an unwitting pro-life spokesperson who has yet to realize that his recent statements put him in the category of a man who understands the dignity of the human person and the rights that every person should enjoy in a just society. For as we know full well, even in the case of a practicing homosexual, the human person is to be respected as a child of God though the acts he pursues are offensive to God and against His laws. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (Sections 2357 – 2359) teaches the following:
Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
Thus I submit to you that Pitt has made a classic statement of respect for the human person. If I were to take his statement, word for word, and apply it to preborn children, it would be definitive in its principled position.
Pitt's first point: "No one has the right to deny another their life."
As we know, the act of abortion robs an innocent human being of his life by killing him or her prior to birth. Abortion is an act of murder. Pope John Paul II reminded us in Evangelium Vitae, "The moral gravity of procured abortion is apparent in all its truth if we recognize that we are dealing with murder."
Pitt's second point: "Everyone has the right to live the life they so desire if it doesn't harm another."
The fact is, the act of abortion kills an innocent person. In addition, the mother who submits her child to this deadly harm not only becomes the mother of a dead child, but suffers emotionally, spiritually and physically as a direct result her child's planned death.
Studies make it increasingly evident that abortion's effect on expectant mothers is a serious problem that, though shrouded by silence in the "mainstream media," is nonetheless very real. The Elliot Institute has spent years documenting this tragedy while mainstream medical organizations remain in denial. Recently, the prestigious Lancet medical journal joined the ranks of those who report objectively on abortion's aftermath. The Lancet states, "The fact that some women do experience psychological problems after a termination should not be trivialized. . . Women choosing to terminate must be offered an appropriate package of follow-up care, which includes psychological counseling when needed."
Pitt's third point: "Discrimination has no place in America."
The ultimate discrimination in America is protected under cover of law and affects an entire class of people simply because they reside in their mothers' wombs.
As Bishop Eldon Curtiss so eloquently taught in his August 18, 2000 commentary entitled "It is not a liberal cause to support abortion: It is anti-life and anti-Church,"
You can be assured that I will challenge any Catholic in Northeastern Nebraska who claims to be a member of the Church and at the same time supports abortion. It is not a liberal cause that is being supported but an elitist anti-Catholic one. There is no place for discrimination against pre-born or partially-born babies in the Catholic Church.
Obviously, based on the points I have set forth above, wittingly or unwittingly, Pitt did indeed make a strong pro-life statement that should be the basis for you, me, and every red-blooded pro-life American to write a letter to thank him for making it. Further, let each of us ask him to match the donation he made to oppose California's Proposition 8 with a donation to a pro-life charity such as American Life League. With an additional $100,000, our work to end abortion could be enhanced beyond all telling.
If you think Brad Pitt would be amazed by such an outpouring of pro-life sentiment, please join me in contacting him through his booking agency:
Brad Pitt
c/o NOPAC Talent
2247 Rickover Place
Winter Garden, FL 34787
Office: 888-550-6672
Fax: 407-905-4773
Email:info@nopactalent.com
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Mark your message or envelope "PERSONAL PLEASE."