By Judie Brown
Peace for all preborn babies must begin with peace outside the womb. That’s why I thoroughly enjoyed reading Rebuilding Pro-Life Nonviolence, by John Cavanaugh-O’Keefe and Elise Ketch, for in the pages of this book we are reacquainted with the principles that have always defined nonviolent direct action as one of the cornerstones of pro-life work.
In essence, we involve ourselves in education, political action, lobbying, and grassroots development with a single goal in mind: End the slaughter of innocent preborn children. And it is the people who place themselves, body and soul, between the abortionist and the expectant mother who comprise the heart of that work. Nonviolent direct action requires sacrifice above and beyond all else, so I am proud to recommend this latest work by O’Keefe and Ketch to everyone with a desire to understand the entire context of living a pro-life life.
There are many important concepts in this book, perhaps best summarized with these words:
One day, at some time in the future, a new generation will change the law concerning protection for the unborn. But it is ludicrous to think we will do so now. To get from here to there, we need a massive social change brought about by a massive campaign of nonviolence. Then we can talk about changing the law.
I know this is so because for the past 50 years we at American Life League have worked to stop the killing. And throughout that time we have joined in nonviolent rescues and public protests of every sort to call attention to the plight of the babies, the misery their parents suffer, and the tragic effects that aborting preborn children has on our society. Abortion results in deep sadness and so much more.
The authors of Rebuilding Pro-Life Nonviolence call for comprehensive pro-life education—teaching the truth by employing the KISS principle: “keep it simple stupid.” And, they write, “Amidst our study, we aim for an ‘ah-ha’ moment: life begins at the beginning, not at the middle, and all humans are people, and we shouldn’t kill each other.”
In pursuit of a “consistent ethic of hospitality,” we are called to begin with the most vulnerable among us, no matter what their stage in life or how uncomfortable it may be for us defend them from the threats that persist in our midst.
In my mind, the most important message in these pages is that we are confronting every manner of threat and seeking, as Saint John Paul II taught, solidarity with our brothers and sisters in every stage of existence. To do less is to be fearful, and as we have learned, our quest is always the same in the work that we do: Imitate Christ and welcome His children regardless of the social attitudes of the day.
Rebuilding Pro-Life Nonviolence is an easy read, but the lessons in these pages deserve constant repetition and dispersal throughout the pro-life community and beyond.
This is so because, as St. John Paul II taught in Evangelium Vitae, “The Spirit who builds up communion in love creates between us a new fraternity and solidarity, a true reflection of the mystery of mutual self-giving and receiving proper to the Most Holy Trinity. The Spirit becomes the new law which gives strength to believers and awakens in them a responsibility for sharing the gift of self and for accepting others, as a sharing in the boundless love of Jesus Christ himself.”
And again, the great pope wrote, “The ‘people of life’ rejoices in being able to share its commitment with so many others. Thus may the ‘people for life’ constantly grow in number and may a new culture of love and solidarity develop for the true good of the whole of human society.”
This is the challenge, and it’s why the building of a culture of pro-life nonviolence is pivotal to the affirmation of the value of the human person.
Read more pro-life book reviews at the Celebrate Life Magazine website.