Current media headlines have been dominated primarily by the recent Supreme Court decision concerning the definition of marriage, by terrorism inspired by groups based in the Middle East and Africa, and by the deaths of some innocent people which cause many to discuss questionable immigration policies. As we focused on these important events, and discussed and evaluated them, we may have not noticed another developing situation.

The news media recently presented videos prepared by an organization called The Center for Medical Progress. This organization alleges inappropriate and possibly illegal activities by certain physicians. The videos show physicians affiliated with Planned Parenthood discussing the sale of hearts, livers, and other organs of aborted babies purportedly for medical research purposes. The videos are very disturbing in tone and appear to reflect a callous disregard for human life.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (ccc. 1930) clearly states, “Respect for the human person entails respect for the rights that flow from his dignity as a creature. These rights are prior to society and must be recognized by it. They are the basis of the moral legitimacy of every authority: by flouting them, or refusing to recognize them in its positive legislation, a society undermines its moral legitimacy.”

At the present time, the moral legitimacy of our society is clearly being undermined by some by the callous disregard for human life, especially life in the womb. As Catholics we are called to respect the dignity of human life from conception to natural death. With advances in fetology and ultrasound, we as a society can no longer deny the humanity of the unborn child. What a woman carries in her womb is not just a group of cells or a glob of tissue. We believe it is an actual life with potential. Taking away life in the womb and selling related body parts should be condemned.

Our Holy Father Pope Francis has strongly criticized a “throwaway culture” which he states places too little value on human life and which disregards some human beings as unnecessary. He expressed the need to respect and protect the most vulnerable in society, especially vulnerable children in the womb.

It is our understanding that members of the United States Congress plan to investigate the matter of these videos and that pro-life leaders will be addressing this situation at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia in September. We hope that Christians and all people of goodwill will not stand by and complacently ignore this situation. They have the opportunity to be voices for the voiceless, to speak for the children who cannot speak for themselves. We pray that they will vigorously oppose this evil and that the moral legitimacy of our society and our nation will not be further compromised.