2008 Youth Supplement

Hope, heartbreak meet when youths stand up for life

Jacinta Dela Cruz, a member of St. Patrick Parish in Terre Haute, shows her commitment to unborn children as she marches with archdiocesan pilgrims during the 2007 March for Life in Washington, D.C. (Submitted photo)

By Timothy DeCrane (Special to The Criterion)

(Editor’s note: At 16, Timothy DeCrane is similar to many youths in the archdiocese who have made the choice to stand up for unborn children and pro-life issues.

He has taken part in the annual March for Life that is held in Washington, D.C., every January. He has also kept prayerful vigils outside an abortion clinic in Indianapolis, hoping his presence helps an expectant mother change her mind about getting an abortion. And he has volunteered at Birthline, an archdiocesan ministry that offers supplies and support to pregnant women and mothers of small children.

Timothy writes about the heartbreak he has experienced in his pro-life efforts, the courage it sometimes takes to stand up for his beliefs and the hope he has as a child of God.)

The most profound pro-life activity that I have taken part in is the March for Life. It is amazing to see the thousands of different people from different religions, ages, races and cultures come together to promote the sanctity of life.

It absolutely breaks my heart when I pass the Supreme Court and remember their decision to allow abortion. To see the pictures of the aborted babies, and to see how their bodies are not respected, is very disheartening to me.

I have pro-life views for a variety of reasons. To begin with, we are all creatures of God. He alone is the one who may give and take life when he decides. Man must never decide when life ends. The Church says, and I firmly believe, that the human body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and must be treated with dignity. Abortion treats neither the dead child nor the mother with dignity. It makes them mere objects, and not children of God.

The past two years, I have participated in “40 Days for Life” in Indianapolis. For an hour each week, I peacefully pray in front of the abortion clinic on Georgetown Road. I also participated in the Central Indiana Life Chain, which is held every first Sunday in October. Participating in these events takes courage as some people disagree with my view.

When I work at Birthline, it helps to see that babies are cared for, and that some parents respect their children as much as my parents respect me. At the Birthline ministry, I have helped sort toys, clothing, bottles, blankets and other assorted baby items that will be distributed to mothers in need. I sometimes get to meet the mothers who need help with their pregnancies. They understand the quality of human life.

Through prayer and sacrifice, I firmly believe that abortion will be ended and human life will once more be respected as it should be. We can ensure that abortion will be overturned by voting for candidates that support life, by fervent prayer and by good example. When abortion becomes overturned, we must continue to safeguard life and make sure that abortion never becomes legal again.

God has a plan for each and every person. I try to live as God wants me to—and support his decisions, no matter how unpopular they may be with the world.

(Timothy DeCrane is a member of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Indianapolis and the Youth of Our Lady of America.) †