This Sunday, Oct. 2nd is Respect Life Sunday. Consequently, there is the Life Chain observance in Grand Island (see bulletin announcement). The observance focuses primarily on the issue of abortion. If you follow any news at all, you are aware that this issue is very much the hot button topic with the recent Supreme Court ruling. I am reminded of the prophetic message of Pope Paul VI in his encyclical on Human Life. The issue was the acceptance or rejection of contraception. He restated the Church’s rejection of contraception and was widely criticized, scoffed at, and ignored. His predictions were given little credence. It was widely believed that contraception could only enhance marriages and human existence in general. This is still almost universally believed today. But let’s look at his predictions. He made three. He said (and I will use my own words) the humanity of women would be devalued, and they would be objectified. (Considered objects rather than persons. Objects are used.) Look at how women are now being treated in competitive sports. Second, he predicted a general lowering of sexual morality. Third, governments would use coercion (force) to make citizens comply with related sexual related issues. Well regardless of anyone’s perspective on contraception, it cannot be denied that Pope Paul’s predictions came to pass in an even greater measure than predicted and it is still expanding. Sex trafficking, pornography addiction, 50% marriage failure, sexually transmitted diseases rising from 4 to 50 different contagions, half of all children born outside of marriage, gender confusion, sexual harassment, rape, government mandates and more. So how did he know this? Was it just a lucky guess? No, inspired by the Holy Spirit he just applied the Church’s understanding of Natural Law and followed it to the predictable end. Next week I will attempt to give a brief explanation of Natural Law. Let me end with this. It’s not necessary to understand a truth the Church teaches to benefit from its wisdom. The Lord be with you. Fr. Sid.