Bold, Tough, Masculine, Pro-Life Men, Where Are You?

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be a man of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.”  1 Corinthians 16.13-14

On a recent Saturday morning, while praying outside of an abortion facility, I witnessed a faithful warrior who is the son of the founder of my local pro-life coalition offering help and support to a couple entering the facility.

“May we help you and your baby, sir?” The faithful advocate pleaded as he watched a young couple walking into their fateful appointment. The man who entered the facility with his “girlfriend” muttered something as a team of three escorts lead them into the Philadelphia Women’s Center that sits on the 7th floor of an eight-story building.

The pro-life advocate later remarks how it's selfish men that created the time that we are living in. Indeed, weak men create hard times, and we are seeing it unfold before us.

This is the case every time we stand outside of abortion facilities. What is more upsetting is how men enter the facility, often time escorted by a male wearing a vest indicating that they volunteer for an abortion facility. A few minutes or even hours later, they walk out and like Pontius Pilate, washed their hands clean of the responsibility of being a father.

Too often we have heard women wearing pink cat hats shouting vulgarity at faithful men holding signs of graphic images while countering feminist marches, the opening of abortion facilities, or peacefully demonstrating outside of abortion facilities. Meanwhile, there are men wearing the vest being cheered by pro-abortion supporters as they say to men praying and sidewalk counseling at these facilities, “No uterus, no opinion”. They even want to “Stop the Patriarchy”.

What the pro-abortion movement has forgotten is how seven men in 1973 blindly allowed abortion to be law of the land through the Roe v Wade abortion case while sitting on the Supreme Court. It is also hard to believe that many Catholics on the Supreme Court wrote the majority opinion on the Dobbs decision that later sent Roe into the ash heap of history.

Sadly, many men are timid or lack the compassion to engage in the debate. The need for men is far greater than anyone can imagine. Men are called to be leaders. They are needed to lead others into the breach to end abortion.

Sadly, the rise of feminism and toxic masculinity has brought authentic manhood to its knees. In most of the media that we view today, it has changed from the tough guy images we see from John Wayne, Gregory Peck, James Stewart, and many other movies that portray strong masculine characters that our parents and grandparents have come to know. Now, it shows men being wimps when adversity is in front of them or not present when there is a crisis or responding to it unnaturally.

To paraphrase the words of Patrick Kelly, the 14th Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, A man is a leader who stands in the breach. A man defends the faith, protects the family, and when a need arises, a man meets it with charity, unity, and fraternity.

Men are needed to step into the breach with steadfast courage and compassionate conviction to change the hearts and minds of those who support abortion.

HOW JIM HARBAUGH SHOWED US TRUE MANHOOD

Recently, Jim Harbaugh showed us how a man should respond when one of his players gets his girlfriend pregnant and is considering abortion. Harbaugh offered to welcome the baby and help his players choose life. That is the measure of a man. We need more men, whether single, married, or in religious life, to demonstrate the same boldness a college coach would do.

The pro-life movement needs men to step up and protect life. Stop playing the PlayStation, apps, or Xbox and take the first step in helping society create good times and stronger masculinity. Men can lead the pro-life movement while standing up to feminism. Men can bring a strong voice to the debate. Abortion affects men too. I remember a member of my Knights of Columbus council spilling the beans on how his child was aborted when he told a priest.  

Do not be afraid to fight. Never back down. Stand up! Man Up!

“Where are you, men of courage? You were made for so much more
Let the pounding of our hearts cry. We will serve the Lord”

Courageous, Casting Crowns