
Our Mission and the March for Life
Our mission is not simple, for the impoverishments we would relieve are not simple. There are networks of privilege, prejudice, and power so commonplace that often neither oppressors nor victims are aware of them. For the kingdom to come in this world, disciples must have the competence to see and the courage to act (Const. 2.14).
Our Constitutions urge us to stand against systems of injustice. When it comes to certain impoverishments, the guilt does not rest on one person's shoulders alone, but on many; this is what we mean by "systems of injustice." Legalized and ready access to abortion is the most obvious and severe example of such an injustice. The March for Life is one of many actions that confront the political systems that allow such an injustice to prevail. But upon further reflection, the protest runs much deeper. Cameron Cortens, one of two Postulants on the March, expressed it correctly: "It seems that the March for Life is not just a political protest it's a cultural one."
Yes, the abortion crisis is not fundamentally a political one; it has roots that spread wide through our culture. It comes from flawed notions of sexuality, lack of responsibility, lack of support for mothers and fathers, and many other problems that effect young people today. This lies at the heart of Holy Cross' mission. Although we take the political situation seriously, most of us are not political activists. "For many of us in Holy Cross, mission expresses itself in the education of youth" (Const. 2.16). This is a tremendous gift we possess! Like our zealous founder, Basil Moreau, men in Holy Cross strive to heal the infirmities of our world in and through the formation of young people. It is precisely as educators who live and work in direct relationship with the youth that we can play our part in the struggle for a culture of life.
My conclusion: as a man deeply affected by the Pro-Life movement, Holy Cross is a place that I want to be. While I was standing next to my brothers in the midst of over a half a million people on the March for Life, I experienced my call again.