The mass killings in Tucson, Arizona were another sobering reminder of the cheapness of life in the dark minds of some among us. Surely we will hear more calls for gun control or banning, for censorship of “inflammatory” political rhetoric, for government control of talk radio and Fox News and the internet, for a Secret Service protection for every senator and congressman. What I have not heard yet, however, is what seems to me to be the real foundation of the problem: life is cheap in this very confused modern culture of ours. Abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide are real. In the virtual reality in which many “adolescents” from pre-teens to thirty-somethings live, in the brutal video games where they get to pretend killing others to their heart’s desire, in the horrific movies of inhuman carnage, our culture teaches that life is cheap.
Abortion continues to be a “right” in America. A mother has the “right” to “terminate her pregnancy.” “Her pregnancy” is the substitute phrase for “the child now growing in her womb.” The child is not a human person – the chid is merely “her pregnancy”, and she has the “right” over her own body. The body of the child, the human person innocently growing inside of her, has no rights. And this insanity makes sense to many here today.
Mother Teresa asked, “if we can accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?” America cannot answer her, because the only rightful answer is profound repentance. We have created a monster culture, and we are choking on the bitter fruit of its savage jungle.
Man was made for life, and for truth, and for real love. We need to realize that “virtual reality” is not reality. Living vicariously through fictions and pretenses is not real, and is not living. When life is empty, no wonder is it so easily cheapened! When no light is seen, no wonder darkness begins to seem normal! When no truth is heard, no wonder fantasy sounds right. How has it come to this, and so quickly? But it is still not too late, not yet. Watchmen can still sound the alarm, leaders can still rally the people, men and women can still turn to God for forgiveness and for life; the door has not yet shut. When will we learn to read the signs of the times? Will we learn to read the signs, before that last day?
Thomas
Renew The Church! - website and Blog 
Dear Thomas,
Thank you for this strong reminder to “watch and pray” (Mt. 26:41; Mark 14:38). We can so easily miss the signs of the times, or misinterpret them, if we are not watching and praying for God’s Grace to see and do His Truth.
I was especially blessed by your concluding words:
Yes, it is still not too late. If we remain in His Love (Jn 15:9), our lives are not empty. Darkness cannot overcome His Light.
How has it come to this? Many of us were sleeping! Yet, I thank God for watchmen like our recent Popes and Saints, and for emerging lay persons, like yourself, who are unafraid to sound the alarm; to speak His Truth lovingly. May each of us, with all that God has given us as unique persons, give ourselves totally to Him. May He enable us to love with His Love, all who need Him so much. By His Grace, let us give our lives, that all may know Him and His Life abundantly. (cf Jn 10:10)
By: Deborah on January 11, 2011
at 10:14 am
God help us! Babies are a gift – they are a Blessing! So many of us have been con’d into thinking that babies are only good in the “right” circumstance – that human life , only has conditional value. This is a lie – from the Father of all lies! Nothing brings more joy than the birth of a child! We have to all work on exposing these lies. Thank you for your blog.
By: vickie on January 11, 2011
at 2:40 pm
Dr. Richard – you are certainly correct in your assessment of the situation – I wish everyone had your insight.
By: Rose Batansky on January 11, 2011
at 3:41 pm