Pro Life Groups at St. Matthias 
The Knights of Columbus and Christian Women both conduct right to life activities at St. Matthias. The Christian Women sell flowers on Mothers Day and Christmas cards to support Right to Life causes. The Knights do regular fundraisers for right to life organizations such as Abigayle House and others. The most recent was a baby bottle campaign in which over $4000 was raised to help expectant mothers in need.
All Pro-Life activities are conducted in a peaceful manner as are those of 99.99% of others across the nation. The horror of abortion will only be ended when the hearts and minds of those in favor of it are changed through the works of good people and a lot of help from God due to prayer.
To get involved with Christian Women or the Knights of Columbus please follow the links to these organizations in the “Get Involved” page of this website.
Pregnant and need Help?
There are many resources available for women in need of help in crisis pregnancy situations and post abortion counseling.
Abigayle Ministries …………………… 586-323-1411 …
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Catholic Services of Macomb ………...586-416-2300….. http://www.csmacomb.org/index.html
Pregnant & in need? ………….…….....1-800-848-LOVE
Project Rachel (Post Abortion)..……....1-888-722-4355… http://www.hopeafterabortion.com/rachel/
American Catholics and Abortion
The Catholic Church and St. Matthias are clearly on the side of life. Throughout the general public, abortion is a controversial issue, and unfortunately, surveys have shown that approximately one third of practicing Catholics favor abortion. If you are one of those, please review the information below and reconsider “choosing life”:
- At 4 weeks from conception, a baby's eye, ear, and respiratory systems begin to form.
- Thumbsucking has been documented at 7 weeks from conception.
- At 8 weeks from conception, a baby's heartbeat can be detected by ultrasonic stethoscope.
- By 9 weeks from conception, a baby is able to bend her fingers around an object in her hand.
- By 11 to 12 weeks from conception, the baby is breathing fluid steadily and continues to do so
until birth. - By 11 weeks from conception, a baby can swallow.
- Between 13 and 15 weeks from conception, a baby's taste buds are present and functioning
- At 20 weeks, and perhaps as early as 16 weeks from conception, a baby is capable of hearing
his mother's heartbeat and external noises like music. - At 23 weeks from conception, babies have been shown to demonstrate rapid eye movements
(REM), which are characteristic of active dream states - At six months from conception, a baby's oil and sweat glands are functioning.
- At seven months from conception, a baby frequently "exercises" in preparation for birth by
stretching and kicking. - At eight months from conception, a baby's skin begins to thicken, and swallows a gallon of
amniotic fluid each day and often hiccups.
The Catholic Church’s Position on Abortion
Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law: You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish. God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes. From its conception, the child has the right to life. Direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, is a "criminal" practice gravely contrary to the moral law. The Church imposes the canonical penalty of excommunication for this crime against human life.
Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being. Prenatal diagnosis is morally licit, "if it respects the life and integrity of the embryo and the human fetus and is directed toward its safe guarding or healing as an individual. . . . It is gravely opposed to the moral law when this is done with the thought of possibly inducing an abortion, depending upon the results: a diagnosis must not be the equivalent of a death sentence."
Note: These are excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. For more information please follow the link below. http://ccc.scborromeo.org.master.com/texis/master/search/?sufs=0&q=abortion&s=SS
