Catechesis Notes for the week:  Today is the anniversary of the landmark Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision which led to legalized abortion. Though God’s commands clearly prohibit murder, people manage to get around this by calling abortion something other than murder. But this problem with our society goes beyond merely the fifth commandment. As in the case of many sins, we can bring several commandments to bear. Often, abortion happens because of a sixth commandment issue. People do not lead a sexually pure and decent life. A baby may easily become a reminder of a time of indiscretion, a broken relationship, or worse. Sometimes people think it is easier to remove the baby than face the reminder. But for many, that does not erase the memory. Many women still struggle with guilt after aborting their babies. God also tells us that our bodies are a temple of His Holy Spirit. People do not honor God by what they do with their bodies. Through His Holy Gospel, God forgives even these sins. Nobody has to live with the eternal consequence of their decisions, though the immediate consequences are sometimes unchangeable. Though some say this is a religious issue and not a civil one, they are thinking only of the needs/rights of the mother. For the unborn babies, this is a life-and-death issue. It is therefore our duty as Christians to support life and oppose murder in any form.