Bernard Nathanson

Dr. Bernard Nathanson is a trooper in the fight against abortion but he certainly did not start out that way. An obstetrician/gynecologist who was, by his own estimation, "responsible for 75,000 abortions," he was a founding member of NARAL and played a leading part in the campaign to legalize abortion, a campaign fraught with lies, which led to the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973. He began to have doubts about his life's work with the development of ultrasound in the 'seventies and images that put the lie to the claim of pro-abortionists, still made today: that which is evacuated from the mother's womb is a mere "clump of tissue."

Moved by the demonstrators he encountered at abortion clinics, observing their love for the unborn, their mothers and even their executioners, he eventually came around to see abortion for the true evil it is. Since then, Dr. Nathanson has championed the rights of the unborn with the same vigor he used to campaign for their demise. Dr. Nathanson also began to examine his personal life, which was a mess, and over time realized, with the help of an Opus Dei priest, his salvation lay in Jesus Christ. In 1996, this Jewish atheist was baptized and received into the Roman Catholic Church.

I have heard he is in poor health these days and it would be a good thing if we could remember him in our prayers. The prayer that comes to this Anglican's mind, as he nears his own reception into Holy Catholic Church, is the Declaration of Absolution from Book of Common Prayer, said by the priest in the almost unbearably beautiful Order for Daily Evening Prayer.

Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live, hath given power, and commandment, to his Ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins. He pardoneth and absolveth all those who truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel.

Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance, and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do at this present; and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy; so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.