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    • Oct 1, 2022
    • 3 min read

"You shall not stand idly by..."

At the end of World War II, American soldiers liberating the Nazi concentration camps were met with scenes of horror. The prisoners were walking skeletons. Some showed signs of torture. Naked, dead bodies were “stacked like cordwood,” while others littered the ground. In the camp of Ohrdruf, General Eisenhower wanted to show General Patton a pile of about 30 decomposing bodies in a shed. Patton demurred. The sights and stench of the camp had already caused him to vomit.


German civilians from nearby villages were often forced to come and tour the camps and bury the dead. The intent of this was to bring them face to face with the evil that had occurred in their midst. Some of these villagers were unaware of this evil. Some knew, but had felt powerless to do anything. Some knew, but didn’t object, while others knew and had been supportive.


There were still others, who risked offering a little food to prisoners when they could. There were resistance groups, like the Christian and non-violent White Rose movement in Munich, who distributed pamphlets describing what was occurring. Several of its key members were executed for treason.


Something similar is occurring in our midst.


Until 2011, the local Planned Parenthood building was located in St. Paul, on Ford Parkway. Next door, in jarring juxtaposition, stood a Burger King restaurant. There, people ate and drank and nonchalantly chatted, while within a stone’s throw, innocent human beings were dismembered.


In front of the Planned Parenthood building, perhaps a few people stood: some trying to dissuade women from entering by talking to them, or handing them an informative pamphlet. Others held signs exposing what was going on inside; others prayed.


In 2011, Planned Parenthood moved into a brand new sixteen million dollar, 46,000 square foot building. They receive taxpayer funding for providing “health care.”


One can’t help but wonder if at some time in the future, when people have come to their senses about abortion, if children will be toured through the Planned Parenthood Abortion Museum and wonder in disbelief: “They did that? Here???” Then the child might ask, “What did Grandpa and Grandma think about this? Did they do anything to end it?” Will they be proud, or ashamed?


In Leviticus 19:16 we are told: “You shall not stand idly by while your neighbor’s life is at stake.” In Matthew 25:41-46, Jesus speaks of the Last Judgment: “Then He will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, accursed ones, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food; I was thirsty and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger and you gave me no welcome; naked, and you gave me no clothing… Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked… and did not minister to your needs?’ He will answer them, ‘Amen I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ And these will go into everlasting punishment, but the just into everlasting life.”


The lives of our unborn neighbors “are at stake.” They are “hungry, thirsty, naked, strangers…” The Son of God is asking us to come to His aid. On our answer hangs our fate. What are we doing to oppose this terrible injustice? We should do something! We can speak, write, pray, volunteer (see below) and contribute to groups who seek to defend innocent human life. We can get out in front of one of our nearby “death camps” and offer the life giving “choice,” or pray. At the very least, we can refuse to vote for those who approve of and support the legalized killing of unborn people.


St. Michael Broadcasting is trying to defend the unborn and help distressed mothers through our programming. Please support the station through prayer, by offering to volunteer (we especially need people with filming, editing and computer skills), by offering to place program guides in your parish’s information rack, by offering specific new ideas for programming, and a financial contribution if possible.


Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam


N.B. These are a few of the groups working to help mothers and defend the unborn:



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