Ryan Roeding’s Third Place Essay
Ryan Roeding
St. Joseph School, Crescent Springs
Human life begins at conception, and we need to recognize and protect it from that moment. This belief has built and strengthened during my eight years of learning more about my faith in a Catholic School. There are many reasons I feel strongly in my opinion. The foundation of my belief is based on my reading of Scripture, my understanding of how science proves when life begins, and my personal family experience.
In many areas of Scripture God leads us through his words to understand that human life begins at conception. In Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” God shows that he values everyone from the moment of conception and even before. For him to know us even before we are formed in the womb means that God had a plan for each of us when we were conceived. God shows how much he values the birth of each child in Matthew 18:5 “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me”. To read the word of God where he is speaking about knowing every child and those who welcome them also welcome Him shapes my beliefs.
Some people believe women should have the right to do what they want with their bodies. They argue that a child in the womb is part of the woman’s body and not its own person. Science counters this claim. Science has proven that a child in the womb is a unique individual and not just a part of their mother’s body. A study of human development by Dr. Keith Moore concluded, “A new human embryo in the womb has a genetic composition that is absolutely unique to itself, different from any other human that has ever existed, including that of its mother.” If a child in the womb is a unique individual, then it deserves the protections that we give to all individuals.
The final and most personal reason I believe all life should be protected is from my own family’s experience. My mom was born when my grandma was only 18 years old. I’m sure it was not easy on my grandma and her family. However, her family followed the teaching of Saint John Paul II and showed “radical solidarity” in helping to raise my mom. Had my mom’s family, especially my great-grandma, not come together to support my grandma in raising my mom then she may have decided differently and then my brother, my sister, and I would not have been born. People must remember to offer support when women are in similar situations, so they do not feel pushed to make other decisions.
Something I thought I could do as an 8th grader to show compassion and friendship is to volunteer my time at DCCH Center for Children and Families. I could be a good friend, role model and teacher to the kids there until their moms are able to care for them again. My aunt works there, and she often brings children to our family gatherings who do not have a family to spend time with at the holidays. Another thing I could do to show compassion is to offer to babysit for mothers in need to allow them to work, run errands or just have time to themselves. Therefore, it is important to remember that human life begins at conception, and we need to recognize and protect it from that moment.
According to Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Every human life, from the moment of conception until death, is sacred because the human person has been willed for its own sake in the image and likeness of the living and holy God.” These words should ring in the minds of everyone faced with a similar situation to what my grandma experienced.
