The Value of Human Life

Do you want to know something that I really dislike?  When people use the terms “dog mom” and “fur babies.”  It is something seemingly small and simple and maybe it is just me, but when people act like they are parents to their pets, it feels like they are trying to put animals and humans on the same level.  Taking care of a baby and taking care of a cat or dog are two completely different things.  Children and dogs/cats are not the same and they do not even come close.  Last week, as I was scrolling through Facebook, I saw that someone had a whole birthday party for her dog.  Cupcakes, candles, party hats, singing, presents, and all the works.  Come on.  Don’t you think that’s a little overboard?  If you’re six years old, it might be cute.  But a 20-something year old celebrating a dog’s birthday when the dog cannot understand or grasp the concept of a birthday seems a little strange to me.  Don’t get me wrong, animals can very much be a part of a family and provide great memories and value.  They provide companionship, entertainment, fun, exercise, and more.  However, I do think our culture has a bit of an obsession.  The affection people have for animals has become a bit disordered and I think this is evident in the way our culture views human life and its value.

God created both people and animals.  The difference is, He created male and female in his image.  As people, we have the ability to reflect God’s love in different and unique ways.  We have the  ability to pray, to choose to do good, and to have a relationship with God.  We have the capacity to love others and receive love.  This is how God created us.  Because of this simple fact, humans have value, purpose, and dignity that does not compare to anything else and that no one can take away.

Going back to the terms “dog mom” and “fur babies”, not only are these terms just annoying, but they also attempt to diminish the value and sacrifices of parents.  Whether biological parents, adoptive parents, spiritual mothers and fathers, and others in our lives who guide us, teach us, and care for us, they play vital and irreplaceable roles.  I am not a parent, but I sure can appreciate everything that parents do and the sacrifices they make to raise their children.  They work hard to provide for their kids, spend many hours awake and have many sleepless nights, and do all that they can to teach their kids to be good, moral, and hopefully faith-filled people.  Their hearts and the love they have for their kids are a reflection of the love God has for us.  These things do not extend to pets because there is no need.  They do not have the ability to reason or make choices based on what they are taught.  Sure, there is a bit of responsibility that comes with having a dog or cat, like making sure they don’t pee on your carpet or chew up a shoe.  But this responsibility pales in comparison to the responsibility that parents have to their children and other children in their lives.  Adults form kids into who they are going to be as adults.  This is huge and it often feels like our society does not seem to care all that much about how much humans really matter.

One incident I clearly remember that demonstrates this happened about five years ago.  There was a young child who fell into the gorilla exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo.  The gorilla, Harambe, got ahold of the child and began dragging him around.  There was video footage that quickly became viral on social media and the videos clearly showed that the child’s life was in danger.  A zoo worker shot and killed the gorilla in order to ensure the safety of the young boy.  Immediately after this news story spread, the internet went crazy.  There was outrage, grief, and petitions.  There were groups and petitions that sprang forth demanding “Justice for Harambe.”  There were debates about what course of action should have been taken.  The circumstances were unfortunate but it should not have even been a question about whose life to save.  We must always love the human life before we love the animal life.

Looking around at the world, it’s difficult to understand why so many do not appreciate and value the most precious gift God has given us- life.  Legalized abortion has allowed over 60 million babies to be killed in the name of “choice.”  A few thousand abortions take place each day in our country and many don’t even give it a thought.  Abortion is an especially hot topic right now as many fight to enshrine abortion into national law to overturn any existing protections for the unborn.  People have been sucked into the mindset that there is a right to discard the life of the smallest and most vulnerable- babies in the womb.  Physician-assisted suicide, or “death with dignity” as many call it, is becoming more widely accepted and legalized in more states.  The idea that helping to end the life of someone who is terminally ill or suffering is the compassionate and loving thing to do is absurd.  Or what about the widespread use of contraception or IVF.  These practices violate the nature of the person and life itself.  With these practices, babies are treated as commodities that people “have a right to” or products to satisfy rather than as gifts from God.
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I could go on and on with this post.  But the biggest question is what can we do to change how our society views human life?  While it seems like a daunting task, God can and will use us.  We cannot sit back and do nothing.  We must pray for a culture that values life; that means every single human life.  We must have conversations with others and defend our beliefs when someone says or does something to try to diminish the value of life.  We must receive the good of every person we encounter, no matter who they are because they are made in God's image and likeness.  Being human sets us apart.  We have dignity and worth simply because God made us.  In the words of St. John Paul II, “Never tire of firmly speaking out in defense of life from its conception and do not be deterred from the commitment to defend the dignity of every human person with courageous determination. Christ is with you: be not afraid!”