Does the Spirit of Saint Nicholas Exist in our World -  and in Corning?
 

December 6^th is the feast day of St. Nicholas. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/news/2004/nick.html

The entire world has been touched by this great saint whose heart was so full of love that he is said to have tossed coins into the window of a house to provide for two poor girls who had no dowry.  Kindness, generosity, and humility were exemplified by this saint.  Today, in America and around the world, we still remember St. Nicholas, although many now refer to him as Santa Claus. Unquestionably, our American culture was dramatically influenced by this one life.  But St. Nicholas lived in the 4^nd century.  Is the true spirit of Saint Nicholas alive today? 

One wonders when a girl facing a crisis pregnancy has no place to turn for help.  In desperation, 1.5 million American mothers abort each year, most reporting that if they had had just one person to turn to for support, they would have chosen to continue the pregnancy.  The spirit of Saint Nicholas is certainly not reflected in our laws that allow the destruction of the unborn at any time in a woman’s pregnancy for any reason.   This holy saint, similar to Mother Teresa, would know there is little hope for a nation that consents to the killing of children.
 

Here in Corning, we do not have a Pregnancy Resource Center to offer assistance to mothers in need.  Instead, we have a Planned Parenthood office within walking distance of CFA Middle School.   Many erroneously believe that the Planned Parenthood prevents abortions by providing contraception.  But Planned Parenthood’s own statistics show that a full 50% of women who show up at the abortion mill report that they were using contraception when they conceived.  Planned Parenthood sets the scene for teen pregnancy, and then capitalizes on a young girl’s fears, fighting against parental notification and allowing a girl to go through the abortion without any support.   In a country requiring teens to have parental permission for a procedure as small as ear piercing, it is cruel not to require parental guidance for a procedure as life-changing as abortion.   

 

Saint Nicholas, if he were alive today, would undoubtedly call the Corning community and especially Christians to respond to the needs of our teens.  We must spread the word that Christians in Corning do care about our teens!  Through our churches and our own Teen Angel program, we will reach out to any pregnant teen.   We must find an available building for a Pregnancy Resource Center in Corning to offer real help to pregnant teens.   

 

No one who professes belief in Jesus Christ can turn a blind eye to the murder of the holy innocents and the loss of so many mother’s souls who despair after abortion.  We must tell mothers and fathers that through the Sacraments and through retreats at Rachel’s Vineyard, (http://rachelsvineyard.org/) they can find healing and forgiveness after abortion.  Let us all pray that one day soon, the spirit of Saint Nicholas will be alive and so will all unborn babies.