By Lavoisier Fernandes –
As Christians, we’re called to be defenders of life. We often hear the expression “from the womb to the tomb”—a powerful reminder that life is sacred from the moment of conception to its natural end.
But too often, the pro-life conversation becomes limited, focused almost entirely on abortion and euthanasia. Don’t get me wrong—those are critical issues, and we should never downplay their importance. But if we’re deeply committed to being pro-life, our concern can’t stop there.
Because life doesn’t end at birth, nor does it begin at death.
What about all the lives in between? The people struggling with poverty, inadequate healthcare, education, and the weight of racial injustice and violence? What about innocent civilians caught in the chaos of war or refugees fleeing for their lives, displaced by bombs and bullets?
These lives matter, too. If we overlook them, we’re defending life only in pieces, not in its entirety. To be genuinely pro-life, we must advocate for the dignity of all people, in every stage of life.
War Is a Pro-Life Issue
Right now, the world feels like it’s burning. In Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza—and with the constant tension surrounding the war in Iran—violence is erupting all over the globe. These aren’t just geopolitical crises. They’re human tragedies. And they demand our attention as people who claim to stand for life.
Being pro-life means standing for every innocent life, not just those in the womb. It means grieving for the families hiding in basements, for the children growing up under the sound of gunfire, and for the refugees’ walking miles with no home to return to.
If we say we’re pro-life, then we have to mean it—even when life is being taken by airstrikes instead of abortion.
A Biblical Vision of Life
The phrase “from the womb to the tomb” might not be a direct quote from Scripture, but the heart of it runs through the entire Bible. Life is sacred because it comes from God. In Jeremiah 1:5, God says, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” Psalm 139 reminds us that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” knit together by the hands of God.
But Scripture doesn’t stop there. It calls us to care for the poor and the marginalized. To speak up for the voiceless (Proverbs 31:8–9). To welcome the stranger (Matthew 25:35). To seek peace, not revenge (Isaiah 2:4). And Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).
In other words, the Bible calls us to a consistent ethic of life—not just a selective one.
The Seamless Garment: A Call for Consistency
In the 1980s, US Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago introduced the concept of the “seamless garment” to describe a consistent ethic of life. The idea is simple but thoughtful: we shouldn’t “take scissors” to the seamless garment of life.
We can’t selectively choose which life issues to care about. All life is interconnected. Whether it’s abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, or social justice, the moral principle remains the same: life is sacred from conception to natural death.
This “seamless garment” is more than a theological concept; it’s a call for consistency. That doesn’t mean we have to be experts or activists in every area.
But it does mean we need to care. We can’t champion the unborn and ignore the bombs dropping on children in Gaza or Ukraine. We can’t oppose euthanasia and stay silent when civilians are being slaughtered. If we believe every life is made in God’s image, then we’re called to care about all of them.
What the Church Says About War
The Catholic Church doesn’t automatically reject every war, but it sets an extremely high bar for what can be justified on moral grounds. Through the Just War Theory—developed by saints like Augustine and Aquinas—the Church outlines strict criteria for a war to be deemed just: a just cause, declaration by a legitimate authority, war as a last resort, proportional means, and a firm commitment to protecting civilians (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2309–2313).
But let’s be honest—modern wars rarely meet these standards.
In today’s conflicts, civilians aren’t just caught in the crossfire; they are the crossfire. Bombs fall on homes, schools, and hospitals. We’ve witnessed this in Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Ukraine, and Gaza—where attacks weren’t only unjustified, but based on false claims and violations of international resolutions.
Drones strike indiscriminately, showing little regard for who they harm. International laws meant to protect the innocent, like the Geneva conventions, are routinely ignored. And far too often, moral voices stay silent—or worse, become muddled with diplomatic language that reeks of hypocrisy.
Look at the Numbers.
In 2024 alone, nearly 160,000 people were killed in armed conflicts worldwide. Of these, over 76,000 lost their lives in Ukraine, while more than 44,500 Palestinians were killed in Gaza, with an additional 105,000 injured. By November 2024, geospatial analysts estimated that almost 60% of buildings in Gaza had been damaged, leaving many of the 1.9 million internally displaced people without a home to return to.
Sudan’s ongoing civil war has claimed over 150,000 lives since 2023, and the conflict in Syria has resulted in more than half a million deaths since 2011, including over 21,000 in 2024 alone—many of them innocent children—while millions more have been displaced.
Yet, these lives often don’t provoke the same concern from pro-life communities—why is that?
War Is a Moral Failure
Pope Francis was a strong and consistent voice against war. In Fratelli Tutti, he wrote: “War is a failure of politics and of humanity, a shameful capitulation, a stinging defeat before the forces of evil.” For him—and for the Church—war is not just tragic. It’s a moral failure, especially when it targets the innocent. He has called repeatedly for ceasefires, diplomacy, and disarmament.
In one of his recent general audiences , Pope Leo XIV reiterated that call during the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. He pleaded for peace in Gaza and demanded the release of all hostages. His words were simple but firm: “Never again war.”
Conscience and Courage
The Church also affirms the right of Catholics to follow their conscience—especially when it comes to participating in war. Those who object to fighting can be recognized as conscientious objectors. That’s not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of integrity.
Think of Blessed Franz Jagerstatter, an Austrian who refused to fight for Hitler and was executed for it. He wasn’t a politician or a priest—just a man of faith who believed that following Christ meant saying “no” to killing. His witness challenges all of us to take our convictions seriously, even when it costs us something.
Being Pro-Life Means Being a Peacemaker
Peace is not some abstract ideal. It’s a daily commitment to respect life in all its forms. As Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” That’s what being pro-life is about—helping people live fully, freely, and with dignity.
Peace-making can look like advocating for ceasefires, helping refugees, supporting nonviolent diplomacy, or working to address the root causes of conflict like poverty, injustice, and oppression.
Catholic organizations like Caritas, Pax Christi, and the Catholic Worker Movement show us what this kind of consistent witness looks like: defending life before birth and also standing with those suffering in war and poverty.
An Undivided Heart for Life
The Catholic pro-life witness is most powerful when it is both consistent and compassionate. This means speaking up for the unborn, yes—but also for the elderly, the sick, the poor, and the innocent victims of war. Scripture makes it clear: God values every life, from the womb to the tomb—and everywhere in between. As Christians, we are called to do the same.
We can’t compartmentalize our moral concern. To be truly pro-life is to be a peacemaker, an advocate for the voiceless, and a defender of all who suffer unjustly.
In doing so, we reflect the heart of Christ, who came that all might have life—and have it abundantly (John 10:10).
Lavoisier Fernandes, born and raised in Goa, is currently based in West London. His faith is “work in progress”- and a lifelong journey. He has always been fascinated by the Catholic faith, thanks to his Salesian schooling. He’s passionate about podcasting, theology, the papacy, and volunteering. He has hosted ‘Talking Faith’ series for Heavens Road FM, Catholic Radio, connecting with ordinary men and women within the Catholic faith, other faiths and examining issues affecting both the Church and society. He has also been a host on Shalom World Catholic TV for two episodes of the ‘Heart Talk’ series. He presently contributes for the Goa Diocesan magazine Renevacao.
Congratulations for a bold and lucid presentation on the fuller meaning of being pro-life.