Truth and Compassion

These past two months I have come across many books that focus on how Truth and compassion have reached across battle lines of the pro choice/pro life as well as Catholic/Pentecostal divide. These books are "unPlanned" by Abby Johnson and No Price too High by Alex Jones. Abby Johnson writes in the introduction that "My story is not a comfortable one to read."(unPlanned, xix). I found this to be very true as it shows not only Abby's inner battle but reminds us all of how we can rationalize our sins. The first chapter is one of the most heart rending as it describes the ultrasound guided abortion that Abby Johnson was drafted to help with. I would recommend you skip this chapter if you are sensitive or feel that you would not be able to read about it. It is something that will forever stay in my mind. Every pro-lifer should read this book and how compassion and caring led Abby to seek help from those who were on the "other side of the fence," (unPlanned, 39) particularly the Coalition for Life. A number of times in the book Abby mentions some of the tactics that "solidifies your opposition against you."(unPlanned, 89). How pictures of aborted babies, the grim reaper, signs that say murderers hurt the pro life cause. While Abby always had doubts about abortion it was pro lifers who showed that they cared for her and for those seeking abortion that caused her to seek their help when she was in a quandary. The Truth got a hold of her through the avenue of compassion.
I heard a quote once that said, "if you study theology you will become Christian, if you study history you will become Catholic". This was the case for Alex Jones who since his teens had been sold out to God since his teens after being baptized in the Holy Spirit and went from being a teacher to a Pentecostal pastor at his own church. No Price too High chronicles his discovery of the Church fathers and a gradual realization that the Catholic church was the one that Jesus started. While this book follows in the footsteps of books such as Rome Sweet Home, A Philadelphia Catholic in King James Court it also brings the dimension of culture and race into the story.