One chime a day to remember unborn children. This is the initiative of the Diocese of Ventimiglia – San Remo to give voice to those who have no voice and which has already attracted numerous criticisms and accusations from exponents of the Ligurian centre-left.
Last December 28, in fact, on the occasion of the liturgical memory of the Holy Innocents, the diocesan community was involved in the inauguration of the Bell of Unborn Children, located in the turret of the bishop’s seat; the bell was blessed in the Con-Cathedral Basilica of San Siro, in Sanremo, during the prayer vigil for Life Day in 2022.
“To all unborn children.” This is what we read on the bell that the bishop, Msgr. Antonio Suetta, wanted to dedicate it to the many innocent people of our time. It is not the first time that the Ligurian Diocese stands out for its attention to nascent life. We saw it with the “40 days for Life” initiative, forty days, in fact, of prayers, testimonies and meetings to learn about and deepen the pro-life cause. And it is precisely on this occasion that the bell was cast, as a visible and lasting sign of prayer, memory and trust. There Compass interviewed Msgr. Suetta.
A bell to give voice to the voiceless: Excellency, why this choice?
For several years the Diocese of Ventimiglia – San Remo has been committed to paying special attention to the theme of custody and respect for life, from its conception to its natural conclusion, especially on the occasion of the annual Day for Life and by organizing the “40 days for Life”. Precisely in relation to this circumstance, on February 5, 2022, we decided to cast a new bell dedicated “to unborn children” and we blessed it during the prayer vigil on that February 5. The immediate intention was to place it on the turret of the Villa Giovanna d’Arco (seat of the diocesan Curia) in the center of Sanremo and the Diocese; only now, in the context of renovation interventions, have we managed to position it. We have chosen as the beginning of the sound the significant date of the conclusion of the Jubilee and the liturgical anniversary of the Holy Innocent Martyrs.
There is therefore an intertwining between the Santi Innocents and children who are aborted?
Absolutely yes. While thinking overall about the value of life in all its forms and seasons, the bell dedicated “to unborn children” aims to be a permanent reminder of the often forgotten and obscured scourge of abortion. At the same time it is intended to be a prayer, a hope and an invitation to rethink unfair laws and to encourage, with the resources of honest thought and concrete solidarity, a decisive overcoming of abortive practices and their ideological propaganda as a presumed right of women and as an achievement of civilization, while representing a painful shame.
Reaffirm the dignity of vita nascent and condemn the scourge of abortion: how important is it today?
Unfortunately, the geographical spread of abortion permitted by law (in almost all countries in the world) and the recurring practice of this serious crime against human life have produced an addiction to the fact, so much so that many people do not realize what abortion actually is, biologically and medically, and above all they no longer consider it either a crime or a sin. Especially progressive and feminist ideological campaigns consider abortion a woman’s “right” and configure it as an absolute decision and evaluation in relation to her will and freedom, claiming to bend natural law, scientific evidence, positive law and even moral judgment exclusively to this subjective reference. I believe it is important and compelling to raise awareness of the scourge of abortion, a topic that is not confessional, but anthropological and scientific.
The Bell of the Unborn Children recalls consciences. What he wants to convey, however, is also a message of hope for all those mothers who have had an abortion and who can discover the closeness of their children…
Certainly. Contrary to prejudices expressed by many regarding this initiative, the ringing of this bell is in support of Life and is not intended to be an invective against women who have had abortions. The Church firmly condemns abortion as an “abominable crime” (see Vatican Council II, Joy and Hope n. 51), but also considers the woman, who has resorted to abortion, a victim of this evil: in fact in the event of abortion a child and, at the same time, a mother dies. Abortion leaves a heavy burden of pain and the bell invites prayer and closeness for all women who suffer for this reason.
How is this possible?
The perspective of faith and sound reason considers abortion very serious, but Christian hope teaches that human beings voluntarily suppressed before birth as well as those aborted for natural and spontaneous causes are in the hands of God and, in his powerful mercy, are called to achieve the eternal destiny for which they were conceived and willed by divine providence. In this mystery, recognized as the communion of saints, these unborn children are effectively “next to” and “present” in the lives of their parents. We must not forget fathers too, considered extraneous to this process by human laws and ideologies.
