Ask a Catholic youth when human life begins

Ask a Catholic youth when human life begins and you may be surprised by the answer.  This weekend I spoke at a local Catholic youth conference on stem cell research and cloning.  I have also given courses in local middle schools on the subject.  I always begin by asking them when science says a new human life begins.  Out of probably 200 teenagers, only one of them got it right: conception.

They answered with "when there is a heartbeat," "at birth," "when there is blood."  But only one girl answered correctly.  I am astounded and dismayed everytime I ask the question because most of them have been educated in Catholic schools.  In fact, one girl was the daughter of friends of mine who I know have taught her about abortion and she said, "science says life begins at three months."

The light bulbs go on when I say that what we debate isn't when a new human life begins (or it shouldn't be). That is clear: a new distinct human organism, identifiable by his or her unique DNA, is created at conception.  What we debate is whether we should assign value to that life.  The hotly argued question isn't whether a human embryo is a human organism, but whether it has moral worth.

Then I ask them when the Catholic Church says human life begins, and they always say in unison: conception.

What a disconnect.  So next time you have the opportunity to talk to a Catholic youth, ask them when human life begins.  Their answer will no doubt surprise you.  Then it is your turn to enlighten them because clearly their science teachers aren't doing their job.