A chorus of voices ... in the next world

November 29, 2007 — Former Congressman Henry Hyde, 83, a Knight of Columbus and a tireless defender of the unborn, passed away early this morning at a Chicago hospital, after suffering renal failure and cardiac arrhythmia.

In 1976, he authored the first successful attack on Roe v. Wade. His Hyde Amendment — still in force 31 years later — ended U.S. government funding of abortion. In spite of his efforts, millions continued to be killed. But who can know how many lives he saved?

Now he stands to account for his life's work, perhaps recalling these words he once spoke: "When the time comes as it surely will, when we face that awesome moment, the final judgment, I've often thought, as Fulton Sheen wrote, that it is a terrible moment of loneliness."

His recollection continues: "You have no advocates, you are there alone standing before God and a terror will rip through your soul like nothing you can imagine. But I really think that those in the pro-life movement will not be alone."

Not alone? That's right: the millions he couldn't save. He is now in their presence. What are those martyred souls saying in his defense?

He recalls the rest of his speech: "I think there will be a chorus of voices that have never been heard in this world, but are heard beautifully and clearly in the next world, and they will plead for everyone who has been in this movement. They will say to God, 'Spare him because he loved us,' and God will look at you and say not 'Did you succeed?' — but 'Did you try?'"

— Editor