To the Band of Brothers: September 16, 2024

Good morning!

You may have noticed we recently launched a social media campaign joining forces with the Archdiocese of Miami and the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops in opposition to the recently proposed Amendment 4 to the State of Florida’s constitution. This amendment would allow late-term abortions, including when the baby is capable of feeling pain, and would eliminate laws requiring parental consent and safety protocols for women. While I appreciate that the vast majority of comments on our posts were positive, some were not. It is for this reason I asked for the comments to be turned off.

A Belen post focused on protecting the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death should not come as a surprise to anyone. Belen is and always has been unabashedly Catholic. For this reason, not only do we lock arms with our Catholic Church in being staunchly pro-life, but we reserve the right and responsibility to express this on all our platforms. From the classroom to Instagram, we remain faithful to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Some may argue there is room for healthy debate about certain moral positions of the Church. Of course, there is. Some may contest that expressing your opinion is part and parcel of the American way of life. Of course, it is. But Instagram is not the place for it. Belen uses its social media platform to promote the values and teachings of Catholicism. It is who we are.

In addition, because Belen students have access to and are encouraged to “follow” their school on social media, Belen has a responsibility to only post those things that are in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Contesting Belen’s stance on any moral issue is not most constructively done on a social media platform. It is simply not the appropriate context.

Anyone associated with or familiar with Belen Jesuit should not be alarmed we hold a strictly pro-life point of view. Belen clings fervently to its right and obligation to do so and all parents who choose Belen for their sons are clearly aware of that. The young men of our school are exposed to the very clear and comprehensive reasons why we do not believe in abortion and defend not only the rights of women, but also the rights of the unborn. They are informed of the reasons why abortion is a sin with significant consequences not only to those immediately involved, but society at large. 

Belen is aware the topic of abortion is controversial and has been debated extensively for many years. There is no question that informed and constructive dialogue is important. But our young men, while they are at Belen, need to be exposed to the teachings of the Catholic Church in a consistent and comprehensive manner. While these teachings seem to have fallen out of popularity, they are no less true. If Belen does not stand as a bastion of Catholic teaching, and if it does not pass that teaching on to future generations of Catholic youth, then Belen students will never be equipped to engage in a dialogue. They would be reduced to simply sitting there passively listening to the world’s monologue. 

I have used this analogy before: Belen is a Catholic watering hole. It is here our young men’s thirst is quenched with the rich and wholesome teachings of the Catholic Church. It is only then they are ready to venture off into the world to face the challenges of the greater society. A Belen student needs to graduate understanding why the Church insists on the protection of life, especially the life of the most vulnerable. And Belen has an obligation to communicate that understanding. We will make no excuses for that.

That being said, Belen encourages those who can to vote NO on Amendment 4. While there is still much work to be done in order to promote a culture of life across the board, this is clearly one step in helping to defend those who cannot defend themselves. In a speech to the United Nations on the occasion of its 40th anniversary, Mother Teresa boldly stated, “We must not be surprised when we hear of murders, of killings, of wars, of hatred. If a mother can kill her own child, what is left but for us to kill each other.” Let your vote, therefore, be ultimately a vote for peace and love.

Auspice Maria,

Fr. Willie ‘87