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Doylestown priest “wants to change hearts” about abortion

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The Rev. Matthew Guckin, pastor at Doylestown’s Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, said he believes life begins at conception and taking a life is wrong.
In an interview to discuss the church’s view on the Supreme Court’s recent decision overturning Roe v. Wade, the pastor shared his thoughts on abortion and the decades of controversy surrounding it.
“I marched on Jan. 22 many times, peacefully and in prayer,” said Guckin, marking the date that made abortion legal under federal law in the United States in 1973. “But, it was never my primary goal to overturn the law.”
Instead, the priest explained, “I’m infinitely more passionate about changing hearts. We need to think strategically, spiritually and definitely not politically.”
Guckin said he believes the court “exceeded its Constitutional authority” when, in Roe, it found a woman’s right to privacy guaranteed her the right to choose to have an abortion. “The power to make laws lies with states and Congress, not the Supreme Court,” he said.
The church teaches that “life begins at conception and it is wrong to take a life at any stage,” said Guckin, adding, for him, “that includes the death penalty.”
Asked if he has held a sermon on the issue of abortion since the court’s decision, the pastor said, not directly.
“I think issues such as abortion demand a conversation. I prefer dialogue, rather than monologue,” stressing “ethically speaking, I oppose abortion. Life is a beautiful choice.”
Guckin said he’s known many women who have had an abortion and are sorry that they did. “The church needs to lead with mercy, while not compromising its beliefs. Me, as a man, I need to be empathetic to where women are…I don’t want to give a conclusion without listening.”

The Catholic Church, said the pastor, has a principle of Double Effect that says an action has two effects, one morally good, the other morally bad. It’s applicable in the matter of abortion, explained Guckin, in that it states:
- The action is in itself good or at least indifferent.
- Only the good effect is intended: the evil effect might be foreseen, but it must not be intended.
- The good effect may not be produced by means of the evil effect; and
- The good effect must clearly outweigh the bad consequences.
“Sometimes, a fifth condition is added, Guckin said, in an email, “that we must do what we can to minimize the harm caused by the action, even if more harm is inevitable.”
In discussing what his church is doing to support women with unwanted pregnancies, Guckin said, “the parish has always had ministries to help the homeless, visit the sick and care for others.”
This year, OLMC has partnered with Legacy of Life Foundation to form Legacy of Life at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The foundation serves more than 500 families throughout the region struggling to provide for people who “have chosen life and did not want to have abortions,” said the pastor. The support includes free pregnancy tests, counseling and ultrasounds, free life skills classes for three years, and free basic baby supplies for three years.
“We are truly pro every life,” said Guckin. Looking forward, he said, “perhaps abortions will become more rare.”


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