Flying the United States flag at half-mast or half-staff is a symbol of honor, remembrance, and mourning in response to a loss of human life. [A quick aside: In the U.S., the term “half-mast” is used on ships and “half-staff” is used on land, representing what the flag is normally attached to – a mast at sea or a staff on land.]
The U.S. President orders the flag to be flown at half-staff upon the death of a prominent domestic leader and sometimes even upon the death of a prominent international leader (For example, President George W. Bush ordered flags to half-staff in response to the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005). Governors of specific states and territories may also order the flag to half-staff in responding to a loss of life that affects their particular community.
We also have some annual observances where we as a nation fly the flag at half-staff in response to the deaths of a particular group of people. For example, on Memorial Day the flag is ordered to half-staff until Noon in remembrance of those who died while serving in the armed forces, and on Patriot Day, September 11th, in remembrance of the nearly 3,000 people who died on 9/11/01.
I have a proposal for all Catholic and non-Catholic Christian leaders in positions of authority: Give the order to lower the flags to half-staff for the buildings, churches, and schools under your charge in remembrance and mourning for the thousands of innocent pre-born children killed each day by legalized abortion in the U.S.
We must look at and deal with the reality that pre-born humans are equal to born humans, and that each and every day in the U.S. about 3,000 pre-born children are being killed and thrown away like garbage.
When 3,000 born humans are killed, for example on 9/11, we rightly call it a national tragedy and we lower our flags to half-staff accordingly and appropriately.
It is time for us to be authentically consistent. We have a national tragedy happening every single day in the U.S.
Let’s lower our flags to half-staff until we have federal legislation or a human life amendment to the U.S. Constitution that enshrines the right to life into law for all pre-born children from the moment of conception.
It is certainly within our First Amendment rights to lower our personal and private property flags to honor, remember, and mourn the loss of human life as we see fit. It is quite fitting for us to do so on the grounds I have laid out here.
If you are not a Catholic or non-Catholic Christian leader in a position of authority, and I realize most reading this are not, please contact your pastor and/or bishop and, with the highest respect, please ask them to consider giving the order to lower the flags to half-staff for the buildings, churches, and schools under their authority in honor, remembrance, and mourning for the thousands of innocent pre-born children killed each day by legalized abortion in the U.S.
Please let me know what sort of response you get by emailing me at jimhavens@lovewillendabortion.com.
Jim Havens hosts Love Will End Abortion live Tuesdays 4-5PM(EST) on The Station of the Cross Catholic Radio Network.
Stay tuned to Love Will End Abortion as we seek to awaken hearts and minds, beginning with our own, to face the reality of legalized pre-born child killing and seek to answer three questions:
- What is our responsibility?
- What are the most effective non-violent actions available to us to end abortion as soon as possible?
- Do we love enough to do more?
Jim, this is a powerful idea. Might a special flag to commemorate the unborn (flown beneath the US flag) also be appropriate? Something simarlar to the way POW/MIA flags are flown in commemoration? The POW/MIA flag was created as a symbol of National concern and commitment to POW/MIAs and a campaign was launched to gain its widespread acceptance and use by the United States government …also local governments and civilian organizations across the United States.
Thanks, Dee! It is OUR idea now, so go run with it and do whatever He tells you. For me, I’m looking to keep it as simple as possible: lower the flags to half-staff. But I did notice that when a flag cannot be lowered to half-staff (ex. most residential flag poles are too short) there is a long-standing tradition of using a black mourning ribbon that attaches to the top of the pole and has the same meaning as flying the flag at half-staff.
This is a step in the right direction. It will likely be seen as foolish or provocative (or worse?) and we need to be prepared for those types of reaction to our request. I think it’s also important for groups of people to make this request because it’s easier to say no to one person than to a group.
Thanks, Chris!
“For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7
I encourage everyone to please email your pastor and bishop (the quickest and easiest way to do this), then send me whatever response you receive (jimhavens@lovewillendabortion.com). I will keep track of any objections and answer them as they arise.
Here are email templates you can use to keep it as easy as possible for you: https://lovewillendabortion.com/flags-half-staff-email-template/
Hopefully we will get a “yes” or two to get some momentum going. Please take action!
If you want to follow Chris’s lead on the petition idea, we have now added a blank petition form for you to customize, print, and use to build grassroots parish support before approaching your pastor: https://lovewillendabortion.com/flags-half-staff-email-template/
Thanks, Chris!
Wonderful way to spread the word! What better reason to half-staff the flag,than for life!
I agree!! Abortions are way out of control now in USA!!! Killing USA Citizens, used as a form of Birth Control…NOT RIGHT!!!! Something has to be done ASAP!! THe RIGHT TO LIFE!!!!