This commentary is part 5 in the Cancel Culture series

In a well-written article entitled “A Proof of the Existence of God,” author James Kidd sets forth the truths that underscore the fact that God does exist and that because of His omnipotent power each and every one of us exists. Kidd finishes his article with these words: “We can conclude, then, that even if all of your sense perceptions are false, even if you are nothing but a brain in a vat being manipulated by scientists into believing that you are reading this article right now when in fact you are not, there are two things you can know with absolute, 100 percent certainty: (1) You exist, and (2) God exists.”

You might conclude, then, that this fact of life would prevent anyone from suggesting that there really is no basic right to exist, but you would be wrong.

There are forces in society today that are committed to the notion that human beings no longer have a right to exist. Predominant cultural influencers—cancel culture devotees—have rejected the truth that God is the Author of Life and have instead put themselves forth as experts. These people react to pro-life advocates with propaganda, misrepresentation, and worse.

Sadly, these are the people who are teaching our children, and in too many cases formulating our laws and policies. We have examples of their dirty work all around us.

The group openDemocracy spends a great deal of time attacking pro-life efforts and misrepresenting the facts, especially when it comes to love and care for expectant mothers who choose life instead of seeking abortion.

In Arizona, “Gov. Doug Ducey vetoed a bill Tuesday that would have forbidden teachers to discuss sex with school children without parents’ foreknowledge and consent.” Ducey went even further issuing an executive order that stipulates, in part, that “any existing sex education course of study must be made available and accessible for review both online and in person.”

In one fell swoop, Ducey canceled parental rights in the classroom and on the Internet by making sure sex ed materials are available online. No wonder basic human rights—including the right to exist—are disappearing. Trampling parental rights and distorting the worthy work of pro-life care are steps to total indoctrination.

Not only that, but so-called religious leaders are on the same page with Governor Ducey when it comes to force-feeding propaganda to the public. A religious group aligned with Planned Parenthood is proclaiming: “Good people have abortions. God knows and loves you.”

In response, a Kentucky pro-life leader said: “Organizations and groups supporting abortion have committed to a goal of de-stigmatizing abortion, by lifting up positive messages. . . . These billboards, attesting to God’s affection, in a sense, present a half-truth and only half of the capacity of God’s love, setting aside the unborn child whose life and humanity is extinguished by abortion. That precious unborn child, created in the image of God, is also the recipient of God’s constant love.”

On the one side, so-called religious people are denying the baby’s fundamental right to exist, while on the other, pro-life people are striving to shine the light of truth. For that, we are sincerely grateful. But more needs to be done.

Our children are precious gifts from God, whether they are residing unseen within their mother or smiling and in plain sight. They are, as each of us is, children of God who deserve respect. Until that truth is absorbed in our culture, snuffing out the negativity that parades in our midst as wisdom, tragic stories like those cited here will continue.

Remember that nobody has the right to cancel the basic right to exist. Pope Benedict XVI explained this eloquently when he said: “The fundamental human right, the presupposition of every other right, is the right to life itself. . . . Abortion, consequently, cannot be a human right—it is the very opposite. It is a deep wound in society.”

This wound can only be healed by persistent prayer and activity designed to undo efforts to cancel the basic right to exist.