Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84Plough Quarterly • Autumn 2016 7 Consistent Life Network Eileen Egan, a founder of Pax Christi USA and a close friend of Dorothy Day, is credited with first describing the Chris- tian’s defense of every life as a “seamless garment,” a refer- ence to the clothing taken from Jesus at the crucifixion. She wrote, “In common with the early followers of Jesus, we view the protection of all life, from its conception to its end, as a seamless garment.” In 1987 the Seamless Garment Network was established to unite organizations and individuals committed to advocating for a “consistent life ethic.” Although the term has occasionally proved convenient cover for politicians more committed to some life issues than others, the organization is determined to remain non-partisan. In 2002 it changed its name to Consistent Life Network to reflect a move toward a broader interfaith membership. “We are committed to the protection of life, which is threatened in today’s world by war, abortion, poverty, racism, the death penalty, and euthanasia. . . . We challenge those working on all or some of these issues to maintain a cooperative spirit of peace, reconciliation, and respect in protecting the unprotected. . . . We serve the anti-violence community by connecting issues, building bridges, and strengthening the case against each kind of socially-approved killing by ­ consistently opposing them all.” consistentlifenetwork.org You Carried Me Melissa Ohden is four- teen when she learns that she is the survivor of a botched abortion. In this intimate memoir, which Plough will be releasing in January, she details her search for her biological parents and her own journey from anger and shame to faith and forgiveness. After a decade-long search Ohden finally locates her birth father and writes to extend forgiveness, only to learn that he has died without answering her burning questions. Years later, she finally hears from the woman who carried her and gave her life – and was never told that the child she was forced to abort had survived. Yet even the most startling family secrets are eclipsed by the triumphant moment when Ohden becomes a mother herself in the very hospital where she was aborted. And she reveals how – through the miscarriage of her only son and the birth of a second daughter with complex health issues, and through hearing her own birth mother’s story – she has gained a deep empathy for every woman impacted by abortion. This intensely personal story of love and redemption cuts through the debates sur- rounding a divisive issue to touch our common humanity. The sensitivity with which Ohden personalizes issues such as adoption and women’s rights will appeal to readers regard- less of their views. youcarriedmebook.com Poet in This Issue: Joseph Michael Fino A member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, Brother Joseph Michael Fino lives in the South Bronx in New York City. His poem, “An Apology for Vivian” appears on page 67.  Fa m i ly a n d Fr i e n d s Family & Friends  A S S O R T E D N O T E S Paula Modersohn-Becker, Girl with Red Dress and Sunflower Image from Wikimedia Commons (public domain)