The value of human life is beyond measure, each soul with unbound potential. Celebrating life is important, to protect that potential is to never support abortion even if a child is placed up for adoption or into orphan care. The need to protect life is self-evident: here are 5 famous people who changed the world you probably didn’t know were also orphans.
“To adopt a child is a great work of love. When it is done, much is given, but much is also received. It is a true exchange of gifts.” – Pope Saint John Paul II
J. R. R. Tolkien
Legendary fantasy author of the best-selling novel ever written and fierce Catholic, J. R. R. Tolkien lost his father at the age of three from rheumatic fever and his mother at twelve from diabetes. Raised thereafter by a family friend, Tolkien would go on to leave an inexorable mark on the millions that read his epic high fantasy works.
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was given up for adoption to the Chief of the Thembu people by his mother after his father died at age 9. Mandela said the chief took him in like one of their own, raising him alongside their children. He would go on to become an anti-apartheid revolutionary and symbol for world peace.
John Lennon
John Lennon was born to parents with a tumultuous marriage. At the age of 5, Lennon’s father had a heated argument with his mother and forced him to pick which parent he would live with. They eventually both decided to give Lennon up for adoption: his aunt Mimi Smith took him in and raised him. Later, John Lennon would become known as one of the greatest songwriters ever and a member of the greatest band to ever perform.
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs was the son of Syrian-Muslim Addulfattah Jandali and University of Wisconsin student Joanne Schieble. The two never married, and Schieble left Wisconsin to deliver her son in San Francisco where she placed Jobs up for adoption. His adoptive parents promised Schieble they would send him to college. His legacy has cemented his mantra: “the ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
Babe Ruth
The Great Bambino, George Herman Ruth Jr. was born to a saloonkeeper in a rough Maryland neighborhood. At the age of 7, Ruth was sent to the Saint Mary’s Industrial School for Boys, part orphanage and part boarding school. He became a star pitcher on the school’s baseball team, going on to become the greatest baseball player of all time.
These five were able to realize their potential and change the course of history forever because of the compassion of others in caring for them after they tragically became orphans. Babe Ruth was able to do so because of the charity of kindhearted Catholics, an ancient mission of the Church that is still fervently carried out today.
Today, the Church operates over 10,000 orphanages and over 10,000 daycare centers across the globe, making it one of the largest charitable aid organizations worldwide. You can make a difference and impact, helping to support this ancient Church mission of love for humankind and caring for children through a charitable donation with MISSIO!
Launched by Pope Francis himself, MISSIO is a new and innovative Catholic crowd-funding platform that allows you to directly provide aid and assistance to the poorest areas around the world.
With MISSIO, you can directly support the works of Catholic missionaries in the poorest and most desperate areas of the world. You can help provide for the over 200 orphaned children in the poor community of Moshi, Tanzania with hot meals, shelter, clothing, medicine, school supplies and above all, an opportunity to experience God’s love. You can also send general support for the Pope’s missions around the world.
Choose a mission of Pope Francis knowing that 100% of your donation will go directly to that cause. Share the mission on social media so others can support the projects also.
MISSIO is powered by The Pontifical Mission Societies, the Catholic Church’s official support organization for overseas missions since 1822, providing for a global network of people who are making a difference for communities in need around the globe.
