Christians have a Gospel duty
On the first night of the DNC convention Archbishop Chaput was at the site of a new Planned Parenthood clinic in a primarily Latino and African-American suburb of Denver (some things never change).
"Here in America, and especially here tonight, we need to remember two basic truths," Archbishop Chaput said.
"Here's the first truth," he said. "Society has an obligation -- and Christians have a Gospel duty -- to provide adequate and compassionate support for unwed and abandoned mothers; women facing unintended pregnancies; and women struggling with the aftermath of an abortion. It's not enough to talk about 'pro-life politics.' The label 'pro-life' demands that we work to ensure social policies that will protect young woman and families, and help them generously in their need. [...]
"Here's the second truth. Killing an unborn child is never the right answer to a woman's or society's problems. Acts of violence create a culture of violence -- and abortion is the most intimate form of violence there is. It wounds the woman, it kills the unborn child and it poisons the roots of justice and charity that bind us all into one human family."
"Planned Parenthood is the largest single provider of abortion and family suppression services in the United States," he explained. "This facility in this minority neighborhood should offend every African-American and Latino family, and all of us, because every child lost to abortion here subtracts one more life, one more universe of possibilities and talent, from the future of this community. [...] The business of Planned Parenthood is the prevention of the future -- and business is good, and very profitable, at the expense of this community."
The archbishop was joined by a niece of Martin Luther King, Jr., Alveda King; Reverend Willard Johnson, pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church; and Denver's Auxiliary Bishop James Conley.
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Trying to envision what would happen to the Diocese of Albany if we suddenly inherited Archbishop Chaput.
This is beautiful. I wish this speech and the event had gotten more coverage.
"family suppression services" - nice phrase
Yay for Archbishop Chaput! Shout it from the housetops, Your Excellency!
Oh man, I was there Monday night- there had to have been about 2000 people- the march literally circled the PP facility, the largest in the nation at a whole city block, and was as wide as the entire street. And Archbishop Chaput and Bishop Conely are wonderful!!!!
OK, this may be tmi, but just had to share.
The size and good will of the crowd was encouraging, including both neighborhood folks and people from up and down the Front Range of CO. Didn't sense any anger, just lots of positive prayer. Glad to see the many priests, sisters, and brothers there!
Was excited to hear Archbishop Chaput, who reinforced what he'd written in his response to Speaker Pelosi that same day. Pastor Johnson compared the pro-life movement to the Civil Rights marches in which he'd participated.
Dr. King spoke specifically to the way that Planned Parenthood has targeted minority women. She also gave powerful and personal witness to the affect of abortion on families. Dr. King repented her own 2 abortions, and shared that her granddad had convince her parents not to abort her -- had even described her as a blonde-haired girl. This prophecy was later to affirm their decision, when their strawberry-blonde baby was born.
The speakers linked arms and began the 1-block walk to the PP facility. The procession was so long that it literally surrounded the PP property (a full square block) in prayer.
Related Links:
Dr. Alveda King's Prolife statement of Aug 28, 2008, the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech - http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/421207648.html
Priests for Life - http://www.priestsforlife.org/africanamerican/index.htm
CNS - http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0804377.htm
Denver Post - http://www.denverpost.com/ci_10302183?source=bb
Meanwhile, the opening ceremonies of the Democratic National Convention were under way in Denver. The draft of the 2008 Democratic National Platform states: "The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right."
I too was there Monday night. It was extraordinary. A Zenit story I read about it said there were 3000 of us there (that number might be a bit large). Our archbishop, bishop, many priests, seminarians, nuns in habit, other Christians, young families were there. We prayed the rosary in unison as we marched, and when the front of the group had come around the facility's two blocks, there were still marchers who where yet to even approach the facility. And Alveda King was an inspiration, reiterating her regret for her abortion. Planned Parenthood's inherent racism, and the right to life as today's greatest civil rights struggle.
Haha "family suppression service" is great, it sounds like something that gets dropped from a warplane.
Glad to hear someone talking about supporting the mothers etc though. If abortion is to be removed as an option, the consequences have to be dealt with!
Is it me, or has anyone else been struck by the sharp contrast between Archbishop Chaput's use of the term "unintended pregnancies" with Senator Obama's term of "unwanted pregnancies"? Seems to me this speaks to the heart of the pro-choice motivation...
ARchbishop Chaput is a gift to the Catholic Church by the Holy Spirit. Thank you a thousand times.
Roe v. Wade makes campaign comeback
Democrats warn women that high court — and abortion rights — is at stake
DENVER - The refrain in many of the Democratic leaders’ responses to Sen. John McCain’s choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate: Roe v. Wade, Roe v. Wade.
The 1973 Supreme Court decision nationalizing a woman’s right to get an abortion was a top-of-mind issue for top Democrats.
Voters, beware, the Democrats' message seemed to be: Palin is not in favor of abortion rights.
The Democrats seemed to be concerned that some voters might be under the misapprehension that Palin was a pro-choice woman — or that because she is a woman, it might help McCain get the votes of pro-choice women.
The message echoed and re-echoed:
“Gov. Palin shares John McCain's commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade,” said Obama spokesman Bill Burton in a statement issued before McCain had stepped out on the stage in Dayton, Ohio, with Palin.
“She shares John McCain’s commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade,” agreed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi two hours later.
“Gov. Palin and John McCain are a good match because they both want to overturn Roe v. Wade,” chimed in Ellen Malcolm, a Hillary Clinton adviser and president of the Democratic group Emily’s List, which backs women abortion rights candidates.
“The last thing women need is a president — and vice president — who are prepared to turn back the clock on women's rights and repeal the protections of Roe v. Wade,” said Cecile Richards, the president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, which backs mostly Democratic candidates.
If McCain were to win the election but not serve out his term, it would be Palin nominating justices for any Supreme Court vacancies.