So, which was it, Mr. President?

By: Sr. Clare Hunter

I heard two news reports on WETA the other day that made me want to throw something – so like a good nun, I prayed. It wasn’t necessarily shocking or surprising news, just ridiculously ironic. Here were the two most important things the good people of Metropolitan D.C. needed to know at 7:30 a.m.: In Paris, dogs and their owners marched for more off-leash space and access to public transportation; oh, and little girls can now buy the super-duper contraceptive Plan B at the drug store without adult notice or supervision. Why are we talking about dogs protesting in Paris but treating young women so carelessly? Seriously, is it me?

To refresh your memory on the Plan B saga, I refer you back to my blog posts, “What do Girls Need?” and “Washing The Pill down with Organic Milk…and Other Mental Gymnastics.” Bottom line, “emergency contraceptives” can now be purchased and taken by any woman, regardless of age. My heart goes out to all young women and their parents. The FDA had good reasons for prohibiting non-prescription access to Plan B One-Step, as the powerful dose of hormones has such radical effects on the body of the woman that it should be monitored as it works, with the potential for blood clotting or hemorrhaging. Imagine the fear in a vulnerable young woman as her body reacts adversely to the medication. I still say what she really desires and needs is someone to talk to for love and support. And the poor parents who will not understand why their daughter is suffering emotionally, physically, or spiritually. In addition to the physiological effects, I worry about her heart and her soul as she is dealing with sexual activity (chosen or forced) and the fears of an unintended pregnancy or the distinct possibility of the pill causing an abortion.

I am frustrated that our current government administration wouldn’t fight harder to protect our girls. But I also find myself confused over what I think sounds like contradictory sentiments. The New York Times article, “U.S. Drops Bid to Limit Sales of Morning-After Pill,” seemed to indicate that President Obama and the Health & Human Services Department wanted the Plan B pill to have more restrictions, reporting that “Mr. Obama had expressed personal concern about making the drug more broadly available last year….He said that as the father of two young girls, the idea of making the drug available to them without a prescription made him uncomfortable.” Yet, in April, President Obama spoke at a Planned Parenthood conference and said: “Forty years after the Supreme Court affirmed a woman’s constitutional right to privacy, including the right to choose, we shouldn’t have to remind people that when it comes to a woman’s health, no politician should get to decide what’s best for you. No insurer should get to decide what kind of care that you get. The only person who should get to make decisions about your health is you.”

That doesn’t sound to me like he wanted to have responsible limits on Plan B’s accessibility. In fact, his concluding statement at the conference rather sounds like he was bent on fighting for easy access to Plan B for underage women. He stated “as long as we’ve got to fight to protect a woman’s right to make her own choices about her own health, I want you to know that you’ve also got a President who’s going to be right there with you fighting every step of the way.” Mr. President, I wish you would see that this is not helping our young women – this merely isolates them in their time of crisis. I pray we all have the wisdom and strength to deal with the repercussions of this decision. And we should pray for the young women whose lives will be deeply affected as they are left on their own with dangerous “remedies” in their times of need.

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High Fives All Around!

By: Sr. Clare Hunter

Charlie is 18 months old. He likes to make dog noises, chatter during homilies and give high fives. Charlie giving high fives is much cuter and appropriate than a “relatively young” nun giving them. So, I’ll let Charlie give them – and I’ll write about who deserves them.

Kids like Charlie bring such a powerful presence to the monthly Respect Life Masses and praying of the rosary outside an abortion facility. Those kids become the icon of what we are there to do – to honor the life of children, born and unborn. Each month, Bishop Loverde travels to a parish to celebrate a Saturday Mass for the intention of increasing respect for human life. Following Mass, he goes to a nearby abortion facility to pray the rosary. I have yet to hear of another bishop in our country who does this each month. Charlie would high five Bishop Loverde for his tireless witness to being a Bishop of Life!

Last Saturday, May 18^th, hundreds attended the Respect Life Mass at St. John the Apostle Church in Leesburg. I’ll admit the pastor, Fr. Mosimann, was pretty relentless as well as patient as we tried to schedule a Mass in their parish. He is good! The gathering was most impressive – the largest we have ever had, and the desire to be united as a parish to pray for an end to abortion and the dignity of human life was inspiring. High fives from Charlie to Fr. Mosimann and the parishioners of St. John the Apostle!

Each month, it is a powerful experience to pray outside of an abortion facility on a Saturday morning. Often there is a baby or toddler present with their parents and it is sobering and emotional to know that inside that building, the lives of many babies have and will end that day. As there aren’t abortion facilities in Leesburg, we had arranged to pray at the cemetery in the area reserved for infants as a way of remembering the sanctity of all human life, from the time of conception. Due to rain, we remained in the church. Situated in the back, I had a great view of the families praying together; moms and dads helping youngsters hold their beads in the right spot. I saw a community, young and not so young, down on their knees, asking Our Blessed Mother to help mothers and fathers say yes to life. Rosaries and prayer booklets were handed out by members of a strong and active parish Respect Life Committee. High five team for all you do!

Following Mass and the rosary, Bishop Loverde traveled to 1st Choice Women’s Health Center, a crisis pregnancy center, to bless a new ultrasound machine to be used as they work with women who are in need of assistance in many areas. This machine was purchased through the Knights of Columbus Ultrasound Program as Knights from six parishes joined to raise enough monies for three ultrasound machines. I was bursting with pride and admiration as I witnessed Bishop Loverde bless the machine with pastors from the parishes looking on, side-by-side with the Knights of Columbus and staff from the Center. This is what it is all about! I don’t know where the Pro-life movement would be without the Knights of Columbus! High fives go out to the parishes of St. John the Apostle, St. Joseph, St. Theresa, St. Francis de Sales, Corpus Christi and Our Lady of Hope. Extra high fives (high tens?) to the Knights of Columbus and their state chaplain Bishop Loverde!

But more than all of these acts that deserve high fives from Charlie – I pray in deep gratitude for the gift of witnessing such dedication to protecting and upholding human life. May God bless all gathered together in prayer and action last Saturday!

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Justice for Babies and Turtles!

By: Sr. Clare Hunter

Teaching high school Catholic morality classes, I always feared parent-teacher conferences. The first year, I braced myself for heated debates with parents concerning the issues of marriage, premarital sex, contraception, and abortion. Oddly, those issues never came up. What did keep coming up was the class where I said that humans have higher intelligence than animals, and animals don’t make moral choices. In short, that human life is higher than animal life. That is what they wanted to debate.

Many a parent came prepared to prove I was wrong with amazing stories of the intelligence and love exhibited by their dogs. More than once I was tempted to agree that it was indeed possible that their dog was more intelligent and loving than their teenager. However, what I had discussed with the students was not merely my opinion but fact: humans have a higher intelligence and can do what animals cannot do – the capacity for self-reflection, love, and moral choices. Your dog is not wondering why it exists or if God exists, wondering how much you love it and how it can love you better. As imperfect as we are, and as doggone cute as animals can be, humans are a superior form of life. Of course, one could wonder as our “furry fecal friends” (credit to a friend) have trained us to pick up and walk through our neighborhoods with their “waste” swinging from our wrists.

It is imperative for Christians to be good stewards and care for creation, protecting it through actions and laws. But then I think we should be consistent and do the same for human life. I took some time to look at the  U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. It is a wonderful site, and I learned a great deal about endangered species and ways to protect them. A man from Georgia will spend 6 months in prison for unlawfully acquiring loggerhead sea turtle eggs in violation of the Lacey Act. Imagine 6 months in prison for taking potential turtles. You will also go to jail if you kill the Florida salt marsh harvest mouse, if the mouse is pregnant! Average litter size 10-12 – yikes!  The American Bald Eagle – one conviction, per bird, per egg. Take a look – plants are protected, too!

I was struck when I read that endangered species are protected under the Lacey Act. I recalled another law that was named after the pregnant woman killed by her husband, the “Laci & Connor Law,” or the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. Same name, different spelling.

Under this law, it can be double homicide if you kill a pregnant woman. Or murder if a miscarriage occurs or the baby dies because the mother is attacked. Though varied and with many qualifiers, it is law in some form in 36 states.

I can see why the other 14 states would hesitate to enact the Laci & Connor Law. It is already confusing and controversial in light of abortion laws – sometimes it is murder to kill unborn life, and sometimes, it is a choice. It is understandable that Planned Parenthood, the National Organization for Women and NARAL all fought this law.

Yet, what a blessing the Laci & Connor Law is for our nation, as Ariel Castro, according to prosecutors, will be charged with murder in the beatings that killed five unborn babies from one of the women he held captive. And the latest good news is that Dr. Kermit Gosnell is convicted of three counts of murder. Yes, we are on the right track for justice and protection for humans too!

This is worth a read on the subject: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/getreligion/2013/05/death-penalty-in-cleveland-horrors-wait-who-died/

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Washing The Pill down with Organic Milk…and Other Mental Gymnastics

By: Sr. Clare Hunter

I once had a conversation with a college student who was pretty disgusted about her perception that the Church ignores the protection of the environment and animals, but always talks about sexuality and tells people what to do or not do in the bedroom. “After all, God created everything and commanded us to take care of it, right?” She had a point. The conversation was typical, and one I have had countless times with all ages.  It is a tennis match of their excellent points about contraception that truly sound plausible and logical, and my returns:

• They say: Over-population.
  • I say: Well, I’ve heard some pretty convincing information that there is not accurate scientific proof it is a problem – Population Research Institute. Also, it makes me go “hmmm.” Funny that those of us who made it through pregnancy alive are so determined to stop more from coming. Reminds me of Ronald Reagan’s great quote: “I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.”
  • They say: Health reasons.
    • I say: “The Pill” won’t solve a problem (such as the “disease” pregnancy), only deal with symptoms. Doesn’t it seem silly not to deal with the problem? Not to mention the fact that the health risks in taking artificial hormones can be so detrimental. Women never know that! AND – I’ve asked a nurse and a few doctors – is there any other medicine that stops a bodily function from occurring as it is designed to do?? (Answer: only Antiperspirant)  But really, none that they can think of. Does anyone have an answer? I find going to the bathroom during a movie annoying – what about a pill to stop urination? Would there be any bad side effects from shutting down a bladder?
    • They say: Unwanted babies and an end to abortion.
      • I say: I REALLY want to agree with them. It is so very logical. Using contraceptives will stop pregnancy. No surprises, no abortions. I am BEGGING someone to help me wrap my mind around this anomaly! We’ve had tons of contraceptives for years! Legal, easily obtained and (except for Georgetown grad students, apparently) free or rather inexpensive. WHY, WHY, do we still have 1.2 million abortions a year?  52% of pregnancies are unintended. Seriously, is it me?

These two don’t always come up, but I like throwing them in:

• Marriages: Better with fewer kids, means less divorce.
  • The divorce rate in America is 50% percent of first marriages; 67% of second and 74% of third marriages end in divorce. This is in an era when contraceptives are nearly ubiquitous. I’m not even going to search for stats on infidelity.
  • Happy Women: A woman would be in control of her body, have better relationships with men, feel better about herself, happier and never used or taken advantage of.
    • How’s that working out ladies? Have you noticed depression and low libido on the list of The Pill’s side-effects?

My college friend finally talked about her reasons for taking “The Pill.” She had this great boyfriend. Apparently the experiment to abstain worked for her, but not so much for him, so she needed to not get pregnant. She didn’t really want to talk about that. Poor kid! We moved quickly onto other topics.  I decided just to appeal to her “granola-environmentalist-Whole Foods” side. I couldn’t resist, and sheepishly said, “I sure hope you wash down your artificial hormone pill with organic milk!” She snapped her head up, she looked at me with shock, and said, “I never thought of that before!” I was more startled by her illogic than she was by my question. Yeah, most of us do suffer from cognitive dissonance disorder.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s statement to the Curia last December 20^th captures this ideology most succinctly: “The manipulation of nature, which we deplore today where our environment is concerned, now becomes man’s fundamental choice where he himself is concerned. From now on there is only the abstract human being, who chooses for himself what his nature is to be.”

And so it happened: man said it is not good to destroy, pollute and abuse nature. Though shalt recycle, save whales and drink organic milk. Then man said, my body – whatever!

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What do Girls Need?

By: Sr. Clare Hunter

What do girls need? Well, a federal judge in New York has decided that they need more contraceptives. No worries that a minor might be alone in her fear, panic, shame, and potential life-altering situation. No, this judge knows that all she needs is to be able to purchase Plan B, an emergency “contraceptive,” without any adult supervision whatsoever. She won’t have to talk about what happened last night. Is she in love? Did she make a mistake? Was she used or abused, tricked or forced into an act that could result in creating a new human life? Nope – no one needs to know.

We are sending the message that she really doesn’t need someone to walk with her in love and support, but she does need a way to quickly take care of a problem. I am certain that most young women will have no problem hiding another secret from their parents, bringing more drama to their circle of friends, or looking for more attention from the man she so longs to have love her.

I’m dying to speak to the judges, politicians, doctors, nurses, all those in favor of unrestricted access to Plan B. I wonder if they googled what I did and found studies that say, “Study: Newer Birth Control Pills May Double Blood Clot Risk”? Um, Plan B is “The Super Pill” – just a monster dose of that risk. Of course there are side effects, listed at multiple medical sites: “Nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain, tiredness, dizziness, changes in vaginal bleeding, breast tenderness, diarrhea, or headache may occur. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.” [emphasis mine] Contact somebody? But that would defeat the point of buying it without adult supervision. So, now we expect her to tell her mom or dad so she can go to a doctor? That is, if she is able to tell someone. What if she is having blood clots, convulsions or cardiac arrest?

The debate is still on as to whether this drug causes abortion by not allowing a fertilized embryo to implant in the uterus. So far, studies indicate that pregnancy can still occur with Plan B. Let’s be clear, if ovulation has already occurred….you could get pregnant! Therefore, it‘s obvious that providing these pills to young girls will not only expose them to a potentially harmful contraceptive but also to an abortion-inducing drug.

When I give talks to groups of all ages, the moment that is the most silent, squirm-free and breathless is when I talk about the deepest longing in all our hearts: to be completely and totally accepted and loved for who we are, not because of what we do, or look like, but to be embraced and smiled upon in total love. To live a life without fear of being rejected, used or hurt – ever! I am sure the boys and men agree, but the women, the girls, freeze, they stare intensely, almost in a look of shock, that I have “read their souls.” Is giving them more access to contraceptives really giving our girls that love?

Well, O.K., then…if we are really looking for laws to help women, I have a few to propose. I think each state should pass a law that says every father must spend a minimum of one hour with his daughter(s) daily. He must hold her hand, hug her, kiss her cheek, tell her she is precious, beautiful and loved, exactly the way she is. He should teach her to be chaste and protect her from all harm. A father with sons must teach them to be respectful, chaste and protective of women. A mother must also spend a minimum of one hour with her daughter(s) each day. Mothers must teach their daughters how to dress modestly and to respect their bodies. All violations of these laws will result in fines, manual labor, service hours or arrest.

Does legislating such behavior seem excessive to you? Well, I think it’s far better than the federal government trying to enable young girls’ usage of drugs that could harm them and potentially destroy new, innocent life.

 

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“Shame on you Sisters, for Hating Us”

By: Sr. Clare Hunter

“Shame on you sisters for hating us. May God have mercy on your souls.” As I turned my head to look at the young man who slowly and sincerely spoke those words to me and Sr. Judith, I saw the look of pain in his eyes, and I desperately wanted to stop and talk with him in the midst of the crowd. I knew that attending The Marriage March at the Supreme Court would be a very different experience than the March for Life. With just a few thousand gathered, it was much more intimate and personal. One could easily see the whole crowd, the diversity of Christian churches represented, bibles and religious images being held up as well as American flags and signs for marriage and family, equality, etc. – but mostly, one could have many face-to-face, eye-to-eye, encounters with someone holding the opposite position. It got very personal.

I didn’t stop to speak with the young man, and I have spent hours imagining the conversation I wish I could have had with him. Sister and I carried no sign, and wore no buttons, but our habit and veil instantly told him we were there to support marriage as one man, one woman, and our identity as Catholics labeled us in his mind as “haters.” Why did his words sting my heart so much? I certainly know this is the impression of most people, that the Catholic Church “hates” those with same-sex attraction. It baffles me as the Catholic Church has been profoundly compassionate and crystalline in her deep love and concern for those who have same-sex attraction. In fact, a specific ministry in the Catholic Church, The Courage Apostolate, is solely given to the mission of spiritual support and outreach to men and women who have same-sex attraction.

As I heard Archbishop Cordileone’s opening words in his address at the Marriage March rally an hour later, I thought of that young man, and really wished he was there to hear these words:

“I want to begin with word to those who disagree with us on this issue and may be watching us right now: we love you, we are your neighbors, and we want to be your friends, and we want you to be happy.

Please understand that we don’t hate you, and that we are not motivated by animus or bigotry; it is not our intention to offend anyone, and if we have, I apologize; please try to listen to us fairly, and calmly, and try to understand us and our position, as we will try to do the same for you.” Entire message

And yet, I realized that the Archbishop’s words could not be heard, nor comprehended. Once the spirit of “hate” enters, the steel walls are erected to make hearts, ears and minds impenetrable. It was “steel” that I saw in the eyes of my young friend. It was painful, as I wanted to connect with him. I want him to experience true happiness and freedom, but not at the cost of denying the goods of marriage.

After receiving Holy Communion at Mass before leaving for the Marriage March, I prayed for the gift of humility and for courage, for a confidence in Christ’s love, that I might be a true walking tabernacle and bring Him into the crowds gathered at the Supreme Court. What a mystery to be weaving through a crowd on First Avenue in Washington, D.C., on the Tuesday of Holy Week, as a Consecrated Religious, and be called a “hater.” Only through the grace of God could I say that I was able to look back on the young man, and love him.

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Difficult Moral Questions: Is abortion allowable to save a mother’s life?

By: Sr. Clare Hunter, Director of the Respect Life Office

Question: The Catholic Church teaches that abortion is never permissible. What about in the case when an abortion would save the mother’s life?

This question is one that the Church takes very seriously, and with the utmost respect and compassion for all who might find themselves in this tragic situation. The Catholic Church’s stance on life issues is deeply rooted in the understanding of the unique gift of the human person, from the moment of conception. Therefore, each conception, each child, must be treated with the full rights and dignity of a person, regardless of the circumstances, as difficult as they might be, as in the case of the possible death of the mother.

The directive from the “Ethical and Religious Directive for Catholic Health Care Services” states that abortion — that is, the directly intended termination of pregnancy before viability or the directly intended destruction of a viable fetus — is never permitted. “Every procedure whose sole immediate effect is the termination of pregnancy before viability is an abortion, which, in its moral context, includes the interval between conception and implantation of the embryo.” And further, “direct abortion is never morally permissible. One may never directly kill an innocent human being, no matter what the reason.” As you might already know, of the roughly 1.2 million abortions we have each year in this country, only four percent of women cite a problem with their health as being their primary reason for having an abortion (Guttmacher Institute). Such cases where the mother’s life is in danger are rare, and the Church must protect the life of each child, regardless of the circumstances of conception or gestation.

That being said, there are times when a procedure might be performed on the mother to help her, or her health, with the possibility that such a procedure could compromise the life of the child. In such rare cases, as long as it is not the direct intent to kill the child, it is not an abortion. Though serious consideration must be taken into account on the probability of death of the child, and this might change the mind of the parents. It seems natural that any mother or father would be willing to give their own lives for the sake of the life of their child, and in fact, countless have in history. In some unfortunate cases, the child might die due to complications, but the procedure or the intent must never be to harm the child.

I hope you understand that the Catholic Church is fulfilling her duty to protect what God has created and given to us – in this case the life of unborn children. It might be helpful to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church which can be found online – this is the particular section dealing with the Respect for Human Life. There are many good resources including the Church’s encyclical, “The Gospel of Life” or “Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation Replies to Certain Questions of the Day.”

Do not hesitate to ask these moral questions, as well as to learn as much as you can about these issues, not only through reading, but also in prayer.

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We are not frogs. But we are in hot water.

By Sister Clare Hunter, FSE      

We are all probably familiar with the “boiling frog story” or “syndrome:”      

Are you a frog in boiling water?

 

 If you drop a frog in a pot of boiling water, it will of course frantically try to clamber out. But if you place it gently in a pot of tepid water and turn the heat on low, it will float there quite placidly. As the water gradually heats up, the frog will sink into a tranquil stupor, exactly like one of us in a hot bath, and before long, with a smile on its face, it will unresistingly allow itself to be boiled to death      

– Daniel Quinn      

As I looked for the “official” source of this story, I learned that there is debate over the scientific truth of the statement. As a pro-life Franciscan, I beg you all to take value from the principles of the metaphor and not to boil frogs. The point I want to make is that we, like the frog, can get comfortable, placid and indifferent as we live our day-to-day lives, unaware of the influence of our culture on our thoughts and actions.      

 How often do we enjoy a television show or a movie only to realize in the midst of it that we are taking pleasure in subject matter that should, in fact, be treated with respect, dignity or sacredness? Of course it is important to laugh, and I thoroughly enjoy a good joke. But when the entertainment industry is using humor to make us comfortable with immorality and the violation of the human person, isn’t it time to consider the “water” in which we are sitting?      

When I get ready to give talks to teens on pro-life issues and sexuality, I like to know about my competition. If I am going talk about the value of human life from conception until natural death, it helps to know of the popular movie, “The Back-Up Plan,” or an upcoming summer movie, “The Kids Are Alright.” Both involve issues like in-vitro fertilization (which removes the unitive aspect of sex), pre-marital sex, same-sex marriage and false notions of love and marriage. Or I might refer to the television show “Scrubs,” which has tried to make us laugh about abortion. Yes, joking and laughing about abortion!       

High school students at the March for Life

 

 There are countless examples, and the teens are usually eager to point out more, and can oftentimes be more scrupulous in examples of Commandments broken. Together, we dissect the media that is making us comfortable with these issues and that ultimately hurt the dignity of the human person.      

Sadly, merely pointing out the denigration of men and women, the human body, the killing of babies and the mixed messages in our media can have momentary shock value, but we still live in the water.       

 Luckily, we are not frogs.       

 We are rational, thinking human beings, body and soul, with the capacity to make informed decisions and to be critical and conscious of the kind of “water” in which we wish to live. We have a loving Mother Church, who desires that we live our lives to the fullest and be treated with the love and dignity for which we were created. She gives us the structure, the “pot” if you will, to allow this to happen. But we must start to look around, to raise our consciousness, to get critical and get educated.      

 The good news is: we don’t have to get boiled!

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“Be not Afraid” to Witness to Life

By Sr. Clare Hunter

Bishop Loverde and parishioners pray outside an abortion clinic

The unified voices reciting the “Hail Mary” broke cadence as the black truck passed, the driver shouting angry diatribes and honking his horn as the group processed down Main Street in Falls Church. The banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe leading the procession extended in the wind, curious bystanders peered out of the windows and the procession paused to cross the street. In a repeat performance, the truck turned around, though this time the Hail Mary did not waver, the line drew closer together and the voices grew louder.  Over 200 faithful had gathered for a monthly Respect Life Mass, celebrated by Bishop Loverde, at 7:30 a.m. at St. James Parish. Bishop Loverde’s homily, “Persevering hope in the face of present darkness,” set the tone as he led a one mile procession to the local abortion facility on South Washington Street, where he led a second rosary to pray for an end to abortion.

As Bishop Loverde led the procession down Main Street, the black truck  attempted to avert our attention, thwart our unity and cast a fear that might make us wonder if being a public witness to the culture of life is safe, or makes any difference in our world today. Yet, amidst the blaring horn, the stares, and the cold wind, the joy and hope of the those processing was palpable. Yes, we were buoyed by cars that gave beeps of support, smiles, waves or thumbs up and bystanders thanked us and shook a few hands. But the real spirit came from within the group. A body of believers, centered in prayer, cloaked under the banner of Our Lady, led by our shepherd. The living Church – priests, religious, and lay faithful of all ages processing together for one purpose, to witness to the truth, that life is sacred and must be protected at all costs.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas

Each month Bishop Loverde celebrates Mass at one of the parishes in the Diocese for the intention of the protection of human life from conception until natural death.  Following the Mass, Bishop Loverde invites all to join him at a local abortion facility in a peaceful presence to pray the rosary and be a witness to those considering the termination of a pregnancy – that they may know that there is another option: saying “yes” to life.

Please join Bishop Loverde at our next monthly Respect Life Mass at 9 a.m. on May 15, 2010, at St. Ambrose Church, Annandale. In addition to the monthly Masses, many parishes have groups that go each Saturday morning to a local abortion facility to pray. The diocese also participates in the 40 Days for Life Campaign each year. Now might just be the time for you to witness to the culture of life in a new way, a visible way, trusting that as we follow Bishop Loverde, our shepherd, we must “be not afraid.”

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