6
February 11, 2014
in the diocese
T
he Valley Catholic
Social Justice Ministry: Pro-Life
Pro-life Mass kicks
off Walk for Life West
Coast; thousands,
many young, march
By Roberta Ward
Jan. 25 marked the 10th annual Walk
for Life West Coast in San Francisco. The
day began with a special Mass in St.
Mary’s Cathedral, celebrated by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone and concelebrated by nearly 20 visiting bishops.
Also present was Cardinal William
Levada, Archbishop Emeritus of San
Francisco and Prefect Emeritus of the
Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith.
Notable in attendance in the sprawling cathedral were numbers of young
people--youth and young adults—who
have increasingly been participating in
the Walk for Life.
Archbishop Cordileone especially
addressed them in his homily as he
noted their presence and said they are
evidence that “the pro-life movement
is growing in strength.” He also recognized “older more well-seasoned”
pro-lifers and acknowledged “a lot of
generations of pro-life presence today.”
‘Some of you got here by means of
conversion, Archbishop Cordileone
said, noting that the day was the feast
of the conversion of St. Paul, “who is
an ideal example. Some of you have
changed in the course of life, from the
culture of death of the abortion industry
which has purported to be ‘doing good’,
supporting ‘women’s rights.’”
He explained that in the 41 years
since the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade
decision legalizing abortion, there have
been 57 million abortions in the U.S.
www.valleycatholiconline.com
Hundreds of young people came to make
statement for pro-life.
and, “yes, abortion does hurt women.”
That was a reference to the pro-life
posters which had been erected on San
Francisco’s Market St., venue for the
Walk, noting “abortion hurts women,”
that some local politicians and others
were calling not true or “hate speech.”
“We are astonished and perplexed,”
the archbishop said, “that anyone would
think abortion helps women! Pro-life is
not just about saving babies; it’s about
helping women, giving them a choice
because they really want to choose life.
Where can women turn for help?”
He said the pro-life movement provides the answer and is growing today
because people are seeking the answer.
“There was a time when it was not
socially acceptable to speak publicly
about pro-life,” he said, “because society
was so focused on abortion rights.”
“To elders in the pro-life movement,
thank you,” he said. “By giving your
loving and nurturing support for life, the
pro-life movement is stronger than ever.”
Our Lady of Guadalupe troupe
beats drums for pro-life.
Our Lady of Peace Parish in Santa Clara
participated in the Mass and Walk for Life
in San Francisco.
Young man holds sign in cathedral plaza.
‘Pro-life is not just about saving babies;
it’s about helping women, giving them a choice
because they really want to choose life.’
Pro-life Mass celebrated at St. Nicholas
St. Nicholas Church, Los Altos, as it
has been for a number of years, was the
site of a special Mass, Jan. 22, the 41st
anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe
vs. Wade decision which made abortion
legal in all 50 states.
Main celebrant and homilist was
San Jose Auxiliary Bishop Thomas A.
Daly. Pastor Father Lawrence Percell
concelebrated.
In his homily, Bishop Daly referred
to the story of “David and Goliath,”
asking, ”What speaks to our hearts?
Such a profound situation David found
himself in, in face of overwhelming
odds. David was no match for Goliath!”
Bishop Daly noted “this is the same
lesson we receive when we go out into
the world and find that we must fight
for and pray for something important
that seems too large to overcome.”
He said conviction is the key, especially in the pro-life cause because it
appears that pro-abortion is winning.
“We are called to follow Jesus
Christ,” he said, “and we are reminded
of God’s call. We must be about the issue of the defense of human life. How
will we arm ourselves? Pray for an end
of abortion.”
He recalled his time at Marin Catholic High School several years ago and
Hubert Lipinski (left) with St. Nicholas pastor Father Larry Percell following Jan. 22
pro-life Mass.
was engaged with the formation of a
student pro-life group there. “That first
group of students participated in the
first annual Walk for Life West Coast
10 years ago,” he said.
The annual pro-life Mass began
in the mid-1980s at what was then St.
Aloysius Church in Palo Alto with the
leadership of local Catholic parishioner
Hubert Lipinski. It also included a Walk
for Life to a north county courthouse.
In subsequent years, St. Nicholas
pastors have accepted and hosted the
continuing event with a Mass and
speakers.