Cardinal Calls Assault On Human Life 'Crisis of Civilization' At Annual Pro-Life Vigil.Business Editors WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 21, 2002 Tells Pro-Life Faithful Not to be Discouraged, "A Candle is Not Diminished by the Dark" White House Sends Special Message to Vigil At tonight's pro-life Vigil, held annually on the eve On the Eve (Накануне in Russian) is the third novel by famous Russian writer Ivan Turgenev, best known for his short stories and the novel Fathers and Sons. of the Roe vs. Wade anniversary (the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion nationwide), Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua Anthony Joseph Cardinal Bevilacqua, DD, JCD, JD (born June 17, 1923 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the Bishop of Pittsburgh from 1983 to 1987 and Archbishop of Philadelphia from 1987 to 2003, and was raised to the cardinalate in said, "The assault on human life in our age has become a crisis of culture, a crisis of civilization... In this crisis in the defense of human life, neutrality is not an option, silence is not a choice." "To be Christian should mean we are pro-life," the Cardinal said in his homily homily (hŏm`əlē), type of oral religious instruction delivered to a church congregation. In the patristic period through the Middle Ages the focus of the homily was on the explanation and application of texts read or sung during the to the thousands of people present at tonight's Mass. "In more direct language, it must be said that no one can consider himself or herself a true Christian who consciously supports abortion or euthanasia euthanasia (y  'thənā`zhə), either painlessly putting to death or failing to prevent death from natural causes in cases of terminal illness or irreversible coma. ." Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia also said, "If the weak and marginalized continue to be exploited, by our silence we betray not only our Christianity, but our humanity." He told those present, "Do not become discouraged. A candle is not diminished by the dark." President George W. Bush sent his greetings and best wishes to the thousands of pro-life Catholics attending tonight's vigil, saying in a statement, "During these extraordinary times, we realize more than ever the beauty of life, the blessings of family and friends, and the enduring resolve, generosity, and compassion of Americans." Concelebrating the mass with Cardinal Bevilacqua were seven U.S. Cardinals, 50 Bishops and 260 priests. Twenty-eight deacons were also present. The Vigil is the largest annual Catholic Mass in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . It is co sponsored by the Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a prominent basilica of the Catholic Church located in Washington, D.C., honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the Patroness of the United States. , and The Catholic University of America Catholic University of America, at Washington, D.C.; the national university of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States; coeducational; founded 1887 and opened 1889. . A complete text of Cardinal Bevilacqua's remarks and copies of the White House message are available by calling Michelle Powers at 703/684-8352 or Peter Sonski at 202/281-0615. |
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