South Texas Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 41, No. 3, Ed. 1 Friday, February 3, 2006 Page: 5 of 24
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South Texas Catholic -
February 3, 2006
diocese
Diocese observes Roe v. Wade
anniversary
Story and Photos By Liz Rigcle
STC Correspondent
“Let the babies be born!” was Father
James Farfaglia’s passionate cry at the
conclusion of his homily for the Rally for
Life Mass held January 21 at St. Joseph
Church in Corpus Christi.
The Mass, celebrated by Bishop Emeritus
Rene H. Gracida, was offered for the express
purpose of praying for the end to abortion
and for the children and mothers who are
victims of abortion.
Among the faithful attending the Mass
were many families with their children and
many young people who came on their own
without the prodding of mom or dad.
Drawing inspiration from Bishop Edmond
Carmody’s pastoral letter on the anniversary
of legalized abortion, Father Farfaglia’s homily implored
the faithful of several hundred to never give up the fight
to save the tiniest and most defenseless of God’s children.
“We are here today to say that we will not be silent.
Life begins at conception, and the unborn have the right
to life. We come together to speak out for the babies.
We must not be discouraged as we celebrate the sad
anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. Let us continue to build
the culture of life. We must always be open to life. The
fact that abortion is permitted by law does not make it
right. We must never rest until abortion is ended in this
country. We must never cease in championing the
unborn. Let us stand up for the rights of the weak and
the unborn. LET THE BABIES BE BORN,” Father
Farfaglia, administrator of St. Helena of the True Cross of
Jesus, said.
During the prayers of the faithful, Bishop Gracida
prayed, “Let us pray especially for the children alive in
their mothers’ wombs and are endangered of being
aborted.”
After the Mass concluded, everyone joined Bishop
Gracida on the steps in front of St. Joseph Church where
he led the faithful in praying the rosary, blessed them and
sent them to begin the march toward the abortion clinic
located on the corner of Crosstown and Morgan.
Helping to celebrate the Mass, Father Ralph Jones,
SOLT and provost of Our Lady of Corpus Christi College
Women gather to protest across the street from the
Dr. Eduardo L. Aquino abortion clinic.
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Marchers gather in front of St. Joseph Church to pray the rosary with
Bishop Emeritus Rene Gracida Jan. 21.
explained why he was participating in the Rally for Life.
“I am encouraged that so many young people are
involved in the Right to Life movement. It is the Holy
Spirit drawing them in. We can make a difference. We
are making a difference. Look at the amount of abortion
clinics which have closed. Students from the college
come to the abortion clinic once a week to pray the
rosary. We give our support to pro-life ministries.”
Stanley and Elidia Bandor, parishioners at St. Helena
of the True Cross of Jesus, are very emotional about
their reasons for supporting the pro-life ministries.
“1 would not miss this Mass. I am very strongly
against abortion. I am proud to be a member of the Pro-
Life Alliance,” declared Elida Bandor.
Stanley Bandor stated, “We think that the pro-life
movement is working. There were three abortion clinics
in town at one time and now there is just one. I under-
stand that the abortion clinic has a hard time getting
people to work there. We just need to keep doing what
we are doing. What else can we do to stop abortion but
to protest and to pray.”
“Prayer. A lot of prayers are very important. Do not
stop with your prayers,” concluded Elida Bandor.
Waiting for the pro-life marchers to arrive at the
abortion clinic was a group of women who have experi-
enced the heartbreak of abortion.
These women are part of a national group called
“Silent No More.” They speak out and share their
experiences with abortion and how the decision greatly
affected their lives.
Cami Murphy of Del Rio, Texas was one of the “Silent
No More" guest speakers.
“I had an abortion in 1972 shortly after abortion was
legalized. I did not know what I was doing. It was out
of circumstances which I could not handle. Afterwards
my life was like a hell. I was severely depressed. In
1987, I married a wonderful man, and in 1992 I re-
turned to the Catholic Church. I started the healing
process with confession and I went for counseling 10
months. I went to Project Rachel in 2001. God has
blessed me. I have experienced just how great God’s
love is. Abortion seriously damages women. I want
other women to know what the outcome can be. I am
able to say the truth. I consider it a great blessing every
time I can talk about my abortion.”
The “Silent No More Rally” was sponsored by the
Society of the Body of Christ.
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' Rally speakers praise
pro-life efforts, call for
increased action
By Carol Zimmermann
"\
WASHINGTON (CNS) - The different starting
point for this year's annual March for Life did not go
unnoticed by some of the speakers at the annual
rally who compared the closer location to the U.S.
Capitol to the progress made by the pro-life move-
ment.
"We're seven blocks closer11 and "getting closer to
the end" of legalized abortion, said a speaker giving
the opening prayer at the hour-and-a-half rally Jan.
23 on the grounds of the National Mall several
blocks from the front of the Capitol building.
The March for Life usually begins at the Ellipse,
located between the White House and the Washing-
ton Monument, but was held in a different location
this year because of construction. The rally started
under gray skies and cool temperatures and included
periods of light, cold rain. Speakers thanked the
crowd for braving the unfavorable weather condi-
tions and for their continued fight to promote the
sanctity of life.
As in recent years, many speakers directed their
comments directly to the young people in the crowd
of tens of thousands. This year many of them were
huddled in rain ponchos while holding aloft placards
saying "Defend Life" or "Justice for All Born and
Prebom.11
Although both the U.S. Park Police and the
Metropolitan Police Department declined to estimate
the crowd at the March for Life, organizer Nellie
Gray said it was "well over 100,000" and "equal to
the largest" marches of the past. Joe Giganti, spokes-
man for the National Pro-Life Action Center, which
he described as being a sponsor of the march, put
the number at 225,000 to 250,000.
Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., co-chairman of the
House Pro-Life Caucus, urged the young attendees
to be the "new generation of enlightened public
policymakers — faith-filled young lawmakers and
legislative aides, fiercely dedicated to truth, justice
and fundamental human rights.11
"Young people, the country needs you. We need
your ideas and goodness and courage and deep faith
in God to enact durable, sustainable policies to
protect innocent human life from those who slaugh-
ter and inflict pain," he said.
Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio, likewise urged the
youths to "continue to be vigilant11 in their pro-life
efforts and to consider a "future in politics."
"We need pro-life people11 in the local and national
political arena, she said.
For those not considering a career in politics, she
urged them to vote with pro-life issues in mind.
"Check the records of those who are running; make
them accountable,11 she said.
Gray also linked pro-life issues with the ballot,
telling the crowd that "pro-life trumps politics. We'll
support only those candidates who are pro-life."
Midway through the rally, a telephone message
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Goldapp, Paula J. South Texas Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 41, No. 3, Ed. 1 Friday, February 3, 2006, newspaper, February 3, 2006; Corpus Christi, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth855958/m1/5/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .