AMERICANS MORE PRO-LIFE

A Gallup Poll taken May 7-10, 2009 finds 51% of Americans calling themselves "pro-life" on the issue of abortion and 42% "pro-choice." Gallup reports that this is the first time a majority of U.S. adults have identified themselves as pro-life since Gallup began asking this question in 1995.

This is good news for all of us who follow the Gospel of Life and who pray and work for the pro-life efforts of our Church.

I am convinced that it is through prayer and quiet persuasion that we have reached this dramatic shift in opinions about human life and abortion.

The use of Obstetric Ultrasound has also made it obvious to expectant mothers that there is truly a developing human life in their uterus--with a heart beating, and with a clear delineation of the human form of the unborn baby. Those graphic photos have convinced many mothers to carry their baby to term and delivery.

Today's young people are growing up used to seeing prints of ultrasounds of developing human fetuses attached to the door of their refrigerators. They can easily see that this is a tiny human life, and those images are shaping their thoughts and attitudes about protecting human life.

We must continue to believe in the full spectrum of life issues outlined by the late Pope John Paul II in his landmark "The Gospel of Life," and we must be unafraid to proclaim the Gospel of Life and work for the integration of those principles in public policy.

I encourage you to access the full Gallup Poll report by going to the link shown below:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/118399/More-Americans-Pro-Life-Than-Pro-Choice-First-Time.aspx


Photos of the Archdiocesan Requiem Mass for the Unborn, January 23, 2010 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels:







(photos by: Victor Aleman)

HAITI and OUR RESPONSE

We are all understandably upset with the horrendous destruction and devastation that struck the country of Haiti two days ago. The photo images are so unreal, so difficult to comprehend the vast loss of life, of injuries, and of complete turmoil.
But anytime a natural disaster occurs, I am always impressed with the incredible response of our people--especially here in the United States.
Great efforts are underway to assist those devasted people, along with our fervent prayers.

Here in the Archdiocese, we have launched two special efforts:
1. The first is to support Catholic Relief Services [CRS] in their on the ground efforts in Haiti.

2. And to launch the "Hats for Haiti" Program whereby children
in our Catholic elementary and high schools will assist
children and young people in Haiti by wearing a hat
next week at school, and donating one dollar for the
privilege to wear a hat at school that day. We have
80,000 Catholic school youngsters, and we hope to raise
both awareness and funds for Haiti relief. We also have
a local donor who will match, dollar for dollar, all that
is collected up to $100,000.

CRS is the organization of the Catholic Church in the United States to assist in all kinds of disaster relief efforts throughout the world. They have been in Haiti for years, and have some 300 personnel--mostly Haitians--working with the poor and with disaster relief.

All of the funds collected the weekend of January 16 and 17 will be sent directly to CRS for immediate use in Haiti.

Please visit their website: www.crs.org

Let us continue to intensify our prayers for the peoples of Haiti, and to demonstrate our solidarity in our Lord Jesus Christ through out generous gifts.

God bless you!!

BISHOPS on RETREAT

One of the great graces the Bishops of Southern California experience every year is our annual six-day retreat. It always begins the evening of Jan. 2 and concludes the morning of Jan. 9; held at the Cardinal Timothy Manning House of Prayer for priests in the foothills of Los Feliz.

Our retreat is a directed retreat. Rather than have conferences given to all of us togther, we journey forward with individual priest-directors--always Jesuits from the California Province. They meet with us daily, and assist us with our themes and Scripture meditations. The entire retreat is lived out in complete silence.

As I begin my final full year as the Archbishop of Los Angeles, my personal focus this year is on the centrality of the Eucharist in my life and in the lives of our wonderful Catholic people. I will be using various Scriptural themes: Jesus and the Bread of Life; the Multiplication of Loaves; the Last Supper; Paul and the Eucharist; Disciples on the way to Emmaus; and the REsurrection appearances--their Eucharistic meanings.

I will also be using the wonderful new book, Born of the Eucharist: A Spirituality for Priests,edited by Msgr. Stephen J. Rossetti. This collection of brief reflections by priests and Bishops will help me focus on my own love and priority of the Eucharist.

Each and every one of you will be remembered day by day during these six marvelous days of silence and listening to our Lord Jesus Christ speaking to me. Please pray for all of us as well.

Jesus, Bread of Life, pray for us!