Brothers,

We are now in the midst of 40 Days for Life, which began on September 27 and runs through November 5. This is an opportunity for us to join with others worldwide in prayer, fasting, and community outreach in an effort to end the horror that is abortion. Here in Sacramento, daily prayer is being held Monday through Friday from 8am to 6pm on the sidewalk in front of the Family Planning Associates abortion clinic, located at 2322 Butano Drive. For additional information, you may visit http://40daysforlife.com/sacramento.

St. John Vianney parish and Blessed Sacrament Council 5322 are hosting “The Case for Life,” an event featuring Catholic Answers apologist Trent Horn. This is being held on Friday, October 27 at St. John Vianney Parish Hall, 10497 Coloma Road in Rancho Cordova. The doors open at 5pm, and the presentation begins at 6pm. Tickets are $10 per person in advance or $15 at the door, with the proceeds benefitting the Sacramento Life Center and the St. John Vianney Respect Life Ministry. For additional information, and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.ranchoknights.com/trent.

Brother Knights,

Thank you for participating with me in the 40 Days for Life activities. Each person that we turned away was a small victory for life. Each of your prayers, and your commitment to life, worked small miracles, and it was moving to see young women change their minds before our eyes.

I am happy to report, that we did have one big victory! The abortion clinic at 1442 Ethan Way is closing, and it is no longer accepting patients. After 42 years of taking the lives of babies, this practice is coming to an end and this facility will harm no more children.

We will meet the gaze of so many babies, whose lives would have been lost. How many of these children will now grow up to do God’s work? Only God knows! But I know that your acts resulted in good work.

Let us all give thanks for the good work we have done together!

God Bless,
Hector Garcia
Culture of Life Director

Knights of Columbus Urges Prayers for Healing

Following a week of violence across the United States, the Knights of Columbus has called for a novena of prayer to heal the wounds and divisions afflicting this country.

Knights, their families and all people of good will are encouraged to join in the novena (nine days of prayer) that will run from July 14-22 by praying St. Francis of Assisi’s Prayer for Peace:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

“The violent episodes of the past week have shocked the conscience of our country,” said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. “Through this prayer, each of us has the opportunity to help transcend hatred and violence by personally committing to the concepts of love of neighbor, peace and forgiveness that are central to an authentic embrace of Christianity. It is our hope that, from coast to coast, those who pray this prayer will become true instruments of peace.”

Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore also urged people to join this prayer campaign: “During this Year of Mercy, let us pray for an end to violence and senseless killings,” he said. “Through our prayers and good works, may we help build a society that is merciful, just and peaceful.”

Brothers, please read the following message regarding the protection of life, issued earlier this month by Supreme Knight Carl Anderson:

Dear Brother Knight,

Please act now to encourage Congress to protect the rights of conscientious objectors to abortion, sterilization, and contraception. These rights are under attack.

In California, for example, the state government has issued a directive requiring all health plans to cover abortions. Religious ministries in the state, including Catholic schools, are right now being forced to add abortion to their health plans.

This sort of coercion violates federal law, but these federal conscience protections have not been enforced. More protection is needed as similar violations occur throughout the country. Health care workers and organizations need the ability to act on their own to defend their rights in court.

The Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (ANDA) grants this by providing victims a means for protecting their conscience rights through legal action. Contact your members of Congress to support ANDA.

Immediate action is necessary. Consider the case of Cathy Cenzon-DeCarlo, RN, a nurse in New York City, whose employer forced her to choose between assisting in a late-term abortion and losing her job:

The hospital where I work coerced me to assist in a 22-week abortion. They were well aware that as a faithful Catholic, I could not participate in the killing of a pre-born child. Yet, they threatened my job and my nursing license if I did not take part in the murder of a baby.

Her story is here: https://youtube/uknxrMI61WI

As Pope Francis has said, “conscientious objection is a right, and part of the body of all human rights. If we want to make peace, we must respect all rights.”

Thank you for doing your part to protect conscience rights and to build a Culture of Life.

Fraternally,
Carl Anderson
Supreme Knight