Brother Knights,

Because we believe we are created in the image of God, we hold life to be sacred from conception to natural death. We believe that we are stewards—not owners—of our lives. As this year begins we need to concentrate our efforts supporting life. With the present Legislature, we have an excellent opportunity to advance an agenda of life over death.

The California legislature began its 2015-2016 session with 10 new Senators (out of 40) and 27 new members of the Assembly (out of 80.)

Fully one-third of the members are new or moving from one legislative office to another. The big turnover is the result of voter-approved term-limit rules that allow lawmakers to spend more time in one house rather that jumping between Assembly and State Senate districts.

New leaders include Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), Senate President Pro Tempore; Tony Atkins (D-San Diego), Speaker of the Assembly; Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar), Senate Minority Leader; and Kristin Olson, (R-Modesto), Assembly Minority Leader.

Legislation will be introduced once the legislature gets down to business during the month of January. I urge each of you to take some time to educate the Legislature on our point of view – that being on acts generated from love.

John 13:34-35:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Remember that St. John Paul II called on all Catholic faithful to bear witness to the Gospel of Life and to build the “civilization of life and love”. In keeping with this mission and our Order’s Catholic principles of charity, unity, and fraternity, the Knights of Columbus stands strong in its conviction that every human life is a gift of God, endowed with certain inalienable rights—the first among these being the right to life. Even in the midst of difficulties and uncertainties, we believe that human life is sacred and inviolable, and ought to be defended with maximum determination.

Let us stand together in this mission of nurturing a culture of life.

God Bless,
Hector Garcia
Culture of Life Director

Brother Knights,

We should not forget what has brought us together as Knights; as we are the defenders of the Catholic Church. Therefore, each of us has the responsibility to act individually and as a group to protect the “culture of life” of our Church.

When we choose to engage actively in the present moment and appreciate God’s gift of life, we open the door to a deeper relationship with Christ. This awareness and friendship with Jesus can open our eyes to how he may be inviting us to accompany others in their suffering and show them his love. As we continue our pilgrimage on earth together, let us hold fast to God, who is the source of all true compassion.

Take a moment to reflect that our acts are generated from acts of love.

John 13:34-35 – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Remember that St. John Paul II called on all Catholic faithful to bear witness to the Gospel of Life and to build the “civilization of life and love”. In keeping with this mission and our Order’s Catholic principles of charity, unity, and fraternity, the Knights of Columbus stands strong in its conviction that every human life is a gift of God, endowed with certain inalienable rights—the first among these being the right to life. Even in the midst of difficulties and uncertainties, we believe that human life is sacred and inviolable, and ought to be defended with maximum determination.

Let us stand together in this mission of nurturing a culture of life. I leave you with this prayer:

Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life, and for the lives of all my brothers and sisters. I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, yet I rejoice that you have conquered death by the Resurrection of Your Son. I am ready to do my part in ending abortion. Today I commit myself never to be silent, never to be passive, never to be forgetful of the unborn. I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement, and never to stop defending life until all my brothers and sisters are protected, and our nation once again becomes a nation with liberty and justice not just for some, but for all, through Christ our Lord. Amen!

God Bless,
Hector Garcia
Culture of Life Director

Brother Knights,
October is pro-life month in the Church, and my Brother Knights are invited to reflect on the threats to the dignity of the human person that exist in the world today. After gaining a deeper understanding of the issues that threaten the dignity of human life, we are challenged to work for change so that human life, in all its stages, will be recognized as a gift from God.

O Mary,
bright dawn of the new world,
Mother of the living,
to you do we entrust the cause of life:
Look down, O Mother,
upon the vast numbers
of babies not allowed to be born,
of the poor whose lives are made difficult,
of men and women
who are victims of brutal violence,
of the elderly and the sick killed
by indifference or out of misguided mercy.
Grant that all who believe in your Son
may proclaim the Gospel of life
with honesty and love
to the people of our time.
Obtain for them the grace
to accept that Gospel
as a gift ever new,
the joy of celebrating it with gratitude
throughout their lives and
the courage to bear witness to it
resolutely, in order to build,
together with all people of good will,
the civilization of truth and love,
to the praise and glory of God,
the Creator and lover of life.

God Bless,
Hector Garcia
Culture of Life Director

Brother Knights,

Prayer is where we start when we first open our eyes in the morning and it is with prayer that we finish our tasks of the day. It’s in seeking Jesus Christ with all our hearts that culture is built and society is renewed. It’s in prayer, the sacraments, preaching homilies, forgiving and seeking forgiveness—all in the spirit of charity—that, brick by brick, we bring about the kingdom of God. So it is with the sanctity of life.

I invite you to join tens of thousands of others who are offering, each day, a prayer of commitment to build a culture of life. I urge you to pray, throughout the year, the daily prayer to end abortion. I invite you to join in saying the following prayer each day.

O God, we acknowledge you today as Lord, not only of individuals, but of nations and governments.

We thank you for the privilege of being able to organize ourselves politically and of knowing that political loyalty does not have to mean disloyalty to you.

We thank you for your law, which our Founding Fathers acknowledged and recognized as higher than any human law.

We thank you for the opportunity that this election year puts before us, to exercise our solemn duty not only to vote, but to influence countless others to vote, and to vote correctly.

It’s in seeking Jesus Christ with all our hearts that culture is built and society is renewed. It’s in prayer, the sacraments, changing diapers, balancing budgets, preaching homilies, loving a spouse, forgiving and seeking forgiveness—all in the spirit of charity—that, brick by brick, we bring about the kingdom of God. Are the eyes that read the names on the ballot, and that they do not cease to be Christians when they enter the voting booth.

Awaken your people to a commitment to justice to the sanctity of marriage and the family, to the dignity of each individual human life, and to the truth that human rights begin when human lives begin, and not one moment later.

Lord, we rejoice today that we are citizens of your kingdom. May that make us all the more committed to being faithful citizens on earth.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Brother Knights, we should not forget what has brought us together as Knights; as we are the defenders of the Catholic Church. Therefore, each of us has the responsibility to act individually and as a group to protect the “culture of life” of our Church.

God Bless,
Hector Garcia, Culture of Life Director

Brother Knights,

Have you asked yourself, what does it take to answer the call outlined by Pope John II in The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae, 1995)? The answer, my Brothers is simple, one must dedicate himself to Pro-life activities and promoting respect for the dignity of the human person.

We have been provided with wonderful examples of what can be done. The Little Sisters of the Poor were recognized for their dedication in serving the elderly poor. The HHS mandate would make the Little Sisters facilitate access to abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization and contraceptives in their employee health plan or face punitive fines. Because they serve and hire persons who are not Catholic, the Little Sisters are not considered a “religious employer.” In September 2013, they filed a class-action lawsuit, Little Sisters of the Poor vs. Sebelius, to persist in their ministry without having to violate their beliefs.

Brother Knights, you can also take action. Begin today, by merely writing a letter to your elected representatives.

Please reflect and pray on what you have read. I leave you with a prayer.

O Blessed Mother,
Pray for us your children
That we may be strong against the forces of death.
Look down upon the babies not allowed to be born,
On the poor, on the victims of social injustice,
On the elderly and sick killed by the indifference or misguided mercy.
Help us appreciate the miracle of life as a gift from God,
And may we become a People of Life! Amen
Don’t Let The Devil’s Work Go Unchallenged – Get Involved!

God Bless,
Hector Garcia
Culture of Life Director