The approach of Election Day has seen a number of pro-life news items. The California ProLife Council has come out strongly in favor of Prop 32, which would ban unions from forcing employees to pay union dues that support pro-abortion candidates. Another proposition, Prop 35, which fights human trafficking, has earned the powerful endorsement of the California Catholic Conference. On October 12, the USCCB issued a statement on the HHS mandate to the effect that the “exemption” does not, in fact, extend to “Catholic Social Services, Georgetown Hospital, Mercy Hospital, any hospital,” or any other religious charity that offers its services to all, regardless of the faith of those served. Vice-President Joe Biden had mistakenly suggested otherwise during the vice-presidential debate.
An online article in Cal Catholic Daily on October 30, quotes at length newly-appointed Bishop Kevin Vann of the Diocese of Orange, California on faithful citizenship. Bishop Vann writes: “As Catholics, we are faced with a number of issues that are of concern and should be addressed, such as immigration reform, health care, the economy, the poor, and terrorism…” The Bishop continues: “There are many possible solutions to these issues and there can be reasonable debate among Catholics on how to best approach and solve them. These are matters of ‘prudential judgment.’ But let us be clear: issues of prudential judgment are not morally equivalent to issues involving intrinsic evils. No matter how right a given candidate is on any of these issues, it does not outweigh a candidate‘s unacceptable position in favor of an intrinsic evil such as abortion or the protection of ‘abortion rights.'” In August, Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto got a standing ovation when he agreed with a questioner at the annual Diocesan Respect Life Ministry Meeting that more had to be done to teach the Faithful on the difference between prudential judgment and intrinsic evil.
On October 30, during the current 40 Days for Life Campaign, Bishop Soto joined Grand Knight Ricardo Saldana and Culture of Life Director William James of Council 953 in prayer on the sidewalk near the abortion business at 1750 Wright Street. Brother Knight Dominic Ielati also joined the group, but had to leave before the Bishop arrived. The 40 Days for Life fall campaign ends on November 4. So far, by the grace of God, 467 babies nationwide have been saved! Lastly, just today, October 31, our Culture of Life Director met with Emilia Calderón and Juan Ramón Chico of Sac State’s Students for Life at the Newman Center, giving them for their pro-life car wash fundraiser a $250 check and $40 in cash. The three also said a decade of the Rosary together in English and Spanish for the end of abortion.
Fraternally in Christ,
William (Bill) James
Culture of Life Director
Knights of Columbus
Council 953