News

May 8, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The pro-life, pro-chastity newspaper and web site, www.LoveMatters.com, is hosting a pro-life essay writing contest for students in Catholic schools in Los Angeles.

First-place prize is $1,000, second place $500 and third place $250. The deadline for the contest is May 17, 2009.

Students who participate in the contest should write persuasively on the topic ‘Abortion is DEADLY.’  Contestants must back up what they write with facts, testimonies, stories and information found on our LoveMatters.com website or in a copy of the LoveMatters.com 32-page newspaper version that Archdiocesan high schools are distributing this spring.
 
Father Sal Pilato, Superintendent of Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, recently asked principals at 48 Catholic high schools to distribute copies of the LoveMatters.com newspaper to approximately 30,000 students. 
 
Fr. Pilato authorized the voluntary pro-life Essay Contest in conjunction with the special distribution of the newspapers in order to foster further study and reflection. Each Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is receiving enough complimentary LoveMatters.com newspapers to give one to each student.
   
J.T. Finn, founder of LoveMatters and a pro-life speaker, publisher and producer for 20 years, said about the contest: “Abortions are truly deadly…physically, emotionally, and spiritually!  I’ve seen how devastating abortion is to babies, women and families, and unfortunately, legalized abortion has taken the lives of a third of these students’ generation.  Our essay contest gives students a chance to get the facts about the sanctity of life, abortion and its consequences… and to share their thoughts in their own words.”
 
All freshmen through seniors at Archdiocese of Los Angeles high schools are eligible for the essay contest.  They must submit their essays on or before May 17, 2009, by mail, fax or e-mail.  Contest judges will select and notify the three winners on or about June 15, 2009.  The Lovematters.com website will post the winning essays.
 
Essays will be judged on (1) content, (2) persuasive pro-life impact, (3) spelling, grammar, and punctuation, and (4) referencing at least one article, testimony, story or quote from the LoveMatters.com newspaper or website, and using the name “LoveMatters.com” at least once in the body of the essay as a reference or a source.
 
Essays should be 500 to 750 words.  They must be typed, and they must be one to two pages, not longer. Footnotes are helpful but not required.  Students must submit their essays with a separate cover page that includes the student’s: (1) first and last names, (2) ages and grade level, (3) school’s name and street address, (4) complete home address, (5) home phone number, and (6) e-mail address.
 
Students must submit their essays on or before May 17, 2009, by either mail, fax, or e-mail to:
 
LoveMatters.com Essay Contest 
1840 S. Elena Ave., #103 
Redondo Beach, CA 90277 
Fax (310) 375-4546
 
 E-mail: [email protected]