Cardinal: “To be Christian Should Mean We Are Pro-Life”
WASHINGTON, January 22, 2002 (LSN.ca) – At the annual U.S. Pro-Life Vigil Mass celebrated yesterday, on the eve of the Roe vs. Wade anniversary, Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua. Pro-life chair of the U.S. Bishops Conference said, “The assault on human life in our age has become a crisis of culture, a crisis of civilization. In this crisis in the defense of human life, neutrality is not an option, silence is not a choice.”
In his homily to the estimated crowd of 8,000, the Cardinal said, “To be Christian should mean we are pro-life. In more direct language, it must be said that no one can consider himself or herself a true Christian who consciously supports abortion or euthanasia.” Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia also said, “If the weak and marginalized continue to be exploited, by our silence we betray not only our Christianity, but our humanity.”
President George W. Bush sent his greetings and best wishes to the thousands of pro-life Catholics attending what is the largest annual Catholic Mass in the U.S., saying in a statement, “During these extraordinary times, we realize more than ever the beauty of life, the blessings of family and friends, and the enduring resolve, generosity, and compassion of Americans.”
Concelebrating the mass with Cardinal Bevilacqua were seven U.S. Cardinals, 50 Bishops and 260 priests. Twenty-eight deacons were also present.