September 7, 2004

Dear Friends,

I hope you're participating in the prayer novena for our nation -- if not, please sign
up today at https://secure.priestsforlife.org/prayer.php and pledge your prayer
commitment that we will embrace a culture of life, particularly in our national
elections.

I need your help in another way. Can you volunteer some time to help elect pro-
life candidates? Go to http://www.votersunday.org/join.html and indicate whether
you can help with such activities as letters to the editor, literature distribution,
sending emails, helping others get registered, or any number of other activities.
Our staff will then contact you to help you follow through on these activities.

Hopefully, you have a plan regarding what you will do between now and
November 2 to advance the cause of life by getting others to vote. If you don't
have a specific plan, our staff will help you to choose one. Again, at the very least,
please sign up for the novena at https://secure.priestsforlife.org/prayer.php -- And
don't forget to check for updated information on our elections page,
www.priestsforlife.org/elections

God bless you!
Fr. Frank

Priests for Life Newsletter
Volume 14, Number 5
September - October 2004

Year of the Eucharist

Pope John Paul II has declared a Year of the Eucharist to begin this OctoberThe
Church, during this special year, will meditate upon, celebrate, worship and
proclaim the great gift of the Lord's Body and Blood.
The Eucharist, in its essence, is Life, because it is Christ Himself. Over the years,
Priests for Life has prepared numerous resources reflecting on the relationship
between the Eucharist and our pro-life commitment. We have brochures, prayers,
and even the music video "This is My Body." This material can be used in your
parish for pro-life holy hours, educational groups, and other events throughout the
Year of the Eucharist. For more information, see www.priestsforlife.org/eucharist
The pro-life commitment is Eucharistic; the Eucharistic commitment is pro-life

1. Sacrament of Faith -- If we can see Jesus in the tiny Host, we can see him in
every human person, including the tiny unborn child.
2. Sacrament of Unity -- The Eucharist draws us all to Jesus, and therefore all to
one another in one body. While abortion divides the human family, the
Eucharist unites it, making us members of one another.
3. Sacrament of Perfect Worship -- The attitude of "pro-choice" is that my
choices belong to me. The attitude of worship, which reaches its summit in the
Eucharist, is that all our choices are submitted to Jesus, our King, and true
freedom is found only in him.
4. Sacrament of Life -- The Eucharist is the victory of life. "Dying you destroyed
our death" -- and also the death of every unborn child. The Eucharist destroys
the power of abortion.
5. Sacrament of Love -- Love says, "I sacrifice myself for the good of the other."
Abortion says, "I sacrifice the other for the good of myself." Abortion is the
opposite of love. The same words are used for both: This is my body.


Cardinal Renato Martino joins Board of Priests for Life,
Comments on Voting

Priests for Life is happy to announce that His Eminence Cardinal Renato Martino,
President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace at the Vatican, has joined
the Episcopal Board of Priests for Life. "Cardinal Martino has been a long-time
friend of our ministry," explained Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director. "I was
privileged to get to know him when he served as the Holy Father's representative
at the United Nations and I was serving at the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the
Family. Then, when we opened our new headquarters, he honored us by coming to
bless our building. We have always had the benefit of his wise counsel and long
experience. We look forward to continued fruitful collaboration."

Cardinal Martino was the 2002 recipient of the National Right to Life Committee's
"Proudly Pro-life Award." The other Catholic clergy who have received that award
over the years are Cardinal John O'Connor (1994), Bishop James McHugh (2000),
and Fr. Frank Pavone (2001).

In May of this year, Priests for Life interviewed Cardinal Martino in Rome on the
subject of the political responsibility of Catholics. Here are some excerpts of the
Cardinal's remarks.

" The Church must always take up the prophetic role and be ready and willing to
comment in the political sphere whenever and where ever the necessity arises This does
not mean that the Church should involve itself directly in the political debate but the
Church must always be like "the voice crying in the wilderness"... The Church teaches
that we must be involved in the political life around us. We must call upon our
governments to promote and protect our lives and provide us with peace, justice and
security.
"...A Catholic or anyone with a well formed conscience, a well formed understanding of
right and wrong; good and evil can NEVER vote for a political program or law 'which
contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals'.
"As in the case of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher and so many like them through the
ages, ...a Catholic politician or a Catholic voter cannot separate himself or herself from
his or her moral responsibility. You cannot choose when and where to be Catholic and
that includes political life and voter responsibility.
"It is in the voting booth and the ballot that the average citizen can exercise that
involvement, not only in the political life of their neighbourhood, city or nation but also
to become involved in assuring, as Blessed Pope John told us, 'that every institution,
whether economic, social, cultural or political ...facilitate man's self betterment.'
"What better motivation can we have to be involved or become more active in the making
our societies, our world a better place? And what could be easier than being an informed
voter?  Voting is a right and as well as a duty but it is also essential to be informed and to
vote as your heart and your conscience tell you.
"The Holy Father speaks of the protection of life as the fundamental realization and
respect for human rights. Without that realization, without that respect for the right to
life, no other discussion of human rights can continue; it must be based upon the
foundation of human dignity and the right to life.
"In my time at the United Nations, the Delegation stressed that relationship and
interconnectedness between recognition of human dignity, the right to life and the
protection of other human rights and fundamental freedoms. Unfortunately, there are too
many people, delegations, states that refuse to discuss that human dignity, they refuse to
recognize that gift that binds all human beings together."

Adding Insult to a Post-Abortive Woman's Injury

After watching the nightly news, Rebecca Porter had a dream envisioning herself
letting Sen. John Kerry know she had an abortion and regretted her decision.
Porter told LifeNews.com that she and a friend went to an event the Kerry
campaign had scheduled in Tampa. She brought along a sign that simply read,
"My abortion hurt me."
She hoped Kerry would see it, but knowing only a limited number of people were
being allowed inside the event, her best prospects were to show it those attending.
"I almost didn't go because doubt and fear was beginning to set in," Porter said.
"But I went to hold my sign for the people walking in. I did not go as a Bush
supporter or as a Republican, but as a woman hurt by abortion."
Dozens of people walked by and saw her sign.
Some looked away. Wives talked with their husbands. Friends whispered to each
other in hushed tones after passing by.
Other came to talk with her and Cindy, but few had anything negative to say.
Porter tells LifeNews.com that one detractor told her he wished the abortion had
killed her. His wife elbowed him in the stomach afterwards.
"There was no protest. We were not there to say anything. Just to let our signs
speak for us -- and they did, powerfully," Porter said.
The two women were finally able to go inside the event and stand at the back of
the crowd. As Kerry finished his speech, he closed by saying he would guarantee
that "women would have the right to choose" abortion.
Porter made her way to an area where Kerry was shaking hands.
"Then it happened," Porter explains. "He reached up to shake a hand in the back
and his eyes went up to my sign. He read it and then he looked into the crowd to
see who was holding it -- and he looked me directly in the eyes."
Within seconds after Kerry saw the signs, a campaign staff member approached
Porter and grabbed her sign.
"You can't have that sign here," the Kerry staffer said.
The sign tore and Porter let go. After he had possession of it, the Kerry staffer
"tore it to pieces" and walked away. "He wouldn't even let me have the pieces,"
Porter said.
Porter said Kerry was "shocked and surprised" to read the sign.
"I hope he saw my pain. I was not angry, just pleading with him to understand.
You could see the shock and surprise on his face," Porter said.
Onlookers were surprised by what they saw and expressed their disagreement. One
man walked over to the two women, said he was pro-life and that what happened
"wasn't right."
The Kerry campaign has refused to comment on the matter.
Porter isn't pleased at the Kerry campaign's refusal to respond.
"I'm very disappointed that he will not acknowledge what happened at his rally,"
Porter told LifeNews.com
"As a presidential candidate for all the people -- including me -- I think he should
speak to his staff and apologize to Cindy and I for their actions and guarantee that
it won't happen again to other women."
Porter said other women may attend Kerry events to help him understand
abortion's negative impact on women.
"My concern is for other women who may be planning on going to his other
rallies. I don't want them to have their property destroyed either. I want their
freedom of speech rights protected," Porter said.
Porter, who is the Florida director of Silent No More, a group that helps women
share how their abortions hurt them, said she is curious to know Kerry's thoughts
about her sign.
"As a supporter of abortion rights, how does he feel about the fact that abortion
does hurt many women and men," Porter told LifeNews.com. "Abortion takes the
life of our children and leaves many very wounded individuals."
Looking back on her experience, however, Porter is not angry.
"I was not upset. I felt like I had done what the Lord had wanted me to
accomplish," she says.
"I hope [Kerry will] remember my sign and my pain in my eyes. I know there
were many people laying in their beds that night thinking about their abortions."


EWTN Series on Elections 2004

During the six weeks before Election Day, The Eternal Word Television Network
(EWTN) will air six special programs to help prepare Catholics for our national
elections to be held on November 2. This series features interviews of Vatican
officials, commentary on the teachings of our bishops, and a clear affirmation that
the right to life is the number one issue in determining which candidates to elect.
This series is action-oriented. You will learn what you need to do, not only to cast
your vote, but to influence thousands of votes! For information on air dates, and
bulletin announcements, visit www.priestsforlife.org/elections



Priests for Life Expands Television Outreach to New Audiences

We are proud to announce a new television series, produced by our ecumenical
branch, Gospel of Life Ministries. The program "Gospel of Life" will air on the
Sky Angel network, reaching new audiences of millions of Christians. Dr. Paul
Schenck, who recently joined the Priests for Life team, serves as Executive
Director of Gospel of Life and co-host of the program, together with Fr. Frank
Pavone and Janet Morana. You can use the announcement below to publicize this
new program! Visit the Sky Angel website, or call the number below, to find out
how you can receive the programs.

PRIESTS FOR LIFE presents
"GOSPEL OF LIFE"
A new pro-life television series airing every
Monday at 3:30 AM Eastern
Thursday at 8:30AM Eastern and
Saturday at 7:30 PM Eastern
on Angel One on the Sky Angel Satellite System

To learn more about how to get our program and other Sky Angel Christ-centered
programming, visit www.skyangel.com or call 1-800-Sky-Angel today!


Bulletin Insert in Spanish

"Los católicos estadounidenses han buscado por mucho tiempo asimilarse a
la vida cultural de este país. Pero al asimilarse, hemos sido frecuentemente
totalmente "dirigidos". Hemos sido cambiados demasiado por nuestra
cultura, y no la hemos cambiado lo suficiente. Si somos levadura, debemos
llevar todo el Evangelio a nuestra cultura, un Evangelio de vida y alegria.
Eso es nuestra vocación de creyentes. Y no hay un mejor sitio para empezar
que con la promoción de la belleza y la santidad de la vida humana." ( Los
Obispos Católicos de E.E. U.U., Vivir el Evangelio de la Vida, 1998, no.25).


Prayer Novena for America

Starting August 31, Priests for Life has launched a national prayer campaign
of nine weeks leading up to Election Day. Please sign up and commit to
prayers, Masses, Divine Mercy Chaplets, and days of fasting. The intention
is that believers will be active in voting, and that our nation will embrace a
culture of life. For more details, see www.priestsforlife.org/elections. Let us
know your prayer commitment by writing to Priests for Life Prayer
Campaign, PO Box 141172, Staten Island, NY 10314.



Prayer Intentions

You are encouraged to remember the following intentions as you pray the Liturgy
of the Hours:

September intention: That both private and public schools may promote an
understanding of human rights that places the right to life at the center.

October intention: That God's people may use their privilege of voting as a way to
advance the Culture of Life.


Our Latest Products to Prepare you for Election Day

____ Study Guide on Living the Gospel of Life ($13). (Includes a copy of the
document itself.) Use this guide in the final weeks before the election to help your
people understand the issues in the light of Church teaching. Product #1598

____ Bulletin inserts for your parish (Free. Available on internet for download --
English and Spanish -- see www.priestsforlife.org/elections)

____ Homily suggestions for the final weeks before election day (Free -- see
www.priestsforlife.org/elections)

____ Ten Responses to Pro-Abortion Politicians (Brochure -- $0.20 ea. -- Product
#1659)


____ You Wouldn't Even Ask (Brochure about why the right to life is the
fundamental issue. -- $0.20 ea. -- Product #1671)


____ CD of radio spots on Political responsibility (Can be used for broadcast, or
to play at educational or spiritual gatherings --  $6.00 -- Catholic Version
_______ #1660; General Christian Version ______ # 1650)


____ What does the Church Teach About Life Issues (Published by Liguori --
Clarifies the meaning of the "Consistent Ethic of Life" -- Great for parish
bookrack -- $1.00 each)


We need your help today!

November 2, Election Day, is approaching. We need your help today! Contact us
at vote@priestsforlife.org or call our election team at (718) 980-4400, ext. 297.
You can sign up for election-related activities at www.votersunday.org/join.php
where an online form will allow you to indicate how you can help.

Assistance is needed, and training is available, to

a) Help people to register to vote;
b) Help those who cannot get to the polls on Election Day to vote early;
c) Inform voters of the positions of candidates;
d) Inform Catholics of the teachings of our bishops on political responsibility;
e) Get bulletin inserts into Church bulletins;
f) Promote our "Study Guide" of the bishops' document Living the Gospel of Life;
g) Promote our television series on Elections 2004;
h) Monitor polling places to insure fair elections;
i) Distribute voter education information from door to door.

Now is the time! You can be sure that pro-abortion people are mobilizing their
forces to make sure that the killing chambers continue to operate with the blessing
of public officials. They know a lot is at stake, since the next President and Senate
will shape the next Supreme Court, which will decide issues like abortion for the
next generation. Do not think any amount of time or help is too small. Contact
us today and experience the joy of letting your voice be heard and helping to
make history as the Church fulfills her mandate to renew the face of the
earth!

Attention, Pastors! Inform your People of Candidates' Positions through
www.VotingInfo.org


Email us at mail@priestsforlife.org  Priests for Life, PO Box 141172, Staten Island, NY 10314; Tel: 888-
PFL-3448, 718-980-4400; Fax: 718-980-6515; web: www.priestsforlife.org