Washington, DC — At last night's pro-life Vigil, held annually on the eve of the Roe vs. Wade anniversary (the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion nationwide), Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua 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.”
“To be Christian should mean we are pro-life,” the Cardinal said in his homily to the thousands of people present at tonight's Mass. “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.” He told those present, “Do not become discouraged. A candle is not diminished by the dark.”
President George W. Bush sent his greetings and best wishes to the thousands of pro-life Catholics attending the vigil, 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.
The Vigil is the largest annual Catholic Mass in the United States. It is co sponsored by the Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and The Catholic University of America.
(This article courtesy of Steven Ertelt and the Pro-Life Infonet email newsletter. For more information or to subscribe go to www.prolifeinfo.org or email infonet@prolifeinfo.org.)
