For several years Catholic school classes throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties have supported Bishop Rutilio del Riego’s participation in the West Coast Walk for Life in San Francisco by collecting pennies, nickels and dimes in Baby Bottle Banks. Donations from Catholic school children are used to help other children in need through the Gabriel Project, as well as families experiencing crisis pregnancies, learning Natural Family Planning or receiving healing after abortion. This year each classroom has been challenged to raise $35 in honor of the 35th Anniversary of the Diocese of San Bernardino and each Catholic School is challenged to raise $350.
On January 22, 1973 in their decisions on Roe vs Wade and Doe vs Bolton, the Supreme Court of the United States determined the right to abortion for any reason throughout all nine months of pregnancy up until the moment of natural birth. Over the course of four decades an estimated 50 million pre-born children have been legally put to death and another 200 million mothers, fathers, family members and friends who participated in the abortion experience have been spiritually, physically and emotionally scarred. Catholics across the Diocese of San Bernardino are asked to gather in prayer on January 19 to pray for an end to this Culture of Death and to discern how each can advance, with enthusiasm and compassion, a Culture of Life in their parish and community.
For those who are pregnant and scared, you have options: 1.800.395.HELP or www.OptionLine.org. If you have been hurt by an abortion, you are not alone: contact 1.888.HOPE.790 or www.RachelsVineyard.org for hope and healing.
Marie Widmann, M.A. is the Director of the Office Pro Life Catholic Ministries