African American auxiliary bishop from Chicago speaks in Sacramento
Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Joseph N. Perry concelebrated a Mass with Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto on Sunday, June 27, at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament to celebrate the accomplishments of Catholic African-American college, high school, and eighth grade graduates.
The Mass was followed by a reception, during which a small group of pro-lifers met with the bishops. The event was sponsored by the Black Catholic Council of the Diocese of Sacramento.
In his homily, Bishop Perry encouraged the graduates to remain faithful to the Church, to honor their parents, and to avoid the materialistic temptations facing today's youth.
Bishop Perry, who is African American, has been outspoken in promoting a culture of life and calling attention to the disproportionate number of abortions killing black babies. He is the author of "Abortion and its Impact on the Black Community," a statement posted on the Chicago archdiocese's Office for Black Catholics website.
In the statement, Bishop Perry quotes African American Auxiliary Bishop Martin D. Holley of Washington, D.C., who noted, "Since the Roe v. Wade decision, the number one cause of death in the African American community is abortion. We have lost 13 million lives. To put that in perspective, that is one third of our present black population. 1,452 black children are lost each day to abortion!"
Abortion, said Bishop Perry in the statement, "is a topic essentially kept hush-hush in the black community," while "The right to abortion is quietly spelling the decimation of the black community in our society."
Bishop Perry encouraged parish pro-life activities. "In parishes and in dioceses all over the country Catholics consider the subject of abortion one of the chief witnesses of our modern times for which we are pledged to continue to raise awareness about alternatives to abortion, particularly, to let women in trouble be aware that they have other options," said Bishop Perry in "Abortion and its Impact on the Black Community."
"We run up against public protest that abortion is a right, a choice, a medical procedure like any other for which women should not be deprived of their reproductive freedom and their right to health care in this vein," said Bishop Perry. "These protestations attempt to deter people from the fundamental truth that a human life is murdered by abortion and based upon conscientious considerations, let alone Christian belief, every life, even one conceived under difficult circumstances deserves a chance."
One of the largest abortion businesses in California is Family Planning Associates (FPA), founded by Dr. Edward Allred. FPA also operates three of Chicago's largest abortion facilities, which have performed thousands of abortions on black and Hispanic women.
Allred became a multi-millionaire racetrack owner from the profits of FPA abortions. He openly stated his racist philosophy in a 1980 interview with The San Diego Union. "Take the recent influx of Hispanic immigrants: Their lack of respect for democracy and social order is frightening," he told the newspaper. "I hope I can do something to stem that tide. I'd set up a clinic in Mexico for free if I could. Maybe one in Calexico would help. The survival of our society could be at stake… When a sullen black woman can decide to have a baby and get welfare and food stamps and become a burden to all of us it's time to stop. In parts of South Los Angeles having babies for welfare in the only industry the people have."
