| Recently, I spoke with John Fusto, our very capable international network manager, who brought me up to date on our work in the mission field. We are truly blessed not only to collaborate with such great champions of life, but to have the prayers and financial support of you, our faithful and generous donors; especially in these challenging financial times, and in the face of a newly energized anti-life opposition. While it can be disheartening at times to hear so many of our affiliates report that our opposition is clearly receiving new and increased funding, we are encouraged to see the passionate and ever more creative efforts of our affiliates in their mission to save lives. Here are just a few examples of the wonderful work being done with your generous support:Ecuador HLI Ecuador's president, Amparo Medina, recently organized a group of 10,000 young people from the Archdiocese of Quito and the Diocese of Cuenca to make a promise of chastity and abstinence until marriage as part of the Day of the Unborn celebrations. Several private institutions provided financial support for the activities (which included a play and a musical concert with bands from Costa Rica, Ecuador and Puerto Rico) and for a conference on life issues. Many women gave testimonies of their personal trials with post-abortion syndrome; others spoke of how they resisted the temptation to abort-including a young girl who had become pregnant by rape and chose life. At area Catholic churches, there was a special blessing given to invoke the protection of the most Blessed Virgin Mary. As a grace obtained at the event, a young girl in attendance waited for three hours to talk to HLI Ecuador members to ask for help; she was suffering from post-abortion syndrome because her teacher had taken her to have an abortion. We were able to speak with her and counsel her, letting her know of God's love and forgiveness, and the need to live truly pro-life. Eastern Europe In over 19 years with HLI, Dr. Antun Lisec, executive director of Pro-Life Croatia, has traveled hundreds of thousands of miles bringing the Gospel of Life to Central and Eastern Europe. In recent weeks, Dr. Antun Lisec has worked not only in Croatia, but he has also made missionary trips to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Russia. He recorded a 42-minute pro-life lecture that he sent to Catholic catechists of all the nursing schools in Croatia and to many radio stations. One Serbian orthodox priest replied that he will broadcast the lecture from his radio station , and that it will be offered to all radio stations of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Highlights of Antun's trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina included a live TV broadcast and radio program in the town of Mostar, as well as a 60-minute pro-life lecture for students at the University of Mostar, where Antun distributed more than 100 CDs to the students afterwards. A journalist from Radio Medjugorje recorded the lecture and promised to broadcast it. Antun's trip to Albania was his third, after earlier ones in 1995 and 2003. Highlights of his missionary efforts with HLI's regional coordinator for Europe, Joannes Bucher, included the following: an impromptu 2-hour lecture about medical ethics for about 30 professors/directors from different nursing schools in Albania; an hour meeting with the Auxiliary Bishop Mons. George Anthony Frendo, OP of Tirane; a long meeting with the director of one of the biggest abortion facilities in Albania; a live Radio Maria program with Joannes and Dr. Majlinda, director of Caritas; and lectures with Joannes to the staff of the hospital of Lezhe and women at a Catholic parish in Lac. Philippines In this very populous and faithful nation, where the successful abstinence-only campaign spearheaded by HLI's Dr. Rene Bullecer has borne fruit in a remarkably low AIDS rate, there has recently emerged a ferocious new campaign for massive condom promotion. The Department of Health (DOH) announced that it will be buying 8 million dollars' worth of condoms using new grants they have received from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The DOH has also initiated a new assault in every region and province in the Philippines via massive week-long training seminars on HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB "prevention" for its workers. These training seminars are being held in exclusive hotels and are complete with bonus gifts for all participants. While this "posh seminar with freebies" indoctrination method is not new in the Philippines, it is increasing and becoming more virulent. Like so many of our fellow pro-life organizations, we are being hit hard by the downturn in the economy. Yet, our pro-life missionaries continue to do the hard but rewarding work of saving lives. By doing this they are honoring the sacrifices of you, our supporters; we know how hard it is to continue to give generously as we all struggle through these difficult times. Please give a donation to support our missionary work in these and other nations around the world. Just click on the bright orange "Donate Now" button below to contribute to our mission now. The need is dire, but our pro-life warriors remain committed to defending life in so many countries around the world. And with your continued help, we will keep fighting for life. Thank you. Sincerely and gratefully yours in Christ, Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro-Carámbula Interim President, Human Life International |
| Every person who honestly considers the abortion issue knows that abortion does grave harm to women. What many people don't necessarily know, however, is the harm that abortion does to the partners of those women who have abortions. Raymond DeSouza discusses this phenomenon in this latest episode of LifeLines. See the video here... |
