DEACON FOR LIFE

Were there to be no support in the whole history of ethical and moral thought, were there no acknowledged confirmation from medical science, were the history of legal opinion to the contrary, we would still have to conclude on the basis of God's Holy Word that the unborn child is a person in the sight of God. He is protected by the sanctity of life graciously given to each individual by the Creator, Who alone places His image upon man and grants them any right to life which they have.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Spirit and Life: Why Pro-Life Missions Matter

At this email goes out, I am on a mission trip in Dubai, reaching out to a surprisingly large group of expatriate Filipino and African Christians. HLI's Dr. Ligaya Acosta and I have been busy in this impressive city, which continues to profit from an oil-fueled economic boom. This kind of growth and economic opportunity attracts service workers from all over the hemisphere, many of whom are Christian.

We were honored to meet with His Excellency, Bishop Paul Hinder to discuss HLI's pro-life mission and how HLI can be of assistance to his work. He was very welcoming and open to discuss possible collaboration in the future. And thanks to Dr. Acosta's previous mission work, we were able to meet with local pro-life and family leaders and discuss potential pro-life training and conferences in 2015.

I ask that you please keep this and the efforts of HLI's other pro-life missionaries in your prayers. It is by their labors that we are able to share with you every week how HLI builds a Culture of Life around the world. This week, we're reporting on our Belarus affiliate's "Weeks Without Abortions" initiative, our Filipino affiliate'schallenge to the lay faithful, and how babies are saved using a new hormone treatment protocol -- by one of HLI's own board members!

Finally, brothers and sisters, I pray that you all are taking the opportunity during the solemn season of Advent to prepare your hearts and minds to welcome the Christ Child. As we make room for Him, we must participate in the Sacrament of Confession, try to attend Mass during the week if possible, and make small sacrifices. Be a source of the true joy of Christ to those around you, whatever their faith, remembering that it is not Christmas yet, but the time of preparation for Christmas.

God bless you and your families!

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Shenan J. Boquet

President, Human Life International

"Weeks Without Abortions" Initiative Saves Babies in Belarus

by Krista Schmid Thomas

Weeks Without Abortion Initiative, Belarus, Nov 2014

MOGILEV, Belarus - Vladislav Valakhovich, director of Human Life International's affiliate in Belarus, is on a mission to end abortion. Armed with a growing network of 70 volunteers, the pro-life leader launched an initiative aimed at saving babies from abortion called 'Weeks without Abortions.'

The pro-life exhibits are working exceedingly well in the nine hospitals and clinics that allow the display. Volunteers also manage more than 30 stands, keeping them filled with pro-life and pro-family educational materials. The program has increased calls for counseling to the HLI affiliate's crisis pregnancy hotline. -more-

Filipino Event Challenges Laity to be Brave Warriors for Life and Family

by HLI Staff

CEBU CITY, Philippines - Filipino Catholics bid farewell to the Year of the Laity with a culminating event held in Cebu City on November 23. The one-day event drew lay leaders from the Archdiocese of Cebu's 149 parishes.

Dr. Rene Bullecer encourages Filipino faithful to preach the Gospel and uphold life and family values.

HLI Philippines country director Rene Bullecer, MD and other speakers challenged the faithful to promote the Gospel as partners of the Church. In his keynote speech, Dr. Bullecer emphasized the very crucial role of the laity in the challenging times ahead. - more -

Midwest Pregnancy Center First to Offer RU-486 Abortion Reversal to Save Babies

by HLI Reports

Area women who change their mind after beginning a medical abortion now have an attempted reversal treatment available that has been successful in saving many babies. On November 17, 2014 the Women's Choice Center of the Quad-Cities (WCC) became the first pregnancy center in the Midwest to offer natural progesterone treatments to attempt to reverse RU-486 medical abortions.

Dr. Karla Polaschek, FACOG, Medical Director of the Women's Choice Center and HLI Board Member, saves babies using this new hormone treatment protocol. So far, there have been 58 babies born alive and healthy to mothers treated with this protocol after beginning a medical abortion. In addition, 106 women are expecting delivery of children they first tried to abort. -more-

LIFE IS SACRED

An example of the traditional magisterial teaching which indicates that it is never morally licit to intentionally kill a child through abortion in order to “save the life of its mother” comes from the teaching of Pope Pius XII:

“Every human being, even the infant in the mother's womb, has the right to life immediately from God, not from the parent or any human society or authority. Therefore, there is no man, no human authority, no science, no medical, eugenic, social, economic or moral ‘indication’ that can show or give valid juridical title for direct deliberate disposition concerning an innocent human life-which is to say, a disposition that aims at its destruction either as an end in itself or as the means of attaining another end that is perhaps in no way illicit itself. Thus, for example, to save the life of the mother is a most noble end, but the direct killing of the child as a means to this end is not licit.”