Dear Parishioners:
On the 46th Anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, New York Governor Andrew Coumo proudly signed into law one of the most extreme abortion bills in the nation. The bill, described as a “death-star” by some, received great support and swift passage in the New York State Assembly. This bill goes far beyond Roe vs. Wade in its aggressive extremism. It grants non-doctors permission to perform abortions, condones coerced or involuntary abortions by repealing criminal sanctions even in cases where a perpetrator seeks to make his partner “un-pregnant” through an act of physical violence, removes protection for an infant accidentally born alive during an abortion and allows late-term abortions up until just before the birth of a child. This extreme and radical legislation is nothing less than a license to kill a pre-born child at will.
This past week the R.I. House of Representatives had a hearing on two similar bills under consideration. As in New York these bills, H.5125 and H.5127 were introduced under the guise of “codifying the Roe v. Wade decision” in case the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the decision. However, it is really a ruse to push bills that are as radical and extreme as the New York law. These R.I. bills eliminate any constitutional restrictions on late-term abortions as well as constitutional restrictions on methods of abortion.
They also undermine the authority of the State and the Department of Health from enacting and adopting any constitutional restrictions on the performance of abortions at abortion mills. In addition, the bills require the State to pay for all abortions sought by Medicaid-eligible pregnant women and women covered by the "payor of last resort" program. The bills also water down the parental consent law for minors seeking abortions. Many legislators signed on in support of the bills under intense pressure from the so-called “progressive” wing of the General Assembly. They and their well-financed abortion industry allies have targeted any legislator who is not in lock step with their extreme abortion agenda. There is nothing in their agenda that is truly progressive but rather it is an extremist and radical attack upon the sanctity of life.
Make no mistake, these bills are not simply under consideration but they are gaining support. The powerful and well financed abortion lobby and its “progressive” elected allies including those elected here in East Greenwich, Warwick and North Kingstown, are zealously pushing this anti-life bill. I ask you to contact your state representative and state senator and urge them not to support this radical and extreme abortion bill.
As Saint Pope John Paul the Great stated: “We are asked to love and honor the life of every man and woman and to work with perseverance and courage so that our time, marked by all too many signs of death, may at last witness the establishment of a new culture of life, the fruit of the culture of truth and of love.”
Let us pray for the legal protection of the unborn, let us pray that legislators have the courage to respect the sanctity of all human life and reject these radical bills, and let us pray that each one of us has the courage to speak out for the voiceless and innocent unborn. Pray, act and advocate for life!
On Friday of this coming week our OLM School 8th Grade are taking a trip to Quebec for the weekend. The trip includes educational and cultural opportunities to learn about French-Canada. Also visits to some of the great sites of Quebec and Old Quebec. And time to snow-shoe, sled or ice skate in that winter wonderland! The group is also visiting the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Shrine. It is perhaps one of the most beautiful churches in North America. They are to attend Sunday Mass at the shrine. Please pray for the students and their chaperones including Fr. Barrow. May St. Anne, guide and protect them!
If you haven’t heard yet, the New England Patriots are once again in the Super Bowl! Now I’ve heard it said that the only folks rooting for the Pats today live in New England. The rest are New Orleans Saints fans rooting against the Rams. I’m not sure that’s true but I do know everyone in the OLM Rectory including Fr. Barrow is rooting for the Pats to win another Super Bowl!
Be well. Do good. God Bless. Go Pats!