THELEAVEN.COM | VOL. 37, NO. 4 | AUGUST 14, 2015
WE SHALL OVERCOME
Cardinal calls for pro-life movement to expand its efforts as a ‘field hospital’ By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
K
ANSAS CITY, Kan. — The golden calf of the Bible is a metaphor for the modern idols of individualism and materialism, but these can be overcome by solidarity and community, said Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, OFM Cap., in a homily on July 27 at the Cathedral of St. Peter here. Cardinal O’Malley was the main celebrant and homilist at a Mass for those attending the national Diocesan Pro-Life Leadership Conference from July 26 to 29, hosted by the respect life office of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and the pro-life office of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In his homily, Cardinal O’Malley showed how pro-life values were at the core of Pope Francis’ latest encyclical, “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home.” “There is a danger in becoming so fascinated by the gifts that we forget the giver of every good gift, and we allow God to be some sort of anonymous benefactor in our lives,” said Cardinal O’Malley. “The Holy Father . . . gives us an encyclical about our call to be protectors of the gift,” he continued. “Many environmentalists are population control freaks, always pushing the anti-life agenda, therefore the Holy Father’s teaching is so important. Francis shows us the human ecology and [that] the duty to protect the most sacred gift of all is at the very heart of our concern for the earth, our common home.” He quoted paragraph 120 of the encyclical which says, “How can we genuinely teach the importance of concern for other vulnerable beings, however troublesome or inconvenient they may be, if we fail to protect a human embryo, even when its presence is uncomfortable and creates difficulties?” “The culture of death is a byproduct of the materialism and extreme individu-
By Joe Bollig joe.bollig@theleaven.org
Above, Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, OFM Cap., was the main celebrant and homilist at a Mass for attendees at the national Diocesan Pro-Life Leadership Conference from July 26 to 29, hosted by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Right, Archbishop Naumann and Cardinal O’Malley talk following Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas. alism of our day,” said the cardinal. “The autonomous self who wants to be the center of the universe, who wants to be the golden calf — the extreme individualism that defines abortion as a right over a woman’s body.” The recent Planned Parenthood >> See “WE” on page 6
Three honored with People of Life Awards
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — It was an all-star night at the 2015 People of Life Award dinner here on July 27, when honors were given to three pro-life pioneers who were there at the beginning of the battle against the “culture of death.” The three who were recognized were: Nancy Valko, a nurse; Molly Kelly, a speaker and chastity educator; and Michael Taylor,
Nancy Valko
Molly Kelly
Michael Taylor
a leader of pro-life organizations and campaigns. They are among the 25 people who have received the People of Life Award since it was estab-
lished by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2007. The annual awards dinner was part of the national Diocesan Pro-Life Leadership Conference
July 26 to 29, hosted by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the Diocese of Kansas CitySt. Joseph and sponsored by the USCCB.
Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM Cap., of the Archdiocese of Boston, presented the awards as more than 120 diocesan, state and national Catholic pro-life leaders and guests looked on. The People of Life Award is given to Catholics who have answered the call issued by St. John Paul II in his 1995 encyclical “Evangelium Vitae” (“The Gospel of Life”), dedicating themselves to pro-life activities and promoting
>> See “LONGTIME” on page 6