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 WASHINGTON-Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York called on everyone "concerned about the tragedy of abortion" to recommit to a "vision of life and love, a vision that excludes no one" on January 14. His statement marks the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Cardinal Dolan chairs the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"Most Americans oppose a policy allowing legal abortion for virtually any reason - though many still do not realize that this is what the Supreme Court gave us," wrote Cardinal Dolan. "Most want to protect unborn children at later stages of pregnancy, to regulate or limit the practice of abortion, and to stop the use of taxpayer dollars for the destruction of unborn children. Yet many who support important goals of the pro-life movement do not identify as 'pro-life,' a fact which should lead us to examine how we present our pro-life vision to others."

"Even as Americans remain troubled by abortion," wrote Cardinal Dolan, a powerful and well-funded lobby holds "that abortion must be celebrated as a positive good for women and society, and those who cannot in conscience provide it are to be condemned for practicing substandard medicine and waging a 'war on women'." He said this trend was seen recently when President Obama and other Democratic leaders prevented passage of the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, "a modest measure to provide for effective enforcement" of conscience laws.

"While this is disturbing," said Cardinal Dolan, "it is also an opportunity." Pro-life Americans should reach out to "the great majority of Americans" who are "open to hearing a message of reverence for life." He added that "we who present the pro-life message must always strive to be better messengers. A cause that teaches the inexpressibly great value of each and every human being cannot show disdain or disrespect for any fellow human being." He encouraged Catholics to take part, through prayer and action, in the upcoming "9 Days for Life" campaign, January 16-24. More information on the campaign is available online: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxJwfcefUiU

He also cited the Year of Mercy called by Pope Francis as a time for women and men to find healing through the Church's Project Rachel post-abortion ministry.

The full text of Cardinal Dolan's message is available online.
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Keywords: Roe v. Wade, anniversary, Pro-Life, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, 9 Days for Life, USCCB, U.S. bishops, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Year of Mercy, Project Rachel, Pope Francis
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(Vatican Radio)  Eleven people died Sunday night in a gun battle at a girl's fifteenth birthday party in southwestern Mexico, in the Guerrero State.

Listen to James Blears' report:

Guerrero State Governor Héctor Astudillo Flores said the killings happened at the fifteenth birthday party of a girl in the town of Cundacito.

This birthday year is special, as it's considered an introduction to womanhood. 

Mr. Flores said Municipal, State and Federal Police who were at the party were attacked. Fellow officers who tried to reach the scene in patrol cars, were driven back by heavy gunfire. 

Police returned in daylight, and a full investigation is underway.  As yet, the identity of the gunmen and whether they're connected to organized crime, has not been revealed.

Guerrero is a major cultivation area for marijuana and amapola poppies which are refined into heroin. 

The Governor is pledging to bring those responsible for the killings to justice.

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Vatican City, Feb 1, 2016 / 10:33 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Christ-like obedience, the “terrorism of gossip”, and hope for future vocations were some of the themes Pope Francis addressed during a Monday audience marking the end of the Year for Consecrated Life.

Some 5,000 religious men and women attended the audience to mark the end of the year dedicated to the consecrated vocation, which ends Tuesday.

Setting aside the prepared text, Pope Francis delivered an off-the-cuff address Feb. 1 in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, which centered on what he said were three of the core pillars of the religious life: prophecy, nearness to others, and hope.

Pope Francis began by reflecting on obedience of the consecrated person, which is essentially “prophecy.”

Religious men and women, he said, are carried by a “strong poverty” and “chaste love” toward a “spiritual paternity and maternity for the Church, an obedience.”

The obedience of a consecrated person – to the rule and to their superior – is a “gift of the heart,” he added.

The Pope contrasted such obedience with what he described as the “seeds of anarchy” which are sewn by the devil. “The anarchy of the will is the child of the devil, not a child of God,” the Roman Pontiff said.

Pope Francis drew attention to the example of Christ, who was not an “anarchist” who used force against his enemies, but rather was obedient to his Father.

The second pillar which Pope Francis focused on was that of proximity to others.

Consecrated men and women are called to be near to the lives of Christians and non-Christians alike – and this is true even for those in the cloister, he said.

Moreover, the consecrated life is not a “status” which separates us: rather, it drives us toward a physical and spiritual closeness to others.

Pope Francis especially stressed the importance of maintaining this nearness with the brothers and sisters of their respective communities.  

In this context, the Pope warned against what he referred to as the “terrorism of gossip” within the community. A gossip, he said, is like a terrorist who unleashes a bomb within the community.

If consecrated men and women were to avoid gossip during the current Jubilee Year of Mercy, it would be a “success for the Church.”

Finally, in addressing hope, the third pillar of consecrated life, Pope Francis spoke on the decline in vocations seen in some communities.

In view of dwindling and aging communities, the temptation to lose hope “gives us sterility,” the Pope said. Rather, we must pray for more vocations, he said, citing the Old Testament figure of the then-childless Hannah who prayed tirelessly to God for a son.

Pope Francis warned that dwindling vocations can cause communities to turn to money. The Pope reminded those present to place their hope in God instead.

The Roman Pontiff concluded his address by thanking the consecrated men and women for all they do, each with their own respective charism.

“May the Lord give birth to sons and daughters in your congregations,” he said. “And pray for me.”

The Year for Consecrated Life began Nov. 30, 2015, and will conclude Feb. 2.

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IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring

By Carol Glatz

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Respond to the crisis of vocations with intensified prayer, not despair or a lax admissions process, Pope Francis told women and men religious.

He said he is tempted to lose hope, too, asking God, "What is happening? Why is the womb of consecrated life sterile?"

But he warned against fast fixes, saying some religious "congregations experiment with 'artificial insemination,'" in which they accept anybody, leading to a host of problems.

The vocations process must be done "with seriousness, and one must discern well that this is a true vocation and help it grow," he told members of religious orders, secular institutes and consecrated virgins Feb. 1 in the Vatican audience hall.

The pope met with some 5,000 men and women taking part in events in Rome to mark the close of the Year for Consecrated life, which began Nov. 30, 2014, and was to end Feb. 2, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord and the Jubilee of Consecrated Life.

Handing his written text over to Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Consecrated Life and Institutes for Apostolic Life, Pope Francis said he preferred to speak from his heart "because it's a bit boring to read" a prepared talk.

Both his prepared text and his impromptu talk highlighted the three most important "pillars" of consecrated life: being prophetic; being near all people; and having hope.

It is important to be obedient while being prophetic, which is always about following God and reflecting his divine love, he told his audience.

Obedience for a religious is not the same as "military obedience," he said; it's about giving one's heart and seeking to discern what is being asked.

If the rules or requirements are not clear, then one must speak with one's superior and always obey the final word, he said. "This is prophecy -- against the seeds of anarchy, which are sown by the devil."

Just doing whatever one feels like is "anarchy of the will," which is "the child of the devil, not God."

Jesus wasn't an anarchist, the pope said; he didn't round up his disciples to fight against his enemies. While he pleaded that God "take this cup from me," he still requested his father's will be done.

Likewise, the pope said, if members of a religious community are asked to obey something that doesn't sit well, then -- he gestured taking a big pill and gulping it down. "Since my Italian is so poor I have to speak sign language," he smiled, adding that "one must stomach that obedience."

Being prophetic is telling and showing the world that "there is something truer, more beautiful, greater and better that we are all called to," he said.

Consecrated men and women are called "not to distance myself from the people and live in comfort," but to be close to Christians and non-Christians in order to understand their problems and needs, he said.

However, when it comes to offering love and attention, the sisters and brothers who live in one's community get priority, he said, especially elderly members who may be isolated in an infirmary.

"I know that you never gossip in your communities. Never, ever!" the pope said smiling.

Backstabbing and gossip are a danger to religious life, he said.

"Whoever gossips is a terrorist," he said, because they drop harmful words like bombs against others, leaving behind destruction while the attacker walks away unscathed.

"If you feel like saying something against a brother or sister," he said, "bite your tongue. Hard. No terrorism in your communities."

Resolve differences or problems face-to-face with the person in question, he said. But when it's time for general chapters or other forums involving community life, then people need to be forthright in voicing concerns openly and frankly.

He said, "In public, you have to say everything you feel because there is the temptation to not say things during the chapter" meetings, which then leads to resentment afterward.

"During this Year of Mercy, if each one of you were able to never be a gossip-terrorist it would be a success for the church, a success of great holiness. Be brave!" he said.

The pope thanked religious men and women for their work, especially consecrated women. "What would the church be if there were no sisters?" he asked, recalling their presence in Catholic hospitals, schools, parishes and missions around the world.

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A video to accompany this story can be found at https://youtu.be/b8kym7OqTVs

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