Bishop Kevin Farrell

The Chief Shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas

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Pilgrimage to Defend the Civil Rights of Innocent Children – January 18th

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Life

It is hard to believe that so many years have gone by and how many innocent children have been denied their right to life since that tragic decision of January 22, 1973. At that time, the Executive Director of the Texas Catholic Congress predicted that the Supreme Court decision would generate the greatest grassroots protest in the nation’s history. He may well be correct.

Generations of seemingly powerless politicians have used the issue as a political crutch that mysteriously disappeared once elected. However, bus loads of people continue travel to Washington marches each year.

The crusade, once primarily a Catholic issue, has grown into an inter-faith cause. Such will be the case on Saturday when Catholics will rally for life. The Rosary will be prayed at the Southwestern late-term abortion clinic at 10 AM, and at 1 PM priests of the diocese will join me in concelebrating the Roe Memorial bilingual Mass.

The Mass previously celebrated at the Cathedral has been moved to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center to accommodate the many Catholics who join us from all over the region. After Mass, we will march to the Earle Cabell Federal Courthouse for an Ecumenical Rally.

I invite all people of all faiths to join in this pilgrimage to defend the civil rights of innocent children.

Roe vs. Wade remembered

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It has been forty long and tragic years since the Supreme Court’s decision on Roe vs. Wade legalized abortions in our country. Since that time there has been an estimated 55,000,000 babies aborted.

Saturday, January 19, we will march in remembrance of four decades of death in solidarity with other marchers for life throughout the United States. The March for Life will begin at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe at noon and proceed to the Earle Cabell Federal Courthouse, the building where Roe vs. Wade was first filed in 1970. Speakers will talk about the ramifications of the Supreme Court decision.

Prior to the march, at 10 a.m., there will be the Roe Memorial Bilingual Mass at the Cathedral, including the Procession of Roses. Concurrently there will be a Pro-Life Ministry Fair and Praise and Worship Service at the First Baptist Church featuring music and inspirational speakers.

Please join me in the public witness of dissent from this catastrophic action.

For more information on event times and locations, please visit the Roe Memorial Events Website.

What Respect Life is all about

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“I came so that all might have life and have it to the full” John 10:10

In a society and world where life is increasingly disrespected, it is important that we remind ourselves that Jesus came not only to give us eternal life but life in this world. Our duty to respect life is constant and never ending, but once each year for forty years the Church in America has set aside October as Respect Life Month to emphasize to us and to others Jesus’ new Commandment of unselfish love.  [Read more…]

How our religious liberty is being eroded

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“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
U.S. Constitution, First Amendment

The United States Constitution’s First Amendment gives two guarantees to religion. There can be no law establishing a state religion and there can be no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion. Much has been said and written concerning the “wall of separation between church and state.” A term used by Thomas Jefferson but not found in the Constitution. [Read more…]

If there was ever a mustard seed story, it is the pro-life movement

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Phillip Scharper, the late Catholic publisher, once said that “only those who can see the invisible can do the impossible.”

On January 22, 1973 when the highest court in the land handed down the Roe vs Wade decision there were those Catholics whose Faith was all about seeing the invisible who set out to do the impossible.

From that time on the nascent pro-life movement began to grow exponentially into what is likely the greatest and longest-lasting grassroots movement in the history of the United States.

Most importantly it is not just a protest movement that tends to lose steam because it is essentially negative, but it has transformed itself into a positive outreach that does not simply wait for someone do “do something” about stopping abortions but has taken up the baton and run with it.

On March 26th once again the ballroom at the Hilton Anatole will be packed with those who labor on behalf of the unborn and their supporters. Last year there were nearly 2500. Maybe they can stretch to walls to make it 3000 in 2011.

What are these outreach programs of which I speak? Project Gabriel and the GEMS,
Rachel Retreats, Abortion After-care, lobbying in Austin and Washington, Speakers Bureau and outreach to the Hispanic community.

In addition diocesan agencies like Catholic Charities provide alternatives to abortion through its adoption program and Children and Adoption Services and Community Outreach (CASCO) provides help and creates hope for families and individuals through three main programs: Maternity and Adoption, the Mary R. Saner Child Development Center, our Together We Learn program and St. Joseph Residence. We are respecting and protecting life from conception to natural death.

The diocese cooperates with community programs like Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) a nonprofit organization of volunteers who are appointed by judges to make recommendations that help judges decide where abused and neglected children can live safely and permanently.

Our Safe Environment Office works closely with parishes and non-parish based organizations and with community and government agencies to insure the safety and security of our children and vulnerable-adults.

We’re not there yet. Roe vs. Wade is still on the books, but we are doing a lot more than just protesting and wringing our hands.

The mustard seed has become a tree.

A Sad Anniversary

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Once again we will commemorate the tragic Roe vs. Wade decision of the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday January 22 with a Mass at the Cathedral followed by a March for Life through downtown Dallas. Bishop Kevin Vann of Fort Worth will join in celebrating the Mass and in the march from the Cathedral to the Federal Courthouse.

It was 38 years ago when a case that originated in Dallas reached the Supreme Court and triggered the decision that legalized abortions. The pro-life movement aimed at overturning Roe vs. Wade is one of the greatest grass roots efforts in the nation’s history.

Since 1995, with publication of the “Gospel of Life,” the Church has continuously encouraged us to promote a culture of life that respects, protects and supports all human life from conception to natural death. I encourage all Catholics and all men and women of goodwill to do what they can to promote this culture in our communities and in our nation.

I thank all people who will join us in this pilgrimage for life. If you cannot participate in the Mass and march or other planned activities, please join us in praying for the success of the pro-life movement.

A new pro-life generation

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Hundreds of thousands marching up Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court to protest the Roe vs. Wade decision was impressive by any standard. However, to me the most impressive element was that many marchers were not just gray haired veterans, but young people under 30.

Before the march the young people, more than 22,000 of them, overflowed a rally at Verizon Center sponsored by the Archdiocese of Washington. I am proud of the large number of Dallas young people who took part.

Chanting “we are the pro-life generation” and carrying signs proclaiming “Smile, your parents chose life” the youth sent a powerful message that the fight for life is stronger than ever.

One of the few counter demonstrators was quoted in the Washington Post as being struck by the large number of young people among the marchers, adding “it suggests that the battle over abortion will endure for a long time to come.”

He’s right!

Principles for True Healthcare Reform

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It is important to make clear the U.S. Bishops position in the current health care debate:

We have long supported reform to provide adequate and affordable health care for all but any final health care bill must include these fundamental principles.

•Current federal law on abortion funding and conscience protection on abortion must be kept in place

•Immigrants present access to health care must be protected and current barriers removed to provide health care to all immigrants regardless of status.

•There must be strong provisions for adequate affordability and coverage standards.

The bill approved by the House of Representatives meets these criteria. The bill approved by the Senate does not. Outside the abortion context, neither bill has adequate conscience protection for health care
providers, plans or employers

A compromise proposal is now being worked on and must be approved by both House and Senate. We believe it must include these fundamental principles.

Legislation that fails to comply with this policy and precedent is not true health care reform and should be opposed until this fundamental problem is remedied.