FrontLines Magazine Fall 2011

2 | FrontLines Summer 2011 www.hli.org

Dear Friends,

In this fall issue, we report on the new leadership of HLI and our new strategies to expand our mis-sion. After a long and conscientious search, the HLI Board has selected Fr. Shenan J. Boquet to become the new President and Fr. Peter West as Vice President for Missions. Both priests have ex-cellent credentials to continue and push forward our mission.

Fr. Boquet comes from the Houma-Thibodaux Diocese of the state of New Orleans, where he was the pastor of St. Gregory Barbarigo. Since he was ordained a priest in 1993, he has appeared on EWTN and Ave Maria Radio and given hundred of talks on issues ranging from the dignity of the human person and the nature of marriage to so-cial justice and moral theology. Fr. West brings to HLI his well know experience as the Assitant Director of Priests for Life. He has spent the last 13 spreading the Gospel of Life in all the 50 states of the Union and in several foreign nations.

This new leadership team is grounded on the founding charisma of Fr. Paul Marx, who was in-spired by the Lord to establish an international pro-life apostolate more than 30 year ago. Our founder was fully aware that the challenge to life and family was global, and in consequence our re-sponse has to be worldwide. The current circum-stances in the world look more threatening now than they did in the late seventies or early eight-ies. The Communist menace seems under control, but liberal secularist, anti-human ideologies are raising their heads everywhere, promoting abor-tion, contraception, euthanasia and same-sex unions. We have to be aware that the threat posed by secular humanist ideologies is more insidious than Communism. While Marxism was clear-ly brutal, secular humanism presents a humane face, but behind the façade, you have a terribly de-structive ideology.

This issue also provides a valuable chronicle of how our worldwide mission continues. We read of the valuable efforts of Dr. Ligaya Acosta and Dr. Bullecer in the Philippines to defeat the evil “Reproductive Health Bill” and about the new HLI documentary that is being shown world-wide, drawing attention to the plight of Filipino families. We are informed of the very good pro-life work done in Lesotho, Africa by Archbishop Gerard Tlali Terotholi, who just received the Cardinal von Galen award from HLI. We hear of the great work of Patrick McCrystal in Ireland and the work that it is being conducted in Latin America.

As I mentioned before, at the end of my term as Interim President, I returned to my previous position as Director of the Rome Office of HLI. Here in Rome, I hope to continue to serve the cause of life and truth as I have done for more than 13 years.

We sincerely hope that with God’s grace and the assistance of Our Lady the new leadership of HLI will be able to continue the good fight against the threats of our times. But as we all know, it is God’s will that all apostolic efforts be assisted and strengthened by the support of all the members of the Mystical Body of Christ. So we are count-ing on your prayers and, if possible, your material assistance.

Sincerely in Christ,

Msgr. Ignacio Barreiro-CarámbulaExecutive Director of HLI’s Rome Office

Msgr. Ignacio Barreiro-Carámbula, S.T.D,

Executive Director of HLI’s Rome Office

CONTENTS

3 News from the Missions

6 HLI Welcomes Fr. Shenan Boquet & Fr. Peter West

8 Seeking Support for the Philippines

10 Charitable Gift Annuities in an Eco-nomic Downturn

11 Archbishop Gerard Tlali Lerotholi Receives the Cardinal von Galen Award

12 HLI America’s Truth & Charity Forum and HLI WorldWatch

14 The Philippines: Preserving a Culture of Life

In This Issue

FrontLines Summer 2011 | 3

NEWS FROM THE MISSIONS

HLI has 72 affiliates and 39 associates in 87 countries

Region: AsiaHLI Coordinator: Ligaya Acosta

HLI GOa (INdIa) — HLI’s Human Life Goa, led by Milagres Pereira, staged the second Pro-Life Session for School Students at St. Joseph High School in Arpora, Bardez-Goa. Themes cov-ered were the preciousness of life, choices that youths make, and love, sex and abortion. The pro-gram was very well received, and the feedback included a written testimonial stating, “You have changed my life.” Milagres consistently provides pro-life seminars throughout Goa.

HLI PILIPINaS — In the very critical few weeks before a vote concerning the latest version of a “Reproductive Health Bill,” Dr. Bullecer and HLI Pilipinas are aggressively educating and mo-bilizing the defense of life in this country. Recent activities include:

• Large scale Congresses • A meeting to educate pro-life legislators• Education of catechists from 30 different

parishes• Numerous radio and television interviews• Archdiocesan Youth Leaders pro-

life Conference with hundreds of key youth leaders from 35 parishes in the Archdiocese of Davao

At the Annual National Divine Mercy Pro-Life Congress, Dr. Bullecer delivered a 2-hour talk to the more than 4,000 delegates from throughout the Philippine archipelago. He ex-posed the names of numerous anti-life organi-zations like WHO, USAID, UNFPA, and the EU that all masquerade as benevolent groups who care about the poor and about people’s health but whose main agenda is to depopulate the country and undermine Catholic morality and family life.

Region: EuropeHLI Coordinator: Joannes BucherIRELaNd — Patrick McCrystal hosted EWTN’s Johnnette Benkovic during June for three 1-day conferences that were sold out. Themes covered were “Authentic Catholic Femininity” and “Unmasking the New Age Movement,” and Johnnette discussed the diabolical strategy of Sa-tan to particularly attack the woman, just as in the Garden of Eden. Thanks to the successful set of conferences, Johnnette’s “Women of Grace” will now be teaming up with HLI Ireland; 65 women representing 27 counties signed up to act as facil-itators of Johnnette’s DVD study course through-out Ireland. They have already set up a website at www.womenofgraceinireland.com.

Patrick also tells us that HLI Ireland made its first formal consecration to St. Joseph, who was an important part of the Knock, Ireland, apparition. Everyone is encouraged to “go to Joseph” via the consecration prayer available at www.humanlife.ie.

Milagres Pereira giving pro-life presentation.

The following are brief glimpses of the work being done by our affiliates and associates around the world.

Ligaya Acosta, HLI’s Regional Coordinator

for Asia


News from the Missions

Raymond de Souza, HLI’s Regional Coordinator

for Portuguese-Speaking Nations

Mario Rojas, HLI’s Re-gional Coordinator for

Latin America

CROaTIa — Dr. Antun Lisec gave pro-life and pro-chastity lectures at schools in three towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Other activities include a lot of follow up with doctors and contacts that Antun has made in his many travels, wherein he will send his pro-life CDs, DVDs, leaflets, etc. He also sent his CD to almost all radio stations in Croatia.

Results from these activities are quite astound-ing. Recently, an Orthodox priest in Russia posted on the internet Antun’s 49 minute ethics lecture to medical workers. And some weeks ago, a Croatian girl who found one of Antun’s “Love Babies and Let Them Live” leaflet in a hospital, contacted him for help in finding lodging so she can safely carry her baby and give life. Antun actually has a long-standing special apostolate where he gets con-tacted to intervene when a woman is considering abortion. Antun has successfully saved many ba-bies in this way over the years.

Region: Latin AmericaHLI Coordinator: Mario Rojas

aRGENTINa — Doctor Oscar Botta, Presi-dent of HLI Argentina, reported that he wrote an article titled “False Law on Homosexual Marriage” and that he participated in the pro-life protest against the presence of Ms. Luz Patricia Mejía-Guerrero, a member of the Inter-American Com-mission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States (OAS), who was allowed to ad-dress the legislative committee on criminal legis-lation of the Congress of the Nation. Ms. Mejía-Guerrero’s intention was to speak in promotion of a vote in favor of a legislative bill that will further decriminalize abortion in Argentina. The pro-life protest was organized by a group of young peo-ple known as Youth Front on the same day and at the same time that this legislative hearing com-mission meeting was being held. Close to 1,000 people gathered together outside the congressio-nal building, with music, speeches and posters. The young people had set up a “counter legislative hearing” on the streets, with a table, chairs and a microphone. The topic was ‘Abortion: Is it legal, safe, free?’ Dr. Botta, as one of the advisors of this group of young people, was invited to come and speak to the people. After he spoke, he distributed pro-life educational material and several pro-life Precious Feet pins. He was interviewed by the lo-cal major newspaper The Nation (La Nación).

COSTa RICa — Dr. Alejandro Leal, Presi-dent of HLI Costa Rica, reported that this affiliate held its 4th Festival for Life and that they contin-ued with the organizational efforts as hosts of the Fifth World International Congress held October 28-30.

HLI Costa Rica and the other pro-life orga-nizations in this country have been involved in fighting legislation that will allow in vitro fertiliza-tion. The different pro-life groups are in constant and intense dialogue with the legislature and with the Attorney General office. Dr. Leal and HLI Costa Rica’s legal advisor appeared with pro-life legislators during a press conference held at the Legislative Assembly to explain the reasons why in vitro fertilization must not be allowed. He was interviewed by the EWTN Spanish television pro-gram Face to Face on the topic of bioethics and in vitro fertilization.

Mission to Portuguese-Speaking CountriesHLI Coordinator: Raymond DeSouza

At the end of July, Raymond DeSouza traveled to Australia and then to the Portuguese-speaking country of East Timor.

While in Australia he addressed some 300 people on the message of Our Lady of Fatima and her prophecy that “Russia would spread her errors throughout the world” — and that abortion was the first. He went on to address numerous other groups, especially young people, concerning a full range of life topics. At the farewell breakfast that was held for him, he met with 20 key people who made a serious commitment to promote the New Evangelization and the Gospel of Life in Australia.

Joannes Bucher, HLI’s Regional Coordinator for

Europe

Dr. Oscar Botta in Pro-Familia conference room Buenos Aires, Argentina.


News from the MissionsIn East Timor, Raymond was welcomed by

His Excellency Alberto Ricardo da Silva, Bishop of Dili. The good bishop made it very clear that HLI is most welcome to work in his diocese and indicated his desire to have a committed pro-life/evangelization group working in close coopera-tion with HLI.

Under the chaperoning of the diocesan Vicar General, Raymond was taken to various places to give his lectures. Activities included presentations at: the diocesan seminary; a group of young peo-ple on the issue of chastity and modesty in dress; a pro-life forum for some 50 nuns and priests concerning the Gospel of Life; a workshop with priests and nuns who form the pro-life commit-tee for the diocese, where specific plans of action were formulated for education in parishes, prayer events for life, and an active education of the peo-ple regarding their political candidates before an election. Raymond was able to provide a 2-hour interview for the area’s Catholic radio, which will be re-worked into 15-minute segments for broad-casting on a regular basis.

Raymond will be continuing collaboration with the good pro-life leaders in East Timor from afar. He will assist them with the preparation of a pro-life ‘manifesto,’ and he will be recording CDs in Portuguese on various religious and pro-life is-sues for their copying, distribution and broadcast-ing. With his long distance assistance, it is hoped that the nascent pro-life movement will grow and thrive.

Region: AfricaHLI Coordinator: George Wirnkar (French speaking) and Emil Hagamu (English speaking)

ZIMbabWE – GuadaLuPE aSSOCI-aTION — The ladies at HLI Zimbabwe report that they recorded 4 radio programs, one for each week of July. They also report the good news that they held one of their “world famous” book fairs — which is a powerful way to get the pro-life mes-sage out to the people of this country. They were able to reach a lot of youth and teachers, and re-quests for follow up visits were plentiful. It is very encouraging to see that the schools are very much in favor of receiving the full pro-life truth. They were able to distribute a lot of their “Be a Life Sav-er” pamphlets and some fliers with other pro-life information.

During this period, they also received a larger-than-usual number of requests from women need-ing help with maternity fees, baby clothing, and money to feed hungry families. This remains a con-stant and very important outreach for this vibrant affiliate.

uGaNda — HLI Uganda has been carrying out many programs in order to spread the pro-life message amidst growing anti-life opposition.

At the invitation of the Deputy Head Teacher of the Mukuju Primary Teachers College, a team from HLI Uganda gave a full-range pro-life pro-gram at the school for students, staff and princi-pal. Attendees were active and asked many ques-tions, particularly about the condom — due to the prevailing misconceptions that are so aggressively propagandized.

The St. Austin’s pro-life missionaries’ team was the first team to be formed by HLI Uganda, and since their inception they have done a lot of work in sensitizing the youth and organizing commu-nities for pro-life and NFP trainings. In recent weeks, they provided training of pro-life mission-ariesl. A new group was established after a recent training session, and officers were chosen to en-able them to coordinate their activities easily.

Other recent activities include a radio show for youth that was held in conjunction with World Youth Day in Madrid, and NFP training and pro-life talk at the St. Elizabeth Girl’s Hostel, where follow up will include another talk and the forma-tion of an official pro-life club.

George Wirnkar, HLI’s Regional Coordinator for French-Speaking Africa

HLI Zimbabwe’s book fair.

Emil Hagamu, HLI’s Regional Coordinator for English-Speaking Africa


“HLI’s patroness, Our Lady of Guadalupe, has answered our prayers in the most gen-erous way, sending us two strong and faithful priests to lead our worldwide mission,” said HLI Board Chairman Patricia Bainbridge upon an-nouncing HLI’s new leadership team - President Father Shenan J. Bouquet, and Vice President for Missions Father Peter West. “Father Boquet and Father West not only both have excellent credentials, but bring complementary gifts

and servant hearts to our crucial work. We have been truly blessed.”

HLI’s New President, Fr. Shenan J. Boquet, comes to Human Life International from the Houma-Thibodaux Roman Catholic Diocese, where he served most recently as Pastor of St. Gregory Barbarigo Parish in Houma, Louisiana.

Since being ordained as a priest in 1993, Fr. Boquet has ap-peared on EWTN and Ave Maria Radio, as well as in other media, and has given hundreds of talks at conferences and in parishes on issues ranging from the dignity of the human person and the nature of marriage, to social justice and moral theology.

Father Peter West is already widely known in the pro-life world. As the Assistant Director of Priests for Life, Fr. West has spent the last 13 years spreading the Gospel of Life in all 50 states and several

nations. In 2011, Fr. West celebrated both his 20th anniversary as a priest, and 25 years of defending the right to life of the most vul-nerable members of society. During his many pastoral efforts in the pro-life movement, Fr. West has been able to dissuade women from having abortions, and has helped women who have had abortions to

find healing and peace.Discussing the new leadership structure, Mrs. Bainbridge empha-

sized that HLI’s growing mission requires new strategic thinking, and even greater support for HLI’s missionaries in the field. “Father Marx

H U M A N L I F E I N T E R N AT I O N A L W E L C O M E S

Fr. Shenan Boquet & Fr. Peter West

COVER STORY

By Stephen Phelan


THE PRO-LIFE WISDOM of FR. PAUL MARX, APOSTLE OF LIFENo one can accurately predict the future resolution of the abortion battle. Much will depend on whether society can be awakened to the nefarious designs and the subtle, satanic dishonesties of the death peddlers.

Someone said: The brave walk in single file, while the timid hide in crowds. It is already late in the day for those who love life and cherish the rights of all to leave the crowd.

One thing is certain: We must continue to fight.

—The Death Peddlers, page 185

always moved assertively when it came to growth, and in the last decade, we have added dozens more countries to our mission field. We feel that both Father Boquet and Father West understand what the increasing threats to life and family require, and we are confident that under their leadership we will be able to manage our growth and in-crease our effectiveness.”

“It is quite literally impossible to keep track of all of the offenses to life and family we see around the world,” said Fr. West. “But when you see how wide HLI’s reach is inter-nationally, and how effective our partners and missionar-ies have been, it gives hope and renewed energy to dive into the battle with confidence and trust in the Lord of Life.”

“This is very true,” added Fr. Boquet. “And this is why our friends around the world will be seeing a renewed commitment to building culture of life and love, based on the Gospel and the teachings of the Catholic Church. The Church in most places is the only institution holding on against the culture of death, and we owe it to our brothers and sisters who are just starting to see the effects of pop-ulation control policies on their own families and com-munities, to fortify them with information, support and prayers. The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI has been clear that true human development is based on genuine Charity and the Truth of Jesus Christ, directed toward building up the whole human person, and all people. This is our mission - to meet the culture of death with courage, truth and love. And with the eyes of faith, we know Who wins this battle in the end.”

To learn more about Father Boquet and Father West and the work that Human Life International is doing worldwide, visit www.hli.org. Also, be sure to look for new initiatives in future issues of FrontLines.

Right: Msgr. Ignacio Barreiro-Carámbula, who has served as HLI’s Interim President for the past year, with Fr. Shenan Boquet and Fr. Peter West.


The Philippines is a vibrant country, with large families and is predominantly Catho-lic. Filipinos can be found

throughout Asia and the world and are known for evangelizing zeal wherever they live. The Philippines is also the Pro-Life anchor to Asia and has been under assault by population control forces for over 40 years, with the current version of the Reproductive Health Bill (there have been four previous attempts to pass this legislation) being the most insidi-ous. This summer, as the House of Rep-resentatives of the Philippines debated the worthiness of this poison pill bill, HLI’s Regional Coordinator for Asia, Dr. Ligaya Acosta, traveled across the US for a series of talks about the devastating ef-fect the RH bill would have on the Phil-ippines and Asia if passed.

Flying into the San Francisco bay area for our first stop was easy. Two flights, five hours and I arrived early to meet Dr. Acosta’s flight, but what does it take to travel as an HLI Regional Director? The norm would be traveling large areas of Asia, Europe, Africa, Central and South America. HLI has excellent coverage of their travels and work through Mission

Reports, yet, what does it take to give a talk in Cambodia or Argentina, how about the Ukraine? Dr. Acosta’s travel to the US for our eight day’s of talks cov-ered 11 time Zones, 13 flights and over 20,000 miles. And…we were on the road early the next morning for talks in Napa and Walnut Creek.

Dr. Acosta’s zeal and dedication in confronting the culture of death across Asia resonates with her audi-ence. Returning to the Bay area after our travel north, she spoke before a large Filipino audience at the Gift of Life – Fruit of Divine Mercy conference at the Oakland Cathedral. As the conference was coming to a close, many attendees informed us they were calling back to

SEEKING SUPPORT FOR

THE PHILIPPINES

Bill Williams (far right) and Dr. Acosta (second from the right) in Seattle with Bill and Maribel Santos of Couples for Christ.

Couples for Christ meeting in Seattle, WA.


If you’re over 70½ and have an IRA, you are required by law to take a

minimum disbursement.

IRA distributions to HLI will be excluded from federal taxable income.

You can do this by making an IRA Charitable Distribution to Human Life International.

IRA Charitable Distribution Only Extended Through 2011

For information on how to make the transfer, contact Bill Williams at 540-622-5285 or at [email protected]

Development News & Progress

the Philippines to inform relatives and friends what the REAL story was behind the RH Bill. In Seattle and Denver the reac-tions were the same. Few people knew the dark side of this supposedly wonderful bill.

Flying out to Chicago, Dr. Acosta attended the Couples for Christ Foundation for Family and Life at their 17th National Conference at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. One of the main highlights of the conference was the session: “Our Marriage is God’s Stronghold.” Four superb pro-life speakers energized and edified the crowd. These were Ligaya Acosta, HLI’s Regional Coordinator for Asia and Oceania, Joe Scheidler, President of Chicago’s Pro-Life Action League, Father Frank Pavone, President of Priests for Life, Mrs. Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of the Susan B. Anthony List. Ligaya was the crowd’s favorite, not only because she is from the Philippines, but be-cause her vigorous presentation and life story energized ev-eryone. We wrapped up our travels with a series of talks in Virginia. As word reached HLI that the legislative process was heating up in the Philippines, Dr. Acosta was on her way back to pick up the fight again to defeat this odious bill.

Thank you to all who have supported our efforts in the Philippines through your prayers and financial support. It takes a lot of work to organize a national speaking tour and on behalf of Dr. Acosta and HLI I would like to thank the fol-lowing people who made it all possible: Debbie Leoncio with the Divine Mercy Eucharistic Society, Christina Say and Ron Maxson of Napa Valley Culture of Life, Bill and Maribel Santos, Margie Hermano of Couples for Christ Foundation for Family Life, Mary and Robert Emanuel, Veronica Brown, Dr. Corazon Aguilar, Bob Laird, Jay Cabacar, Joe Arevalo and Elizabeth Hildebrand.

Dinner gathering in Seattle at a reception hosted by Robert and Mary Emanuel.

Dr. Acosta with Joe Scheidler, Chicago Conference.


Bill: Jim, why would an individual consider a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA)?

Jim: Well, having worked with Catholic investors over the last 12 years, there are a number of factors that come into play. Very simply, I like to describe the benefits of a gift annuity to a client as threefold, with the acronym BIC.

B: Bypass. The donor can bypass the concern of Estate Tax. Because the assets are immediately divested to charity, the assets are no longer included in the individual’s estate.I: Income. The amount of annual income that is received on a CGA can be substantially larger than the current interest rate on a 5- or 10-year CD and is paid throughout the life of the annuitant.C: Charitable Deduction. The donor receives a favorable charitable deduction that can be carried over for up to five years.

Bill: Why would a potential donor consider an HLI Charitable Gift Annuity in today’s market?

Jim: CGAs are attractive today for a number of reasons. Firstly, the recent actions of the Federal Reserve have significantly impacted the rate of interest paid on money markets, CDs and other fixed-income investments. Market volatility has increased recently due to the speed at which information is delivered to investors. Secondly, recent regulatory actions seem to have actually increased, not decreased, volatility in an already nervous stock and bond market. Thirdly, with overall concerns about the health of the economy, highlighted recently by the international banking climate, charitable gift annuities offer a guaranteed income stream for

life that may be more attractive than current offerings in the fixed-income sector. The gift also enables the donor to make a charitable contribution during his or her lifetime.Bill: A few organizations offer high rates. Would a donor be better off going with an organization that offers gift annuity rates higher than Human Life International?

Jim: No. Human Life International, like a vast majority of charities in this country, follows rates recommended by the American Council on Gift Annuities. These rates are based on sound statistical data and are reviewed regularly by impartial actuaries. When a charity deviates and offers a higher rate it risks the stability of the annuity and its ability to make payments to the donor. More importantly, charities should be supported based on the merits of their mission and not on an inflated financial promise that may or may not be fiscally sound.

For information about an HLI Charitable Gift Annuity, contact Bill Williams at: 540-622-5285 or [email protected].

Paladin Financial Group is committed to helping morally responsible investors succeed while promoting the Culture of Life. Jim Kelly can be reached at 888-764-2423 or visit Paladin at www.investprolife.com.

Charitable Gift annuities in an Economic downturnA conversation with Jim Kelly, Vice President of Paladin Financial Group

Jim Kelly, Vice President of Paladin Financial Group, with HLI’s Bill Williams.

Development News & Progress

In a period continued economic turmoil, I’m bringing back an article I wrote in 2009 about the advantages of Charitable Gift Annuities. Interest rates are on a down-ward spiral, yet gift annuities continue to produce sub-stantial interest rates combined with a large tax deduc-tion and partial tax free income. Your financial benefits are attractive AND you support our representatives in the front lines defending Life to over 100 countries around the world.


Gerard Tlali Lerotholi, OMI, the Archbishop of Maseru in Le-sotho, has been a strong defender of life throughout his priest-hood. He first came in contact with Human Life International when I met him in February 2010. The Archbishop imme-diately developed a keen interest in having an HLI presence in his archdiocese, and requested that we train his people to effectively resist and defeat anti-life activities in Lesotho. We immediately agreed, and provided him with the tools he needs to promote the pro-life message even more effectively.

Archbishop Lerotholi attended all of the sessions of the subsequent training I conducted the following February, and he noted how language has been manipulated to achieve a cultural revolution which is hostile to human life, faith and Christian values. He also reflected on the misery and cultural confusion currently facing the Sotho people, directly caused by Western anti-life and anti-family programs and propagan-da. He lamented that the West has adversely affected the beau-tiful African traditional cultural values that treasure life and family. He said that HLI had come at the right moment, and will help the people of Lesotho to re-think their attitudes and views on human life and the family.

The Archbishop personally sent invitations to the religious congregations in his country, and his presence and active par-ticipation throughout the training signified that the church in Lesotho has eagerly embraced HLI’s presence and message in the country. At the conclusion of the training, the newest HLI affiliate, Pro-Life Lesotho, was launched.

archbishop Gerard Tlali Lerotholi Receives the Cardinal von Galen awardBy Emil Hagamu, Regional Coordinator for English-Speaking Africa

The Cardinal von Galen Award

Blessed Cardinal August Clemens von Galen, of the Diocese of Müenster, Germany, was a Catholic prelate who stood up to Hitler’s Nazi euthanasia campaign in the 1930s and 40s. His example of unwavering loyalty to the teaching of the Church and his public defense of handicapped Germans being targeted by euthanasia earned him the title, “The Lion of Müenster.”

HLI’s Cardinal von Galen Award is given to a Catholic prel-ate who has been a voice of conscience for his society. HLI believes that good bishops who act like true shepherds in pro-tecting the sheep from the assaults of the modern age need our support, and their example needs to be spread far and wide.

Even more encouraging, Archbishop Lerotholi appointed moral theology professor Father Tanki Mmotsi to teach pro-life topics at St. Augustine’s Major Seminary. Father Mmotsi will thus directly instruct these future pastors in pro-life thinking and living in order to arm and prepare them to con-front the Culture of Death.

Archbishop Lerotholi was also the primary author of the recent “Lesotho Bishops’ Statement on Abortion,” which ad-dressed pro-life issues relevant to Lesotho. The Bishops strongly condemned abortion, saying that “Our country may find itself tempted to follow the example of other countries, more influential and stronger than itself, that have enacted laws that give women the right to have abortion on demand, as if it can ever be anybody’s right to terminate the life of the unborn.”

Human Life International conducted the First Anglophone Africa Regional Training Conference at the Comboni Missionaries Conference Center near Dar es Salaam on August 20-26. Archbishop Lerotholi attended the first four full days of this conference. On August 20, I presented the Cardinal von Galen award to the Archbishop in the presence of Monsignor Julian Kangalawe and the thirty attendees, after the singing of the Tanzanian national anthem.

Archbishop Lerotholi then spoke on the essential nature of the pro-life mission to the future of Lesotho, and emphasized the importance of Human Life International to this mission.

HLI will continue to assist this courageous prelate in fight-ing the Culture of Death in any way it can. We will work as hard as we can to ensure a bright future for the people and the children of Lesotho.

Archbishop Gerard Tlali Lerotholi, receiving the Cardinal von Galen Award from HLI’s Emil Hagamu.


If you have visited HLI America’s Truth and Charity Forum, you have probably seen some of the 15 articles that have been picked up and published by major publishers from LifeSiteNews.com and LifeNews.com to Catholicexchange.com and the Washington Times. Below are just a few examples of the great work be-ing done by our contributors.

The Story of Laci Faith Lowellby Guest author, Matt Lowell

Let me just start off saying that abortion never had a chance with us.

We found out in November 2005 that we were going to have a baby. When we first started trying to have a baby, we were surprised at how long it took. So we prayed, and we told Jesus that if he blessed us with a baby, we would educate our child about Jesus and raise him/her Catholic. Shortly after, we learned that Becky was pregnant.

Around March 2006, however, we went in for a sonogram and our entire happy existence came crashing down around us. Becky’s doctor said that she thought that she saw a cleft lip and pal-ate. But just to be sure, she was going to send us to a specialist, who told us that not only did our baby girl have a cleft lip and palate, but she also had no stomach, and problems with her heart. …

Numbers Don’t Lie: Abor-tion Linked to Subsequent Mental Health Disordersby HLI america Fellow, denise Hunnell, Md

The British Journal of Psychiatry has just published the most exhaustive and scientifically rigorous review to date of studies pertaining to the mental health consequences of abortion. In the Sep-tember 2011 issue, a literature review by Professor Priscilla Coleman finds that women who have abortions have an 81% increased risk of mental health prob-lems when compared to women who have carried a pregnancy to term or to women who have never been pregnant.

She found unequivocal differences between groups in the areas of substance abuse, suicidal tendencies, depression and anxiety. Women who had an abor-tion were 230% more likely to use mari-juana than women who had not had an abortion. Women who had an abortion were 155% more likely to exhibit sui-cidal behaviors than were women who had not had an abortion. Women who had an abortion were 110% more likely to abuse alcohol than women who had not had an abortion. Women who had an abortion were 37% more likely to suf-fer from depression and 34% more likely to suffer from anxiety than women who had not had an abortion. …

Belittled Women: UNFPA’s Misguided Efforts to Curb Pregnancy Among Youthby HLI america Young Scholar, Sarah Ryan

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) states that its mission is to promote health and opportunity for ev-ery man, woman, and child; it attempts to ensure that “every girl and woman [be] treated with dignity and respect.” As a woman, I will gladly stand behind an organization that empowers me, digni-fies me, and acknowledges the rights that accompany my femininity and human-ity. The UNFPA’s idea of empowerment, however, seems to be limited to the pro-motion of birth control, and its dignity to the avoidance of children through sterilization. Its acknowledgment of rights is applied narrowly to those wom-en who are “wanted” or who happen to be outside of their mother’s womb. In taking this tack, the UNFPA is in real-ity accelerating the very discrimination against women and children that they are purportedly trying to alleviate…

Visit www.hliamerica.org and click on the Truth and Charity Forum for these and other articles, and take ad-vantage not only of the easy to use so-cial media sharing resources, but of the other educational features of our rede-signed web site!

Arland K. NicholsNational Director, HLI America

Truth & Charity Forum

HLI AMERICA’S

Window Shopping at the Truth and Charity Forum

HLI Online


HLI WORLDWATCHHLI’s international pro-life news and commentary website, HLIWorldWatch.org, is off to a wonderful start in shedding light on news and events affecting the pro-life and pro-family movement around the world.

Articles from HLI World Watch have regularly been featured on popular pro-life news websites, such as LifeSiteNews.com and LifeNews.com, as well as other pro-life and Catholic media websites.

Here are some of the stories from HLI World Watch that were picked up by various media:

The Kenyan Referendum: One Year LaterHLI’s Kenyan director Father Rafael Wanjohi sat down for an exclusive vid-eo interview with HLI World Watch on the one year anniversary of the pas-sage of Kenya’s pro-abortion constitu-tion. As you may recall, HLI fought hard against the referendum, while President Obama’s administration poured millions of dollars into Kenya to support passage of the referendum. Fr. Wanjohi was on the front lines of the fight, and describes how Kenya has changed one year later, and the impact President Obama had on the referendum’s passage.

Wikileaks Cable: U.S. Gov’t Largest Supporter of Phil-ippines Population Control in Past 40 YearsA diplomatic cable published by the website Wikileaks confirmed the depth

of support by the U.S. government for population control initiatives in the Philippines over the past 40 years, in-cluding support for the highly contested Reproductive Health (RH) Bill in the Philippine legislature that HLI and the Philippine Catholic Church have fer-vently campaigned against. “The Ameri-can people have to know that America, very sadly, has become the greatest ex-porter of the culture of death,” said Dr. Ligaya Acosta, HLI’s Regional Coordi-nator for Asia and Oceania. HLI World Watch broke the story in the American press.

HLI Office in Austria At-tacked by Masked VandalsThe office of HLI’s European Director Joannes Bucher, located in Salzburg, Austria, was attacked this Summer fol-lowing a pro-life march in Salzburg. HLI’s Austria Director Dietmar Fischer spoke to Gloria.tv about the incident, saying that local media coverage mostly ignored the attack: “Imagine the howl-ing of the press if it were pro-lifers who smashed the windows of an abortion mill.” Also out of Austria, HLI World Watch published an exclusive article by Joannes Bucher about Austrian Health Minister Alois Stöger’s plans to expand abortion services in Austria, calling the move “social suicide.”

These are they types of stories that pro-lifers need to hear about, but are often

overlooked by major media outlets. On HLIWorldWatch.org, our team of inter-national pro-life experts will continue to expose the workings of the culture of death so that pro-lifers can better under-stand the threats against human life and dignity around the world, and come to-gether in defense of human life.

Go to HLI.org to connect with all of our Internet

initiatives!

HLI Online

Understanding the Worldwide Pro-Life and Pro-Family Movement


The late Blessed Pope John Paul II coined the term “Culture of Life” to help the Catholic Church and all peo-ple of good will envision what a healthy

and well-formed society should be. Such a culture is marked by openness to new life, by strong and loving families, by secular and faith communi-ties that support the family and provide for those who need extra care or assistance, and by a gov-ernment that is just and has a proper understand-ing of and respect for the human person and fam-ily, and which creates structures and policies that foster true human flourishing. Such a culture is built on the idea that freedom is a gift from our Creator, and that people are only truly free when they use this gift to choose what is true and good.

In short, a Culture of Life is one in which all of society is oriented toward the good of the entire human person, and all human persons, and which seeks justice and peace with its neighbors. This is an ideal which has never been perfectly attained, but it is important to keep the ideal in mind as a society makes decisions about its leaders and its constitution, and it is the Church’s right to com-municate timeless truths about how we should live. Pope John Paul II wrote and spoke tirelessly about this positive vision for society during a time when it seemed that the alternative, a “Culture of Death,” was on the rise.

As we have seen too many times, the Culture of Death is marked by a disdain for human life, by a movement to redefine and undermine the natu-ral human family, by communities based on false-

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Preserving a Culture of LifeNew HLI documentary airs worldwide, drawing attention to the plight of Filipino families.

By Stephen Phelan


Learn more at www.hli.org/thephilippines

hoods about the human person (includ-ing seeing the human person as just an intelligent animal, not made in the image of his Creator), and by governments that seek to take over all the roles of lower in-stitutions, especially the family. Such a culture employs contraception, abortion, and seemingly endless assaults on fam-ily and faith en route to creating a world where freedom is divorced from truth, where only the powerful get their way.

The Philippines is not a wealthy na-tion, at least in modern terms. But it is truly wealthy in terms of life – in chil-dren and families. Long in the crosshairs of international population controllers, however, the Philippines has seen a fall-ing fertility rate, increasing materialism, and a corrupt political elite that seeks to keep Filipino families under control. The “Reproductive Health (RH) Bill” currently under consideration is a mas-sive attempt to create the government enforcement structures to complete the transition to a secular state with small families. Written in terms of alleviating poverty and improving “women’s health,” it directly undermines the greatest source of wealth a society can have – family and children.

As debate over the anti-life Reproductive Health (RH) Bill heated up in the Filipino legislature earlier this year, HLI sent a video crew to this pro-life na-

tion, and the resulting documentary has become a powerful tool of education and advocacy both in the Philippines and with Filipinos around the world.

The short documentary film, “The Philippines: Preserving a Culture of Life,” underscores one of the most dra-matic social and political struggles for life and family in the world. It has been broadcast several times on EWTN in the Philippines, and it debuted in the United States and Canada on Tuesday, August 23.

The program, shot in cinematic wide-screen format, captures stunning scenes and heartfelt interviews with Filipino pro-lifers leading the charge against the RH Bill, including: Archbishop of Cebu Jose Palma; Philippine Congressman Dr. Anthony Golez; HLI Philippines Director Dr. Rene Bullecer; and Dr. Ligaya Acosta, a former pro-abortion Philippine Department of Health man-ager who is now HLI’s Regional Director for Asia and Oceania.

“Right now, proponents of the anti-life RH Bill are still a few votes short of achieving their deadly goal,” said Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro-Carambula, director of HLI’s Rome office. “Our wish is that this documentary will inspire not only Filipinos, but pro-lifers around the world, to stand with our brothers and sisters in the Philippines against the cul-ture of death.”

The fight over the RH bill in the Philippines is in some ways reminis-cent of the struggle over health care in the United States – a detached political elite continues to force through a bill that the people have said time and again that they don’t want. The bill’s backers use deceptive language, they are fund-ed by hundreds of millions of dollars from outside the Philippines, and they are attempting to attack and divide the Catholic Church.

HLI is currently working with Filipino pro-life organizations such as CBCP for Life (the pro-life arm of the Filipino Catholic Bishops Conference) and Filipinos for Life to spread the word about opposition to the RH Bill and to promote the new documentary. At the request of these and other pro-life part-ners in the Philippines, 1,000 copies of the documentary have been sent to be distributed to every bishop and into par-ishes and community centers.

Everyone must understand what is going on in the Philippines and how we are all bound together in the struggle for life and family, and we hope that you take a few minutes to view a preview of the film online and perhaps purchase a copy at HLI’s online bookstore.

To learn more about the documen-tary and the situation in the Philippines, visit www.hli.org/thephilippines.

The short documentary film, “The Philippines: Preserving a Culture of Life,”

underscores one of the most dramatic social and political struggles for life and

family in the world.

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• HLI’smainwebsite:www.hli.org (this website includes links to websites in 19 foreign languages operated by HLI’s affiliates)

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HLI’s Rome Office:Rev. Msgr. Ignacio BarreiroVita Umana InternazionalePiazzale Gregorio VII, 22Apartment 200165 Rome, ItalyTel: 39-06-39-37-89-85

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Human Life internationaL

Joseph Meaney, George Wirnkar, Archbishop Anatole Milandou and seminarians in

Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, Africa.

Documents

FrontLines Magazine Fall 2011