We're in the midst of a busy three-week observation period. We're still in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which will end Tuesday on the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, overlapping Respect Life Week which begins Saturday. The following week is Catholic Education Week. All three are integral in the life of the Church and the salvation of the world for united we stand, divided we fall and if we don't respect life, we will fall even further! But Catholics need to be educated to the truths and this is where Catholic education is so vital in reaching tomorrow's leaders of the Church. Who knows what history has in store for these future stalwarts of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church? We would pray and hope great things in a renaissance of the Faith throughout this new century. But first we need to pray, take account of all that God has given us - the most valuable of those gifts being life itself - and emphasize education of this to all, beginning with Catholic education.

    Saturday we commemorate - or should we say commiserate the twenty-seventh anniversary of an event that would forever change the face of America. We're talking, of course, about the disastrous decision by the Supreme Court on January 22, 1973 that launched the United States of America on the downward path - the road towards the abyss that dead-ends with the culture of death. The infamous Roe vs. Wade landmark decision opened Pandora’s box. From this would not only come the loss of more human souls than in all the major wars in world history, but seriously decrease the moral fiber and soul of this once great country. It officially marked the end of the age of innocence for there was nothing innocent in senseless killing the pre-born innocents out of selfishness on the part of pregnant women who shunned accepting God’s plans for them as loving, nurturing mothers in favor for a promiscuous "do-whatever-you-want," "it’s my body" attitude. For nearly three decades feminists have cried out "Choice" - labeling the pro-abortion, pro murderers a more sedate moniker such as "Pro-Choice." Choice, what a catch-all phrase! The only choice is life! How low have we sunk to even, for one moment, believe by any stretch of the imagination that abortion is not murder? It is unadulterated murder! Over 80 million innocents have been slaughtered since abortion became "legal" 27 years ago compared to only one million, one hundred seventy thousand killed in all the wars America has ever fought. No wonder Our Lady - the Immaculate Conception, Mother of God - has warned over and over that the Almighty Father can no longer hold back His Divine Justice. All those who choose to condone abortion - whether they be mothers-to-be, doctors, midwives, pro-abortion activists, or those who remain silent, refusing to get involved - all those will be avenged by the avenging angels at the appointed time.

    So how can we get involved to help promote the Sanctity of Life? First, and foremost: Prayer. Holy Mass and the Rosary, the most powerful weapon the Blessed Virgin Mary has bequeathed to us - the links or chains that will ultimately bound satan. If we truly live what Holy Mother Church teaches, follow through what His Holiness Pope John Paul II constantly reminds us of, and live the messages Our Lady has been conveying from Guadalupe to Rue de Bac, Lourdes, LaSalette, and Fatima to today's messages at Medjugorje and elsewhere, then we can be assured we are striving to do her Divine Son’s Will and we will see results.

    In our effort to promote the Sanctity of Life, the DailyCATHOLIC will introduce a new column on Monday by a retired Catholic physician Frank Joseph, MD. His column, which will run daily during the entire Respect Life Week next week, is called Pro-Life Prescriptions: LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL! He brings to the table strong Catholic doctrine on this issue and also is not afraid to take off the gloves and call a spade a spade. He's also not afraid to mix it up politically with such culture of death advocates as Bill Clinton and Al Gore to name just a few. During this election year we feel Dr. Joseph's writings will be an important addition to the DailyCATHOLIC family of columnists. It will run each Wednesday throughout the year. Also this Monday Pat Ludwa will bring you a tremendously thought-provoking, no-holds-barred column that we highly recommend for we truly believe 'political correctness' is in cahoots with the culture of death program. If you don't believe us, read his column "The culture of death comes in many shades, sizes and disguises."

    It's no disguise that the United States has the highest rate of abortion in the western hemisphere. Almost 50% of today’s abortions are by teenagers. The real solution is not contraceptives and sex education. It’s been proven this only adds to the problem. The real solution is a re-emphasis of who we are - children of God, made in the image and likeness of God and thus our bodies are truly temples of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Father has affirmed this when he proclaimed, "Human life is precious because it is the gift of God Whose Love is Infinite; and when God gives life, it is forever." Despite the lurid examples of our highest executives, movie and sports personalities, it is not only time to choose chastity, but to preach chastity from the roof-tops to offset the satanic influence of immorality prevalent in our society today. Yes, a woman has rights over her body - rights to take care of her body, to make it a worthy sanctuary for a new soul of which she plays a role in its creation; for that human being inside her womb is someone distinct from herself. Therefore she has no right, no choice to decide for herself that she can play God. Only God can make that decision. His decision is obvious. He created that child - not to have it aborted, but to have it loved with a parental care just as the woman carrying that child was cared for by her mother. To all "pro-choicers" we ask, what if your parents had "chosen" to abort you?

   We all know what satan is trying to do. So far the insidious one has been succeeding. Enough is enough! Pope John Paul II, during his visit in 1993 at World Youth Day in Denver, ushered an ultimatum to our country: "America, if you want liberty and justice for all and lasting peace...defend life." Even though God gave everyone a free will, when it comes to abortion, there is no choice! It is true that abortion is the leading cause of death in the United States. Not smoking, not cancer, not coronary attacks, not automobile accidents - but Abortion! And every abortion is premeditated which makes it all the more a hideous crime. Plain and simple, Abortion is Murder!

    God said it! We believe it! That settles it! From conception to natural death, life is sacred. It’s time for all of us to get off the proverbial fence and commit totally to ending abortion. It’s time to speak up and enlist in Mary’s little, but mighty army through praying the Rosary - the most powerful prevention of abortion, and pray for God's Mercy that will stop this unholy holocaust! Jesus has said to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s, but in the case of legalization of abortion in America, this does not count for the right to life does not belong to "Caesar" but to God. Rather we must follow Saint Peter’s words, echoed by the Apostles in Acts 5: 29, "We must obey God rather than man." And God says: "CHOOSE LIFE!" There really is no other choice!

Michael Cain, editor