Cardinal Francis George celebrated a special Mass for Life on Saturday evening at Queen of the Rosary Church in Elk Grove Village. The Mass was tied to the upcoming Jan. 22 anniversary of Roe v. Wade making abortion legal 36 years ago.
The thrust of Cardinal George's message to a full church was to have hope and a desire to work together as a church family to continue to fight abortion when Democratic President-elect Barack Obama takes office.
"To kill unborn babies is a great sin," he said.
During his homily, George, of the Archdiocese of Chicago, dressed in white, first spoke of the feast of the Epiphany that celebrates the journey of the Three Kings who visited Baby Jesus after his birth.
He then wove in the journey that's ahead in terms of addressing "unjust" abortion laws.
"Good law protects. Law should not destroy. Life is precious," George said.
During the 2008 presidential campaign, many priests and bishops spoke out on abortion boldly, telling Roman Catholic politicians and voters that the issue should be the most important consideration in setting policy and deciding which candidate to back.
As Obama prepares to take over, George suggested a need to work together on many issues and expressed concern over abortion laws.
"We must cooperate, and we must be united to face economic problems. We must be together to bring peace to the world and to our cities," George said. He said his concern is if the agenda is to make abortion a human right. "Look for a sign of hope," he suggested to the crowd.
Parishioners, also asked to continue to worship, were encouraged.
"The Mass was very inspiring and hopeful," said Diane Ambrose of Elk Grove Village.
"Cardinal George said to look for signs of hope in these difficult times and that we have to work together to fight abortion," she said after Mass and before a reception held at the school gym.
Mary Larkin of Des Plaines said she was grateful for George's message. Larkin, 56, also is concerned with President-elect Obama's plans.
"I feel it's going to be an unjust leadership when it comes to abortion. I'm grateful that our cardinal is standing up for the most weak - the unborn child. I believe this nation is as strong as it's weakest link - which is the baby in the womb."
Meanwhile, abortion rights organizations feel safer this year with Obama's stand on abortion.
"The fundamentals of the Roe decision are the most secure this year as they have been in a long time," said Catherine Caporusso, president of the Northwest Suburban chapter of the National Organization for Women. During a phone conversation before the Mass, she said there is still work to be done.
"We still have a long way to go to make sure girls and women in Illinois and the U.S. have true reproductive justice."
She added that the most effective way to reduce the number of abortions is to teach sex education in school and to make safe, effective birth control available.
The Catholic Church and almost all anti-abortion groups disapprove of this approach, she said.
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(Source: DH)