Speaking of time, I urge you to spend time following EWTN’s televised coverage of the March for Life Friday and Saturday’s Walk for Life in San Francisco.

I gave a pro-life speech several years ago to the Right to Life student group at the University of Notre Dame (ND is featured prominently in today’s March for Life, with over 600 students participating along with president, Fr. John Jenkins). I’d like to share two of my favorite quotes from that speech – pro-life remarks by U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

In one very memorable and pithy statement, he said: "I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion is already born."

President Reagan also said: "Simple morality dictates that unless and until someone can prove the unborn human is not alive, we must give it the benefit of the doubt and assume it is (alive). And, thus, it should be entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Some other quotes about abortion from the www.standforlife.net website:

"America you are beautiful . . . and blessed . . . . The ultimate test of your greatness is the way you treat every human being, but especially the weakest and most defenseless. If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." - Pope John Paul II

"I have met thousands and thousands of pro-choice men and women. I have never met anyone who is pro-abortion. - Hillary Clintonet thousands and thousands of pro-choice men and women. I have never met anyone who pro-"If it isn't a baby, then you aren't pregnant, so what are you aborting?" - Author Unknown

"If the unborn is not a human person, no justification for abortion is necessary. However, if the unborn is a human person, no justification for abortion is adequate." - Gregory Koukl (A Christian apologist, radio talk show host, author, speaker)

"Only half the patients who go into an abortion clinic come out alive." - Author Unknown

POPE TWEETS SUPPORT FOR MARCH FOR LIFE

Pope Benedict XVI Friday tweeted his support for the March for Life, currently underway in Washington, D.C. He had this to say to his over 2.5 million followers in 9 languages, including Latin:

“I join all those marching for life from afar, and pray that political leaders will protect the unborn and promote a culture of life.”

VATICAN INSIDER: MSGR. JOHN KOZAR OF CNEWA

I had another column prepared for today but will post that next week. Today I offer only two photos of my weekend guest on “Vatican Insider,” Msgr. John Kozar, the U.S.-based president of CNEWA, the Catholic Near East Welfare Association. Tune in to that interview Saturday morning at 9:30 (ET) and Sunday at 4:30 p.m. (ET) when it re-airs. You can listen on radio or on your computer at those ties

Here is Msgr. Kozar as he and several CNEWA directors in Jerusalem, Lebanon and Jordan spoke to Catholic journalists

BENEDICT XVI MARKS CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL WITH VESPERS

Today was a fairly busy day for the Pope and, as I write these words, a police helicopter is flying overhead which means he is on his way to St. Paul’s Outside-the-Walls basilica for vespers to mark the end of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It always ends on the January 25th feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.

Earlier today, Benedict XVI received the members of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. The commission was instituted ten years ago as a initiative of the ecclesial authorities of the family of the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

The Vatican today published two new documents from the Pope that signal some changes in areas of jurisdiction in the Roman Curia. In the first Motu proprio (meaning “from his hand”), “Ministrorum institutio,” the Holy Father modifies John Paul II’s 1988 Apostolic Constitution 'Pastor bonus', and transfers the competency for seminaries from the Congregation for Catholic Education to the Congregation for the Clergy.

In the second Motu Proprio “Fides per doctrinam,” signed on January 16, Pope Benedict again modifies "Pastor bonus," transferring responsibility for catechesis from the Congregation for the Clergy to the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation.

Write to Joan at:
joansrome@ewtn.com 

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