Bishop Encourages All Priests to Imitate Him by Spending One Hour in Front of Abortion Facility

LifeSiteNews ^ | 9/18/07 | Matthew Cullinan Hoffman

[wagglebee]

FARGO, September 18, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Samuel J. Aquila, the Catholic bishop of Fargo, North Dakota, is strongly encouraging his priests to imitate him by praying for an hour in front of an abortion facility during this year's national "Forty Days of Life".

The "Forty Days for Life", which is scheduled to take place from September 26th to November 4th of this year, is a program of pro-life activism modeled on the biblically significant number of forty days, found in both the old and new testaments.  According to organizers, churches and organizations in 89 US cities and 33 states have agreed to participate by conducting vigils in front of abortion clinics, praying, and "fasting" in various ways (by giving up something valued).  For more information, see http://www.40daysforlife.com/about.cfm.

Bishop Aquila hopes to encourage the participation by all of the faithful in his diocese through his own example and the example of his priests.

"I believe that, during these 40 days, many will readily join in prayer and fasting for an end to abortion in our state," wrote Bishop Aquila in a letter to the priests of his diocese. "That is commendable! But, we as priests must encourage our parishioners to go one step further - to commit to an hour of prayerful vigil at the abortion facility. We can only ask of them what we ourselves will do."

"I have committed to an hour of prayer at the abortion facility September 28, at 10:30 am," he continued. "As your bishop, I ask you to sign up for an hour of prayerful vigil, as well. Tell your parishioners when that hour will be and challenge them to meet or exceed your example. Maybe your parishioners could fill each slot of that particular day with presence from your parish. Maybe the young - youth groups or families - could physically be present while the elderly could be united with them in prayer at your church. Even if only two parishioners join you in your hour of prayer at the abortion facility, lives will be changed and some -- those of the unseen unborn -- may be saved."

Bishop Aquila also leads a prayer service in front of Fargo's only abortion clinic once a year on Good Friday.

Aquila has distinguished himself as an active and committed bishop for many years.  During John Kerry's pro-abortion presidential campaign in 2004 he publicly warned "pro-choice Catholics" that they could not receive communion, and "they risk the possibility of hell."  In 2005 he mandated that all couples preparing for marriage receive instruction on Catholic doctrines regarding human sexuality and Natural Family Planning, in response to the culture's promotion of contraception and easy divorce.

In addition to the example Bishop Aquila is setting for his priests with his participation in the "Forty Days of Life", he also leads a prayer service front of Fargo's only abortion clinic once a year on Good Friday.

In a press release accompanying his letter, Bishop Aquila declares an absolutely uncompromising commitment to pro-life activism. "Each day people who are active in pro-life efforts pray for those considering abortion, educate the public about the abortion crisis, and do other good works to protect the lives of unborn children," he states. "I commend them and thank them. Those efforts save lives and change hearts. They help to keep abortion numbers low in North Dakota."

"But low numbers are not enough," he continues. "Not even one abortion per week is acceptable. Not one per month. Not one per year. Not one in our lifetime." Quoting the United States Declaration of Independence, the bishop notes, "The dignity of the human person begins at the moment of conception, not at birth. The dignity, as recognized by the signers of the Declaration of Independence, is bestowed by the Creator, and no one has the right to destroy innocent unborn life."

For more information

Forty Days for Life Campaign official website
http://www.40daysforlife.com/about.cfm

Related LifeSiteNews coverage:

Diocese Combats Contraceptive Culture With Mandatory NFP Marriage Prep Course
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/jul/05072009.html

US Bishop Aquila Warns Catholic Pro-Abortion Politicians They "Risk the Possibility of Hell"
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/may/04050704.html

Abortion-Supporting Politicians Are "Agents of Evil" says Fargo Bishop
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/dec/04122006.html

[wagglebee]

"But low numbers are not enough," he continues. "Not even one abortion per week is acceptable. Not one per month. Not one per year. Not one in our lifetime." Quoting the United States Declaration of Independence, the bishop notes, "The dignity of the human person begins at the moment of conception, not at birth. The dignity, as recognized by the signers of the Declaration of Independence, is bestowed by the Creator, and no one has the right to destroy innocent unborn life."

Amen!

[wagglebee]

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[wagglebee]

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[wagglebee]

Catholic Ping

[sitetest]

One hopes that Bishop Aquila, who isn’t quite 57 years old, and was only consecrated a bishop in 2002, will rise to a major see sooner rather than later.

I understand that the Archbishop of New York is now passed the age of retirement.

[wagglebee]

The Pope needs to just start removing some of the CINO bishops around the country and not bother waiting until they reach retirement age.

[baa39]

You said it, too bad it won’t happen.

[samiam1972]

Do you know if all Planned Parenthoods provide abortions or are they only at specific locations? Just curious! We have one not too far from our home but it’s a very small location.

[Ransomed]

This Bishop caught a scorching case of common sense from somewhere.....I hope he infects many more clergy, especially his fellow tall hats.

Freegards

[wagglebee]

I believe it’s by location, but they all push it.

[MountainFlower]

PLEASE JOIN BISHOP SWAIN IN PRAYER

-----------------------------------------------------------

FRIDAY, September 28, 2007
12:00 Noon

Planned Parenthood
East of 41st & Sertoma, Sioux Falls, SD
(I wonder if these 2 Bishops have been chatting together!)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Respect Life office in Sioux Falls has been instrumental in getting a calendar together back in 2004 and encouraging people to come and pray in front of PP for at least an hour, once a month. This past Spring they renewed their efforts, encouraging those who are already signed up to continue and impressing upon others the need for more of this. This past Summer I started receiving the emails regarding the Bishop and his presence in front of PP!

BOUND4LIFE now has a South Dakota chapter, and they recently celebrated the year anniversary of their prayer efforts in front of the Sioux Falls PP clinic. They are usually there on Saturdays from 11 am- 1 pm, with an occasional call for an additional time slot during the week.

These are the only organized efforts I am aware of in SD, at this time. There is currently a move to renew the efforts of sidewalk counselors, which has not gone on since at least a year ago. They were feeling their efforts were of no avail. However, with the saving of a baby a couple of weeks ago due to a sidewalk counselor being there, it has changed the thought process.

The building in Sioux Falls was built to discourage access of sidewalk counselors or people praying. There are no windows facing the street. The side windows are small and very high off the ground. Survelliance cameras are on the corner of the building, and now are moving cameras, as well. The parking is set for most to be able to park behind the building without access from the front sidewalk. The thing is, they are no so busy the parking lot is full, giving those praying and sidewalk counseling a tiny window of access to those who end up parking within view of the driveway. The other thing that is happening is one of the sidewalk counselors is so bold, she is walking up to the vehicles as they drive on or off of the lot, not waiting for them to park and exit the vehicle.

There is a workshop that will be offered here very soon for people who are interested in sidewalk counseling. The hope is that with my being there early each morning praying, I will be able to make a call if it is a day they are aborting and bring in the back-up. Lord willing we will get enough people interested in sidewalk counseling that it will not be a strain on anyone. A simple phone call and 1 or 2 that are free on that day can come and take the watch, hold the post, and work it. This will also give us the ability to work around their shifting days to avoid us.

Saving lives is what it is all about! God is moving!! The window is opening!!

[NYer]

The "Forty Days for Life", which is scheduled to take place from September 26th to November 4th of this year, is a program of pro-life activism modeled on the biblically significant number of forty days, found in both the old and new testaments

[Alice in Wonderland]

The 20th Annual National Life Chain is on October 7, 2007

http://lifechain.net/

[sitetest]

Dear wagglebee,

A while back, I saw an analysis that showed that even if every bishop stays until 75, the pope will need to appoint more than one bishop per month in the United States for a couple of decades.

That raises the question of - whom do you appoint?

It sounds like an easy enough question - but it isn’t.

I imagine it takes some work to identify men who are currently orthodox priests who could be elevated to the episcopate. And then, I’ve noticed that sometimes, folks appointed who are relatively young, and who seem orthodox at the time, often seem to go awry. I remember when Cardinal Mahoney was appointed, he appeared to be a conservative.

Then there is the problem that many bishops, as pointed out elsewhere, seem to think that they’re CEO rather than shepherds. They may be personally orthodox, but they become incompetent bishops. Many orthodox priests who work in dioceses run by bishops like this may not have had good role models, and once appointed, may act like CEOs, themselves.

It's probably quite difficult to vet good bishops. Accelerating the already-brisk rate of replacements might lead to more errors in making appointments in the future.

sitetest

[wagglebee]

Good points, but something still must be done. The Vatican could concentrate on the most problematic dioceses.

[Salvation]

And then one hour of Adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament to pray for those who are committing abortions.

[Salvation]

"The best, the surest , and the most effective way of establishing everlasting peace on the face of the earth is through the great power of perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament." -- Pope John Paul II

"Could you not watch one hour?" -- Mark 14:37

[Salvation]

Pray for an end to abortion and the conversion of America to life!

[Ransomed]

Not every Bishop is cut out for mitre-work. That’s no problem. The problem comes from letting bad Bishops screw up a diocese for 20+ years of bad teaching or no teaching at all, as it makes it very difficult for a newly appointed Bishop who is cut out for mitre-work to reclaim/correct that diocese. Communication/transportation technology exists today, so I don’t think there is much of an excuse for allowing an unlucky diocese to twist for 20+ years with a Bishop not cut out for mitre-work.

Freegards

[sitetest]

Dear Ransomed,

There are two difficulties with that.

First, I think that the idea that if someone isn’t “cut out for miter work,” the pope should just sack him actually will further encourage the CEO mentality of many bishops.

Second, I don’t think that either this pope or the last would find this methodology consistent with their views of ecclesiology. Deposing a bishop from his see is a very serious action, reserved for the worst cases - for flagrant heretics, serious public sinners, and the worst incompetents. Merely being a pompous, self-serving, marginally-competent, administratively-minded bishop likely may not qualify in the mind of Pope Benedict.

sitetest