Words from Fr Ed (From Jan 16, 2010 Bulletin)

Pink and Blue Crosses

Some day, unless we repent, history will mark January 22, 1973 as a landmark date in the downfall of the United
States. It was the day when our Supreme Court made a decision that contradicted the very premise of our foundation
as a country. In other words, it was the day when the nine wisest citizens, so-called, rejected the cornerstone
of our Constitution. The Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4, 1776, reads:

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the
political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers
of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's
God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they
should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Here the signers are going to give the primary reasons for America to become independent from England. This is our ‘raison d’être’,
our reason to exist.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed
by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty
and the pursuit of Happiness.

Notice how belief in God and the rights derived from natural law are assumed as ‘self-evident’, which means that they are “known to be
true by understanding its meaning without proof.” The rights derived from ‘Nature and Nature’s God’ are unalienable, or ‘not to be separated,
given away, or taken away’ from the individual person. The rights to ‘Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness’ cannot be given
away or taken away, yet that is what the Supreme Court tragically did on that day for the 52 million unborn who have since suffered
the consequence.

And not only these, but the mothers, fathers, families, friends, and society itself, have lost the image and likeness of God contained in
each and every person created. The gift of life, appreciated, is called to be esteemed and protected. When we fail to do that, we have
not truly received the fullness of life ourselves. This trend has to stop and change if the United States is to survive.

The Greek word for repentance is ‘metanoia’, to change one’s mind. We need a change of heart and mind here in America, which can
only begin with me, with each one of us individually. It means prayer and love, love for the truth and love for those harmed by abortion.
Which is why I’ve said ‘Yes’ to a desire to Memorialize the Unborn this Monday, January 17th. After 6:30PM Mass, we will process to
our Memorial Garden/Labyrinth area, placing 52 pink and blue crosses to acknowledge the 52 million children who have died due to
abortion. We will pray for them and their mothers in a special way with all-night Adoration following.

Some have concerns that this method is too ‘in your face’ or ‘political’. It is bound to make some people feel uncomfortable. Abortion
should make us feel uncomfortable. But the healing for this discomfort comes from real prayer and service to those most affected by
abortion. St. Stephen’s continues to offer significant support to Project Rachel, where moms and dads of aborted children can come to
know God’s mercy and love for them, acknowledging what they have done and reconciling with their children, who we believe are in
heaven in their innocence.

As long as Roe v. Wade is the law of our land, we live in darkness as a country, and parishes like ours need to provide a beacon of
hope, hope in God, hope in His mercy, hope in the conversion of all hearts. This is why we also provide support to Pregnancy Aid and
have helped found the Gabriel Project for expectant moms, so that we can stand in solidarity with any woman experiencing a crisis
pregnancy. Their dignity and well-being are at risk like the child within their womb.

Our Vigil for Life on Monday evening is followed by the March for Life in Olympia on Tuesday, January 18th. Please join me for both as
we rebuild the culture of life that God has always intended for us. Metanoia happens.