01/22/2006

January 22nd: Roe v. Wade Abortion Anniversary: LA March for LIfe
L.A. March for Life to End Abortion Sponsored by L.A. Archdiocese and Hispanics for Life Signs: Abortion Kills Children -- Abortion Hurts Women

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Los Angeles Archdiocese Commission for Catholic Life Issues and Hispanics for Life are sponsoring the 2006 Los Angeles March for Life/Life Chain on Sunday, January 22, 2006, the 33rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Thousands of people will meet at the Los Angeles Cathedral and then process with pro-life signs through the streets of downtown Los Angeles to pray for an end to abortion.

Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles, declared the importance of this monumental pro-life event, "Life Chain is a way to make the proclamation [that] to be human is to be called to protect life and to promote human dignity."

Auxiliary Bishop Alexander Salazar stated that ". . . the Life Chain is one of the most appropriate means of demonstrating our appreciation for the sacredness of human life [and] will help save moms and babies from abortion."

Bishop Edward Clark, Auxiliary Bishop of the Our Lady of the Angels region of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, will open the event with a pro-life prayer and statement on Sunday, January 22, 2006 at 2:00 PM.

"The 2006 Life Chain is a beautiful way that the Catholic Church is working and praying to end 33 years of legalized abortion. More than 45 million of our preborn brothers and sisters have been slaughtered by the violence of abortion. In a crisis pregnancy, we are called to love them both, mother and child -- not to kill an innocent baby and wound a mother for life. Christ called us to do whatever we can to protect the least of His brothers and sisters." stated Astrid Bennett, member of the Los Angeles Archdiocese Commission for Catholic Life Issues and board member of Hispanics for Life.

The event will commence at 2:00 PM in the plaza of the Los Angeles Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles. A rosary procession at 2:30 PM will lead thousands to the Life Chain route along the 101 FWY and the busy Olvera Street area.

Closing ceremonies and speakers will begin at 4:00 PM at the "mural area" of Our Lady of Guadalupe adjacent to Our Lady Queen of Angels Church 535 N. Main St., Los Angeles.

Pro-life signs will be held in both English and Spanish with messages saying, "Abortion Kills Children" that "Abortion Hurts Women" and "Jesus Forgives and Heals."

The Hispanic Catholic community will be well- represented at the March for Life/Life Chain as a result of organizational efforts made by the archdiocese and Hispanics for Life. Thousands of Spanish pro-life signs will also be available for attendees to proclaim Spanish pro-life messages along the Life Chain route.

You can find more information about Hispanics for Life and the 2006 Los Angeles March for Life/Life Chain at www.hispanic sforlife.org. You will also find a link to view the powerful Spanish language video "Dura Realidad" which shows the tragic reality of abortion and how the Hispanic community is targeted.