The following comes from an Aug. 4 story in LifeSiteNews.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles caused a stir by distributing an invitation to a Mass at its cathedral in partnership with a clinic that prescribes contraceptives.
After receiving inquiries regarding a partnership with an organization that acts in conflict with the teachings of Catholic Church, the archdiocese acted to amend its invitation. But it’s not clear whether the clinic remains involved. No disavowal of the clinic has been made.
The Mass commemorating the birth of Blessed Archbishop Oscar Romero is scheduled for August 13 with Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez as the celebrant, according to information provided anonymously to the Canon212 website’s editor and shared with LifeSiteNews.
Clinica Romero, according to the source, conducts sex education and abortion referrals in addition to providing contraception, which is referenced on its website.
A July 21 email from Monsignor Albert Bahhuth, the vicar general, to the archdiocese’s pastors, associate pastors, and parish life directors states:
“The Archdiocese of Los Angeles along with Clinica Romero would like to invite you and all parishioners to our upcoming Mass in Celebration of Blessed Monsenor Oscar Romero’s 100th Anniversary of his birth on August 13 at 12:30 p.m. The Mass will take place at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels celebrated by Archbishop Jose H. Gomez.”
Further information was provided and a flyer for the event attached.
The original flyer for the Mass shows logos for the archdiocese, the cathedral, Clinica Romero, and immigrants’ rights group SALEF (Salvadoran American Leadership and Educational Fund).
On the new flyer, all four logos are removed, and instead it states, “The Salvadoran Community of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles invite all to celebrate his life and legacy.”
The archdiocese’s accompanying email with the new flyer said it was updated to reflect the participation of the Salvadoran Community of the archdiocese at the Mass and it requested that the updated flyer should be used to promote the Mass.
The original flyer showing partnership with the Los Angeles archdiocese and Clinica Romero made it into at least one archdiocesan parish’s bulletin announcement this past weekend.
Clinica Romero is a member of Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County.
The Association had scheduled an event last month at the archdiocese’s Center on the Cathedral Plaza, a site available for rent from the archdiocese.
The event purportedly focused on women’s health but featured two Planned Parenthood executives as keynotes. Other Planned Parenthood execs have spoken for the Association’s Policy Café series as well.
The June Policy Café event was reportedly moved to another venue after pro-life media reported on the Planned Parenthood keynotes.
However, the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County event in the same Policy Café series is set for August 23 at the archdiocese’s Center on the Cathedral Plaza, and it features California Representative Judy Chu, an abortion supporter.
@Super Martyrio
So you think having pro-aborts gather at a Catholic venue will convert them to pro-life, and possibly Catholicism because it is a gathering in commemoration of a certain person ?
I suspect the reality is that the pro-abortion forces are planning the same in reverse — to influence Catholics to change their point of view. They also hope to show the world that — look, we’re here on Catholic property at a Catholic event and no-one is complaining so they must agree with us.
When will Archbishop Gomez wake up?! If the trouble is with his staff then he needs to clean house and hire people with Catholic minds, hearts, practices, and sensibilities. If he is unwilling to do this then the problem is his alone. God help him.