California Catholic Daily exclusive

By Douglas Collins

On March 30, Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez attended an elegant $500-per-plate dinner, with sponsorships ranging from $5000 to $50,000, at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, where he accepted an award from the the Cesar Chavez Foundation.

Past honorees of the foundation have included Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton.

On the dais with the archbishop was Xavier Becerra, a former congressman now California attorney general. Beccera is a longtime pro-abortion advocate who has repeatedly received contributions from Planned Parenthood. Becerra also received an award from the Cesar Chavez Foundation at the same event.

Two days before the dinner, Becerra filed an arrest warrant and 15 felony allegations against undercover video photographer David Daleiden. Daleiden is the director of the Center for Medical Progress, which provided clear evidence that Planned Parenthood has been engaging in the illegal sale of human baby body parts. Daleiden is also a devout, practicing Catholic.

The same day as the Chavez awards banquet honoring Becerra and Archbishop Gomez, the Los Angeles Times published an editorial assailing Beccera for “a disturbing overreach” in filing charges against Daleiden and fellow investigator Susan Merritt. The Times argued that such prosecution could chill future investigations of wrongdoing.

At his confirmation hearings for attorney general in January, then U.S. Rep. Becerra stated that he was Catholic and that he was “pro-choice.” There was no public correction of Beccera from Archbishop Gomez or any other bishop or priest.

According to LifeNews, Becerra has received thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood gave Beccera $1,000 in 2014, $2,000 in 2012, $500 in 2004, $1,000 in 2002, and $1,035 in 1998, LifeNews reported.

During the 2016 presidential election, Becerra supported Hillary Clinton, also a primary supporter of Planned Parenthood and abortion.

The featured speaker for the Chavez Foundation’s fundraiser was Kerry Kennedy, former wife of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Kennedy has been a major supporter of Planned Parenthood, and its president, Cecile Richards.