Dear Friends in Christ:
January 22, 2018 marks the 45th anniversary of the lamentable 1973 U.S. Supreme Court Decision, Roe v. Wade. In prayerful observance, I designate January 22, 2018 as a Diocesan Day of Reparation.
I ask our clergy and laity to join me in cooperating with God’s merciful grace in these ways:
January 20/21: clergy are asked to 1) pray and preach for a merciful end to abortion and a revived promotion of the gospel of life, and 2) encourage all to observe the January 22 Diocesan Day of Reparation.
January 22: all are asked to observe this Day of Reparation through fasting, prayer, penance and works of mercy.
January 22: all are invited to attend the 12:10 p.m. Cathedral Mass and priests are invited to concelebrate with me.
January 22/23: middle and high school students are invited to attend the Choose Life educational program in either Sacramento (1/22) or Yuba City (1/23)
January 27: all are encouraged to participate in the Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco.
The USCCB has prepared a variety of homily notes, intercessions and other helpful resources to assist in observing the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Please review them at: https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/resources/january-22-day-of-prayer-leaderresources.cfm May our prayers, acts of penance, public witness and works of charity on these days help restore a culture of life and a civilization of love to our country so marred by the Court decision of Roe v. Wade.
May the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary bring us into fuller communion with the merciful mission of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Respectfully,
+Jaime Soto Bishop of Sacramento
From Diocese of Sacramento.
While he supports and coddles Democrat politicians who ferociously endorse unrestricted, government-funded abortion. Oh, and while he doesn’t condemn abortion-supporting Catholic politicians.
Is “catholic” Governor Jerry Brown going to get this memo from the bishop? I suspect the bishop could easily walk it to the governor’s office and deliver it personally.
Mike, you have a knack, don’t you? Your a part of the No Good Deed Goes Unpunished crowd, I’ll bet.
Sadly true, Mike! And we all know– almost all of our prelates give Holy Communion, indiscriminately, to anyone– including pro-abortion politicians! So sad! Hypocrisy! The result? Millions more helpless unborn babies are killed, in a continuing abortion Holocaust!
Well done, Bishop Soto. Would that every California bishop followed your example. And although it’s to be a day of reparation for the millions of children already killed by others, it should also be very much a day of reparation for our own failure to be effective Catholics. Nearly half a century on from Roe v. Wade, the Church still seems embarrassed by the abortion issue, with rank-and-file Catholics aborting at roughly the same rate as non-Catholics, priests seldom mentioning this second Holocaust from the pulpit, and bishops preferring to emphasize open borders and the death penalty.
Good idea! However, wouldn’t it be great– if the entire Church conducted this Day of Reparation for the sins of Abortion- including Pope Francis!– instead of just one Diocese?? Our Church should stand in solidarity worldwide– for the Sacrament of Marriage, the sacredness of Motherhood — and the loving protection of the unborn child, in its mother’s womb!! The young must be taught the Virtue of Chastity, dedicating themselves to Our Lady, and must learn well– that we are not our own!– we belong to Christ, body and soul! And the unborn child is His child!
Will someone tell Bishop Soto about Doe v. Bolton! Please have him read the May 2017 issue of New Oxford Review, page six, under the title, The Pro-Life Movement’s Major Blunder. it’s a major reason why the slaughter of our pre-born American citizens continues after almost half a century! God forgive us!
This is already the case in every diocese in the U.S. GIRM#373: “In all the Dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.”
WILL OUR PASTORS EVER STAND IN THE PULPIT AND DRAW A RED LINE PUBLICLY AND LOUDLY FOR LIFE – DEMANDING THAT THEIR FLOCK STAND UP FOR LIFEW? I DOUBT IT!