Abbe Pierre Dies

From Yahoo News:

The frail priest, who spent most of his life protecting people dumped on the margins of Western life, was little known outside France but was cherished at home as a modern-day saint.

“Abbe Pierre represented the spirit of rebellion against misery, suffering, injustice and the strength of solidarity,” Chirac’s statement said.

Born in 1912, Henri-Antoine Groues was the fifth child of a silk merchant but gave up his comfortable life to become a monk.

He took his nickname Abbe Pierre — “abbe” is a traditional title for priests — as a resistance chaplain during World War Two, when he forged ID papers to smuggle refugees out of France.

He began campaigning for the homeless in 1949 and shot to fame in 1954 when he went on air to demand shelter for thousands of people threatened with death during a bitterly cold winter.

His appeal set off a wave of sympathy, and his Emmaus chain of hostels for the homeless now covers 41 countries.

Most outside of France are likely to concentrate on his odd public confession late in life and his promotion of married and female priests.

Day of Penance and Prayer

From the General Instruction of the Roman Missal:

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 penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The Mass “For Peace and Justice” (no. 22 of the “Masses for Various Needs”) should be celebrated with violet vestments as an appropriate liturgical observance for this day.

Roe’s 34th year sees a new Washington

From The Washington Times:

The pro-life community — participating in the annual March for Life today
– is readying itself for Democrats seeking more funding for groups that support
abortion and perhaps lifting restrictions on federal funding for abortion.
But pro-life leaders note the House will still take a pro-life stance on many issues and that President Bush will likely veto objectionable legislation.

“We just need to do all we can to make the case that abortion exploits
women and destroys children,” said Rep. Christopher H. Smith, New Jersey
Republican and chairman of the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Life Caucus.

Mr. Smith also expects some Democrats — especially those with their eyes
on the White House — to strike a moderate, seemingly pro-life tone on abortion.

“There may be a bogus attempt to claim common ground while money is being
given to Planned Parenthood,” he said, warning pro-lifers to be skeptical.

Meanwhile, activists on both sides are awaiting a decision by the Supreme Court, expected before June, on whether to uphold a federal law banning an abortion procedure sometimes called partial-birth abortion.