"We commend to you the children taken from us in this place...Strengthen the bonds of their families and our community..."

By Tanya Connor

WORCESTER – This was among the prayers said outside an abortion clinic

Saturday (May 6).

The occasion was the annual pro-life Mass at St. Joan of Arc Church on Lincoln Street and procession to the nearby Planned Parenthood clinic.

"To slaughter a child in the womb and say, ‘No, that’s not what we did...’" Bishop Reilly said in his homily at Mass.  He said he wishes there was a way of calling the legislators and courts to task on this, instead of just being friendly.

"This really, truly bothers me," he said.  "I don’t know why our diocese can’t just rise up and make a statement."  He said it is a cop out to say the priests and bishops aren’t doing it.

"Right now America is wrong on this issue," he said, challenging his listeners to say something if they care about their country.

When he served with Cardinal John J. O’Connor, archbishop of New York, who died last week, on a United States bishops’ pro-life committee, they came up with the slogan: "The Natural Choice is Life," he said.

"We are not negative people," he said, despite labels such as pro life nuts.   "We are here out of faith...the deepest love for everyone."

He said that during the presidential primaries one party tried to outdo the other on being more pro-choice.  People say pro-lifers are depriving people of their choice, he said, but added, "We are not free to choose to kill someone."’

But being pro-choice allows people to do what they want sexually – as if that would make them happy – and then eliminate the natural result, he said.

"This is not a very happy society we live in," he added.  It encourages self-indulgence but "drops you as soon as you become a problem."  It kills the unborn and others, but seeks someone to blame for the Holocaust.

Fifty years from now people will see that people of today said, "I didn’t want to get involved; I don’t like to judge other people," he indicated.   "That’s not having the courage of your convictions...We can’t change history, but we can do something about the world today."  He said no organization is more interested in the well-being of the Worcester area than the Diocese of Worcester.

Father Joseph M. Nally, pastor of St. Joan of Arc, said society would have liked the Church and its issues to stay to the side, but Cardinal O’Connor – and Bishop Reilly – brought them into public discussion.  The congregation applauded.

Parishioner Lauren Foisy, a seventh-grader at St. Stephen’s Elementary School, read her winning poem, "To All the Unborn Children."  The bishop told her to keep up the good work and gave her the prize for the parish contest for the occasion – a $25 gift certificate to Boucher’s Good Books.

Offertory gifts and prayers highlighted various life issues, including abortion, euthanasia and capital punishment.

After Mass, police escorted the procession.  Clinic personnel made no appearance.

Careful not to block the clinic driveway, the pro-lifers read Psalm 139 and Mark 10:13-16, sang "Isaiah 49" and "Amazing Grace" and prayed for leaders, mothers (including the beaten, addicted and those who mourn the loss of their children to abortion), the elderly, health care professionals and those "unjustly condemned to death," especially by abortion. They prayed the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory in English and Spanish.

"You are the author and sustainer of our lives, O God, you are our final home," the closing prayer said.  "We commend to you the children taken from us in this place.  Trusting in your mercy and in your all embracing love, we pray that you give them happiness forever.  Turn also to us who have suffered this loss. Strengthen the bonds of their families and our community.  Confirm us in faith, in hope and in love, so that we may bear your peace to one another and one day stand together with all the saints, especially these Holy Innocents, who praise you for your saving help."

Bishop Reilly urged those gathered to welcome home all who have been afflicted by abortion and said he was happy to see so many who regularly speak and act for the dignity of human life.

"We pray that their work be successful, especially here at this abortion clinic," he said.

"The bishop summed it up so well – that we’re here out of good will...toward those who need our prayers," said Eric Knowles, co-chair of St. Joan of Arc Pro-life Committee.  He said his prayer is that they can express good will and help those who are suffering from difficult pregnancies or dealing with other life issues.