Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer, of the Diocese of San Angelo, second from left, and Monsignor James Bridges, pastor of Midland's St. Stephen's, address pro-life supporters at a praying of the Rosary outside of Planned Parenthood, January 20, 2012.

(Photo by Alan P. Torre / aptorre.com)

_ Bishop addresses Pro-Life crowd on 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, restates urgency of acting now.

By Jimmy Patterson
Editor

   MIDLAND -- Using some of his strongest language in recent memory, Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer, of the Diocese of San Angelo, recalled the words of noted early feminists in deriding the horror that is abortion. Bishop Pfeifer made his remarks on the weekend that marks the 39th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision which legalized abortion in 1973.
   "Alice Paul, one of the original feminists, called abortion 'the ultimate exploitation of women,’ " the bishop said. Paul, along with Susan B. Anthony, were both staunch opponents of abortion, with Anthony referring to the deadly procedure as "child murder."
   Increasingly strong in his opposition in recent years on the subject, Bishop Pfeifer used the occasion of the rosary in the three deanery headquarter cities of Midland-Odessa, Abilene and San Angelo, to appeal to Catholics and others for even more action to stop the spread of abortion that has accounted for the taking of more than 56 million lives since it was legalized by the Supreme Court's infamous decision that has changed and divided America.
   "I put out many articles and letters to pro-life people in the diocese pleading for you to speak out, to send letters to legislators," Bishop Pfeifer said. "The campaign didn't get much support. What happened?  Some of you are very upset with me I know, but I insist that we must take a very proactive stance for the unborn.
   "When we pray at mass for something, after we pray to God, who tells us that anything we ask will be granted in the name of Jesus, if we walk out and do nothing about it, God says, 'You fools.' You’ve heard me talk before about God's graces, but we have failed to use God's graces the way we should. I'm not here today to scold but to face facts and to become more involved in the political and legal process. We have to work against evil abortion at every level."
   Pfeifer notes that more than 1,000 lives are destroyed at the Midland Planned Parenthood clinic alone every year and called for prayers that government leaders promote laws that promote life. The bishop also ask the assembled to pray for the people who work at the clinic, saying Jesus calls us to love them just as we love others affected by abortion.
   Bishop Pfeifer presides over a number of Pro-Life events throughout the diocese. His schedule during the weekend of the Roe v. Wade anniversary took him from Midland to Abilene and San Angelo to celebrate Masses and pray rosaries in remembrance of the unborn.