Texas Catholic Conference Is Sponsoring a "Pilgrimage for Life"

"God’s love does not differentiate between the newly conceived infant still in his or her mother’s womb and the child or young person, or the adult and the elderly person. God does not distinguish between them because he sees an impression of his own image and likeness (Gn 1:26) in each one." -Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), February 2005

On Monday 24 November 2008, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will lead a Pilgrimage for Life. It will begin with a 9:00 AM Mass at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Huntsville,TX. After Mass there will be Eucharistic Adoration for those who are unable to participate in the walk. The walk will begin at the Huntsville Health Center (Planned Parenthood) at 10:30 am & end at 11:30 Am with a closing prayer at the Huntsville Prison site of the Texas Death Chamber. They are calling on those walking to also fast until the end of the walk.

Why are they doing this? According to their website: "The Pilgrimage for Life is an opportunity for Catholic Faithful to gather and pray for those affected by infractions on the dignity of life, and for a reinvigoration of the Culture of Life. Through gathering and processing, participants in the Pilgrimage for Life witness to the world our Catholic teaching on the life and dignity of the human person from conception to natural death."

It goes on to say:"Throughout the Pilgrimage, all life is acknowledged as sacred. Politics and preference are set aside, all life is welcome: the life of the unborn, the child, the mother, the father, the poor, the wealthy, the imprisoned, the victim, the elderly, the welcomed, and the stranger."

"The Pilgrimage for Life is an opportunity to reflect on the life and dignity of the human person from conception to natural death. Our presence today is one of prayer and reconciliation for all those who strive to promote a Culture of Life, and for those who are deceived by the Culture of Death. This is a witness, not a demonstration. All sloganeering, verbal confrontations, forms of harassment or public shaming, etc. are unacceptable. Please refrain from bringing signs or otherwise making political statements or partisan comments."

More info including a map of the route is available at the website.