Priests for Life in Spain for the Re-Consecration of the country to the Sacred Heart and the start of the 'Year for Priests'

Madrid - June 26, 2009

As the abortion legalization battle heats up in Spain, the Church moved to re-consecrate the country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, at Cerro de los Ángeles (Hill of the Angels), located just outside Madrid, with an outdoor public celebration attended by tens of thousands of faithful. The occasion was also used to mark the start of the 'Year for Priests' proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI.

At the request of the Vatican, and at the invitation of Spanish bishops, priests, and prolife groups, Priests for Life is taking an active role in the struggle to fight abortion in Spain, which has the highest number of abortions per capita in all of Europe. Fr. Pavone sent Bob Lalonde, Priests for Life's International Director, to meet with Spanish Church officials and lay leaders to offer our guidance and assistance.

In a span of just a few days, Mr. Lalonde, who was hosted by Pilar Gutiérrez, Representative of Silent No More (Spain) and President of Unidos por la Vida (United for Life www.unidosporlavida.org), met with:

(1) Cardinal Rouco Varela, Archbishop of Madrid;

(2) Bishop Juan Antonio Reig Pla, Prolife Director for the Bishops' Conference, in Alcala de Henares and prolife advocate Fr. Joan Manuel Serra, from Catalonia;

(3) Abbot Anselmo Alvarez, from a well-known Benedictine Monastery in Santa Cruz del Valle de los Caidos;

(4) Bishop Martinez Camino, spokesman for the Spanish Bishops' Conference;

(5) Nuns at the Cathedral Almudena (The Wall), where an image of the Blessed Virgin was found in the perimeter wall protecting the city;

(6) Judge Teresa Fernandez de Cordova, Madrid Appeals Court;

(7) Pilar Gutiérrez, her daughter Sandra, Communications Director for Unidos por la Vida, and Jorge Tamayo, all long time fearless prolifers who handed out flyers after the Reconsecration.

Bob was interviewed by Alba, Spain's principal Catholic paper, and commented on the importance of the Church helping lead the charge in Spain. He praised their current prolife campaign featuring a poster with a cat and child and the caption, ‘what about protection for my life?’

In addition to the many meetings and site visits, Bob helped distribute Priests for Life Spanish literature and invitations to 'Clavel por la Vida' (Carnations for Life), an event Pilar is organizing for July 5th to help remember the tragic 1985 anniversary of the decriminalization of abortion in Spain.