Inside See our annual Catholic Schools Week Supplement, Criterion pages 1B-12B. Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com January 29, 2010 Vol. L, No. 16 75¢ Amid rubble, Haitians celebrate Standing up for the unborn Church leaders’ lives and legacies PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CNS)—Amid the rubble of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Submitted photo by Josh Shaffner Submitted photo by the Assumption, Haitians celebrated the lives of the archbishop and vicar general of Port-au-Prince, both of whom were killed in the country’s Jan. 12 earthquake. Church officials—including some from the United States—joined Haitians on Jan. 23 for the funerals of Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot, who died when the impact of the quake hurled him from a balcony, and Msgr. Charles Benoit, the vicar general whose body was pulled from the cathedral debris. They were among more than 150,000 Haitians killed in the magnitude 7 quake. U.N. officials have said the final death toll might never be known. Archbishop Louis Kebreau of Cap-Haitien, president of the Haitian bishops’ conference, celebrated the funeral Mass, and Auxiliary Archdiocesan pilgrims who rode on Bus 2 to the March for Life in Washington pose for a group picture on Jan. 22 with the archdiocesan banner before Bishop Joseph boarding the bus to return home. Lafontant of Archbishop Port-au-Prince Joseph Serge Miot delivered the homily. Archdiocesan youths come out in large numbers Haiti President Rene Preval was among those in attendance. New York Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, for annual March for Life in nation’s capital who represented the U.S. bishops at the Mass, By Alea Bowling These staggering statistics are what inspire trip was a new experience. Whether they read a message on behalf of Chicago Cardinal Special to The Criterion youths and adults to travel to Washington were veteran pro-life marchers or first- Francis E. George, U.S. bishops’ conference every January for the peaceful, prayerful time participants, each person was ready president. Cardinal George’s message to the WASHINGTON, D.C.—The air was protest against nearly four decades of to stand up and defend the sanctity and Haitians was contained in a letter that was chilly and rain clouds loomed overhead, legalized abortion in America. dignity of life from conception until addressed to Archbishop Kebreau. but the weather didn’t keep pro-life This year, an estimated 300,000 people natural death. “The Church in the United States stands youths and adults from all over the gathered in the nation’s capital for the Archdiocesan pilgrims arrived in with you,” he said. country from gathering in record pro-life march, including three buses of Washington early on Jan. 21 then “In our prayer, we recall that Jesus, too, numbers for the 37th annual March for pilgrims with the official archdiocesan spent the day touring the Capitol, The wept before the tomb of one whom he loved,” Life on Jan. 22 in the nation’s capital. pilgrimage as well as many more groups Catholic University of America and the said the cardinal’s message. “With you, we Every year, more than 1 million from schools and parishes in central and John Paul II Cultural Center, a museum recall in trust that he is the resurrection and abortions are performed in the United southern Indiana. dedicated to the pope’s life and papacy. the life, offering himself to us and calling us States alone. That’s approximately For some of the youths, the march is an The highlight of the first day was the to himself, even in our darkest hour. 3,700 abortions every day. annual pilgrimage, but for others the pro-life See YOUTHS, page 2A “In the United States, our televisions, computers and newspapers have been filled with images of your unspeakable pain, Cardinal urges thousands at shrine vigil to embrace life suffering and loss,” he told them. “Each hour, WASHINGTON (CNS)—Rosary in hand, archbishop gave his blessing. Then See HAITI, page 10A Tom Pottratz surveyed the throng gathered recently retired, Pottratz went to for the opening Mass of the annual March work. for Life on Jan. 21 at the Basilica of the The first year, 1996, he was able National Shrine of the Immaculate to get about 180 teenagers to fill Stanley Branden Photo by Conception. four buses. Thereafter, the project What he saw gave him a sense of grew. He stepped back from the effort satisfaction. a few years ago when parishes, Mixed among the crowd were more than schools and deaneries began 1,000 people, many of them of school age, sponsoring their own buses. This year, from his hometown of Indianapolis. about 25 buses made the trip from Twenty years ago, when Pottratz started Indiana to Washington. attending the March for Life, Indianapolis “I’ve always known most kids are was not well represented. pro-life, but they’re a little reluctant to After a few years, Pottratz recalled for get up and stand in front because of Catholic News Service, he wondered what what the popular media says,” Pottratz could be done to bring the same enthusiasm said. “That’s until they come out here for making the annual trek to Washington one time and they see 150,000 other that he saw in people from other parts of the youths. They say ‘Wow, it’s kind of U.S. to the young people of central Indiana. cool to be pro-life. OK, I can do it Pottratz, a member of St. Louis now.’ ” de Montfort Parish in Fishers, Ind., in The teens from Indianapolis the Lafayette Diocese, and former longtime helped generate an atmosphere of Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein gives a blessing to member of St. Lawrence Parish in Indian- excitement in the basilica as the time Gabriel Klee, a former member of Our Lady of the Most apolis, approached Archbishop Daniel M. for the Mass neared. The congre- Holy Rosary Parish in Indianapolis, who now lives in Buechlein of Indianapolis, offering to gation filled the aisles, side chapels, Michigan, during the recessional of the Vigil Mass for organize bus trips for teenagers to attend the the vestibule and even part of the Life on Jan. 21 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of march and its related activities. The See MASS, page 8A the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Page 2A The Criterion Friday, January 29, 2010 regardless of what our government is YOUTHS saying. It says that we really care [about] what’s happening in our country.” continued from page 1A Taylor said she was impressed by all Alea Bowling Photos by opening Mass for the National Prayer Vigil the people who came to march for an end for Life at the Basilica of the National to abortion. Shrine of the Immaculate Conception “I came on the march because I adjacent to Catholic University. think it’s amazing to see all these The basilica was packed to the brim people here standing for life even with pro-life supporters from throughout though the country [is] saying it the country. The sheer number of Catholics doesn’t matter,” she said. “I just feel there was awe-inspiring as was the opening really passionate about it.” procession of seminarians, priests, bishops, The passion and dedication that the archbishops and cardinals, which lasted pro-life cause inspires in people are just almost 45 minutes. two of the reasons that show how In a moving homily which celebrated important it is to defend the life of St. Agnes as a model of joy, Cardinal unborn babies. Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, Ben Seiwert, a homeschooled student chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee and member of St. Joseph Parish in on Pro-Life Activities, praised the presence Jennings County, said he is enthusiastic of so many youths at the Mass, calling about doing his part to work for an end to them “a sure sign of infectious joy, the sign abortion, and is “willing to stand up for of life.” all the babies who can’t talk for Jan. 22 began with a Mass for themselves.” Walking together during the 37th annual March for Life on Jan. 22 in Washington, D.C., are, from left, St. Patrick archdiocesan pilgrims celebrated by His sister, Courtney, who is a member parishioner Tom McBroom of Terre Haute, the pilgrimage director for archdiocesan youths who rode on Bus 3; Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein in the of the Archdiocesan Youth Council, and Servants of the Gospel of Life Sister Diane Carollo, director of the archdiocesan Office for Pro-Life Ministry; and crypt church of the basilica. Ben were glad that they traveled to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary parishioner Branden Stanley of Avon, who volunteered as a videographer for Newly ordained Father John Hollowell, Washington to stand up for the cause of the Jan. 20-23 pro-life pilgrimage. the chaplain at Cardinal Ritter Jr./Sr. High life. School in Indianapolis, spoke directly to “I think it’s pretty cool seeing the people during his homily. 300,000 people all [here] for the same “The one thing that people respond to is cause,” Ben said. “You don’t see that for witnesses—you,” Father Hollowell said. anything else really. It’s just a great thing to “When they see your joy, that is the only be a part of this, and I feel like I’m part of thing that will get them to question how something so much more than just a small they approach this issue of life.