From Washington, D.C., …
Island family joins indigenous peoples to advocate for the unborn
Phoenix Carter, son of Monica and Dallas Carter, blows the Hawaiian conch shell in the front of the native American group at the March for Life, Jan. 24, in Washington, D.C. (Courtesy photo Dallas Carter)
By Dallas Carter
Special to the Herald
My entire ohana and I were blessed to be able to travel to Washington, D.C., for this year’s Jan. 24 March for Life. For my children, it was a powerful witness of the importance of living our Catholic faith by standing in defense of the most vulnerable in our society, the unborn.
We went as part of a new non-profit organization named “Life is Sacred.” The group was created by Catholics and is comprised of native and indigenous people from America and beyond. My family joined as representatives of native Hawaiians.
Here is the organization’s mission statement:
“Until 1924, native and indigenous peoples were not recognized as ‘persons’ under the laws of the United States. This, in part, led to the decimation of many of our peoples. Today, the unborn are not recognized as ‘persons’ under the laws of the United States, and they are being killed by the thousands every day. In the past, too few stood by to defend the lives of our people, and so today we are here to stand for the lives of all people, born and unborn, in order to build a civilization of life and a culture of love.”
The Carter family. (Photo courtesy Dallas Carter)
It was truly amazing to see the groups from every corner of the United States, and especially tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of young people standing in defense of life. Our group marched through the streets of D.C. dressed in our traditional garb, sounding our native instruments, and chanting the ancient chants of our peoples that tell the story of our ancient and lasting commitment of viewing life as sacred from conception until natural death.
Our group and our mission also caught the eye of many media outlets, such as Relevant Radio, Movie to Movement, Catholic News Agency and EWTN. My hope is that these media outlets spread the message that the “native way” is not one of the culture of death but one of life, love and dignity.
I wholeheartedly believe that the native and indigenous peoples in America and beyond have knowledge from their ancient stories and values that are, with the light of our Catholic faith, truly seeds of life that can be spread throughout the world to re-establish a civilization of life and love.
A civilization that acknowledges the personhood of babies in the womb works for the end of abortion and euthanasia, strives toward recognizing the dignity that belongs to all the living both unborn and born, and endeavors toward allowing the light of Christ to be our guide.
The Carter family attends Blessed Sacrament Church in Pauoa. The website for the Life is Sacred organization is www.sacredislife.com.
… to Lihue …
Prayers for the vulnerable take to the streets on Kauai
By Terri Donovan Mansfield
Special to the Herald
At 10 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 22, the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, a crowd gathered in Lihue, Kauai, near Kuhio Highway, just west of Macy’s in the Kukui Grove Mall, to pray for the unborn and for an end to abortion.
Children joined parents and grandparents to hold signs and wave at the passing cars. There was lots of friendly horn honking, and plenty of shakas. Many recited the rosary. Some came from a local Baptist church, a powerful testament to interfaith solidarity for this important cause.
From St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish in Kapaa was the pastor, Father Anthony Rapozo, and parishioners. Other Garden Isle Catholic churches were also represented including Immaculate Conception in Lihue and Holy Cross in Kalaheo.
When I told a participant of another faith that St. Catherine Parish has weekly interfaith healing prayers every Friday after morning Mass, and that all are invited, she asked me to pray for her friend who is painfully withdrawing from an addictive opioid drug which she had been taking for pain symptoms.
The Day of Prayer for the Unborn reminds us how serious is the need for healing, and for prevention, and for obedience to the will of God.
… to Waimanalo
A living rosary, a novena
By Vicky DeSilva
Special to the Herald
St. George Church in Waimanalo held a living rosary prayer service in support of life on Jan. 22. Parishioners said the rosary, recited a novena to St. Marianne Cope and waved pro-life signs.
