“Black Catholics choose life and help others choose life,” stated Father Jim Goode, OFM, President of the National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life, as he announce the fourth annual “June is Abortion and All Acts of Violence Awareness Month 2006, in the African American community. The theme this year is: Jesus the Giver of Life- Make Us People for Life.

“We will witness the sacredness of life in all our churches, institutions, national Black Catholic conferences, summer family reunions, festivals, church trips, and neighborhood gatherings. Wherever our people will assemble during the month of June and throughout the summer months, someone representing NBCAL will be there praying, proclaiming, and mobilizing African Americans to choose life and help others choose life,” Father Goode said.

Why the month of June? June is the month of the Sacred Heart. During the month of June we celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Heart of Mary and Our Mother of Perpetual Help. June is also the month that we celebrate the Feast of St. Charles Lwanga and Companions, the young Ugandan Martyrs who gave their lives for the faith.

“Our mission as Black Catholics for Life during this awareness campaign is to go from heart to heart, soul to soul, life to life, and invite our African American sisters and brothers to join us in choosing life,” stated Father Glenn Parker, CSsR, Vice Province Vicar of the Redemptorist Vice Province of Richmond, and a member of the NBCAL Board of Consultants.

The Board of Consultants of the National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life has fully embraced this Pro-Life Awareness Project, which calls for the end of the evil of abortion and all acts of violence that are destroying life in the African American community. “The success of last year’s awareness month has given us renewed enthusiasm,” stated Dr. Beverly A. Carroll, Executive Director USCCB: Secretariat for African American Catholics and founding member of the NBCAL Board of Consultants.

For more information: www.blackcatholicsforlife.org