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http://southerncross.diosav.org
Vol. 89, No. 2 Thursday, January 15, 2009
$.75 per issue
Rallies marking abortion anniversary set
for days after inauguration
By Chaz Muth
Washington (CNS)
T housands of pro-life marchers, among them Savannah Bishop J. Kevin
Boland and others from south Georgia, are expected to rally in Wa
shington January 22 to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the U.S.
Supreme Courts Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion, just days after
President-elect Barack Obama is inaugurated.
Abortion opponents also will
hold multiple events in the nation’s
capital and throughout the U.S. the
day before and the day of the offi
cial 2009 March for Life, as well as
the following days.
The main event will begin with a
noon rally on the National Mall,
followed by a march along Con
stitution Avenue that will end at the
U.S. Supreme Court. From there,
participants are encouraged to meet
with members of Congress to lobby
on abortion-related issues.
“The first session of the 111th
Congress will convene in January,
with all newly elected members of
the House and many newly elected
members of the Senate,” organizers
Continued on page 7 Members of the Savannah diocesan family participate in the 2008 March for Life.
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Food pantries running low
Deja vu?
From the Southern Cross, December 24, 1992,
Page 8, “The Year in Review, ” by Tracy Early
(CNS):
The faltering U.S. economy brought increased
unemployment —and higher demands on home
less shelters, soup kitchens and other social
services of the Catholic Church and other
organizations.
It also put President Bush out of a job: most
opted to try Bill Clinton’s economic policy
changes.
“Georgia s December unemployment rate reaches
7.5% - Highest rate in 16 Years”— Atlanta
Journal and Constitution January 8, 2008.
I n December 2008, the Southern Cross queried
parishes throughout the diocese regarding the
demands on their social services. Several excerpts
from those reports follow:
“Our ministry here at Saint Boniface is seeing a
greater demand for food and utility assistance. I
believe the number of requests have tripled in the
past several months. In addition to seeing the
usual people, we are seeing many more who for
the first time in their life had to ask for assistance
and this has been and is very embarassing and
humiliating for them.”—Sister Nuala Mulleady,
Saint Boniface, Springfield.
“We are seeing a greater demand for assistance
with utilities and gasoline, not for food. How
ever, we have never been known as a place for
food.”—Jan Roberts, Saint William Church, Saint
Simons Island.
“Here at Holy Trinity in Swainsboro we are
seeing a clear and growing need. I am getting
more and more calls from parishioners whose
hours are being cut, or who have lost their jobs in
construction and small factories.”—Father John
Brown, Holy Trinity, Swainsboro.
“We have had quite an increase in the number of
people coming for food. For example, where I
usually was giving out about three food packages
a week previously, I have given out seven this
week. For a small parish (less than 40 registered
families), this is quite significant. Saint James
Parish in Savannah has been very generous about
helping us with food donations, but we also have
to buy some food.”—Sister Mary Bordelon, cdp,
Holy Family, Metter
“ACTS (Area Christians Together in Service,
Inc.) in Bulloch County is an interfaith ministry
Increase in Meed
stresses of unemployment, falling wages,
“higher food prices and the housing crisis pushed
more people to seek assistance from local Catholic
Charities agencies in the fall of 2008.
|1 PERCENT OF CATHOLIC AGENCIES
|£ SEEING AN INCREASE IN...
the working poor seeking services 91%
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requests for financial assistance 86 %
mt
requests for utility assistance 82 %
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the need for food 77%
the need for rent or mortgage assistance 70 %
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requests for temporary housing 41%
dedicated to helping Bulloch County residents
who through no fault of their own find themselves
in an emergency financial situation. We are
mainly supported by 15 churches and an annual
United Way grant. We have seen over a 20%
increase in the number of applicants to ACTS,
mainly since August. We have already referred an
additional 26% to the food bank.”—Patty Mulnix,
ACTS, Bulloch County.
Contact your parish for information on how you
can help feed the hungry.
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Remembering
Father
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Promoting adoption
as an alternative