Bishop Weigand's Homily, Monsignour Kavanagh, and Governor Davis

Today marks thirty years since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in the United States. The Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions made abortion legal throughout pregnancy. These decisions held that the child in the womb is not human like the rest of us: that the child in the womb does not have a fundamental and inalienable right to live.

Instead of liberating women from discrimination, abortion has betrayed women. As the U.S. bishops wrote in November: "Legal abortion promised what it could not give. It promised women freedom to participate more fully in society, but it took their children and broke their hearts.

Countless women have suffered physically, emotionally, and spiritually because of abortion; many have even lost their lives. Many men, too, mourn the loss of their children, while others carry the heavy burden of having persuaded their daughter, wife, or girlfriend to have an abortion." (A Matter of the Heart) Women are blessed by God and are created equal to men, with no need to mutilate or poison themselves and kill their own children in order to be regarded as equals.

We must not be discouraged because the Roe v. Wade decision still stands, or that abortion has become a virtual entitlement that cannot even be questioned. We must be people of hope. We cannot see all that God sees, and we know that Life will triumph over death and Truth will triumph over lies. The culture of death is a culture of lies.

Roe v. Wade will not stand forever. In fact, the tide has been turning for some time now. About ten days ago, the Sacramento Bee reported that the Alan Guttmacher Institute, which is affiliated with Planned Parenthood, acknowledges that the abortion rate has fallen to its lowest level in 29 years. While 1.3 million abortions still take place every year in the U.S. (42 million in the last 30 years), there is more reason than ever to be hopeful. In a Matter of the Heart, the November statement by the Bishops, we note the following:

Today fewer abortions are being performed each year, and fewer doctors are willing to be involved in abortion.

More Americans identify themselves as pro-life, while the number of those saying they are pro-choice has declined significantly.

Ultrasound and other medical advances have made possible a greater appreciation of the humanity of the unborn child. (Last November, Time magazine had a wonderful issue on the new technology available to observe human life in its earliest stages. A front cover photograph of a fetus showed the clear development of the brain, heart, and other organs of a child only 54 days after conception.)

In these three decades, thousands of pregnancy resource centers have been established to provide practical assistance and support to women facing difficult pregnancies, aiding many thousands in need of help.

Most state legislatures have enacted measures to restrict or regulate the practice of abortion and reduce its incidence.

Roe v. Wade's disregard for human life has moved some people to reconsider their positions in favor of capital punishment and to resist the push to legalize assisted suicide. Above all, the pro-life movement is making major gains among the young. "Many in the last generation fought for legal abortion, but more today fight for true freedom for women." In recent Gallup polls, major restrictions on abortion were supported by 55% of adults under 30, a higher figure than for any age group except those 65 and over. Our young people know that they were created as unique individuals with their own unique DNA from the moment of their conception. They look around them and realize that in every gathering of people under thirty, one third of them are missing, because they were killed before they were even born.

As many of you are aware, Monsignor Edward Kavanagh, Pastor of St. Rose Parish and Director of St. Patrick's Home, has been one of our leading pro-life activists for many years. He has spoken the truth without regard to whether it was popular or not. In December, Monsignor confronted Governor Gray Davis about his support of abortion and challenged him to examine his conscience. I applaud Monsignor Kavanagh for his strong and consistent witness. People need to understand that you cannot call yourself a Catholic in good standing and at the same time publicly hold views that are contradictory to the Catholic faith.

Thank you, Monsignor Kavanagh, for standing up for the unborn, for your dedication to truth and for your pastoral concern for souls, including the Governor's.

In stating publicly that many Catholics believe as he does, and insisting that women should retain the right to decide to kill their own children by aborting them, under the guise of making their own decisions about their bodies, Governor Davis needs to recall that we do not own our bodies. We are not proprietors. We are stewards - stewards of a sacred trust. We all must decide how to care for our bodies. But abortion entails another body, that of the infant. The prohibition of God and of the law of nature is abundantly clear: "Thou shalt not kill."

As your bishop, I have to say clearly that anyone - politician or otherwise - who thinks it is acceptable for a Catholic to be pro-abortion is in very great error, puts his or her soul at risk, and is not in good standing with the Church. Such a person should have the integrity to acknowledge this and choose of his own volition to abstain from receiving Holy Communion until he has a change of heart.

Just last week, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith addressed a statement directly to politicians. In part, it stated:

Catholic politicians "have the right and the duty to recall society to a deeper understanding of human life and to the responsibility of everyone in this regard. Those who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a grave and clear obligation to oppose any law that attacks human life.

A well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals."

Issues of the sacredness of human life and other questions of basic morality are matters of natural moral law, not simply of Church teaching. The Vatican statement states: "No Catholic can appeal to the principle of pluralism or to the autonomy of lay involvement in political life to support policies affecting the common good which compromise or undermine fundamental ethical requirements."

There can be no division between public and private morality. It is untenable to say, "I am personally opposed to abortion," but support someone else's right to kill their unborn baby. Catholic moral doctrine respects the "rightful autonomy of the political or civil sphere from that of religion and the Church - but not from morality."

The U.S. Bishops' statement of November 1998, Living the Gospel of Life,is even more explicit. "As bishops, we have the responsibility to call Americans to conversion, including political leaders, and especially those publicly identified as Catholics. As chief teachers in the Church, we must therefore explain, persuade, correct and admonish those in leadership positions who contradict the Gospel of life through their actions and policies. Catholic public officials who disregard Church teaching on the inviolability of the human person indirectly collude in the taking of innocent life." (#29)

"We urge those Catholic officials who choose to depart from Church teaching on the inviolability of human life in their public life to consider the consequences for their own spiritual well being, as well as the scandal they risk by leading others into serious sin. We call on them to reflect on the grave contradiction of assuming public roles and presenting themselves as credible Catholics when their actions on fundamental issues of human life are not in agreement with Church teaching.

No public official, especially one claiming to be a faithful and serious Catholic, can responsibly advocate for or actively support direct attacks on innocent human life. No appeal to policy, procedure, majority will or pluralism ever excuses a public official from defending life to the greatest extent possible. Those who justify their inaction on the grounds that abortion is the law of the land need to recognize that there is a higher law, the law of God. No human law can validly contradict the commandment 'Thou shalt not kill.'" (#32)

The path Jesus chose was not the easy one; but then the path of a leader never is. A true leader stands up for what is right, not for what is popular, and serves as an example for the rest of us. We know it is not politically correct to be pro-life; but right and wrong, good and evil, are never revealed to us in a poll. All human life is sacred. As stewards of God's gift, we are to respect and protect it - always andwithout exception. "Governor, we pray for you that you will change your heart."

As the U.S. bishops remind us: "We are not powerless. We can make a difference. We belong to the Lord; in him is our strength and through his grace, we can change the world." (#27)

The bishops also state: "We renew our offer of assistance to anyone considering abortion: If you are overwhelmed by the decisions you face, if you cannot afford medical care, if you are homeless or feel helpless, whatever your needs, we will help you. The Church and her ministries, inspired by the word and example of Jesus Christ, will help you with compassion and without condemnation.

"Roe v. Wade cannot stand as the law of this great nation, a nation founded on the self-evident truth that all people are created with an inalienable right to life. We are committed, no matter how long it may take, no matter the sacrifices required, to bringing about a reversal of this tragic Supreme Court decision.

We will speak out on behalf of the sanctity of each and every human life wherever it is threatened, from conception to natural death. Roe v. Wade must be reversed." (November 2002)

For more than a half-century, Monsignor Edward Kavanagh has headed St. Rose parish and St. Patrick's School and Orphanage.

By Jennifer Garza -- Bee Staff Writer Published 2:15 a.m. PST Saturday, January 11, 2003

It is shortly after 3 p.m. on a weekday afternoon when Monsignor Edward Kavanagh walks around the grounds of St. Patrick's School in Sacramento looking for sinners. Or at least children acting up.

He eyes a group of kids on the playground. They smile and wave. He nods to teachers and parents. They greet him warmly. The priest has been known to mention to startled parents picking up their children from school that he hasn't seen them at Mass lately and he hopes they're not forgetting their moral obligation. Almost always, the repentant mother or father shows up for church the following Sunday.

But this does not happen today. Instead, Kavanagh continues his tour of the grounds when he spots a boy, about 7 or 8, who has curly hair and an I've-been-up-to-something look on his face.

The priest laughs. Loudly. "Good. Then go on," he says. The boy, without looking back, runs to the basketball court.

He has learned an important lesson. It's probably best to avoid a confrontation with the monsignor.

Kavanagh is a self-described old-fashioned Irish priest. He has served at St. Rose parish for 54 years, making him the longest-serving priest in the diocese. He oversees, among other things, St. Patrick's School and Orphanage, a foster care and adoption agency and a home for unwed mothers.

He says everything he does is for the children under his care, especially the ones he calls the most vulnerable, "the unborn children."

Kavanagh is a local leader in the pro-life movement. To people in that movement, he is a champion. A hero. A no-nonsense priest doing his job. At times, his views have put him at odds with other Catholics.

Last month, shortly before Christmas, Kavanagh had a run-in with Gov. Gray Davis. It happened when the priest found out the governor planned to deliver gifts to the children living at St. Patrick's Orphanage for a press event. Kavanagh was furious. He informed Davis staffers shortly before the governor was expected to arrive that Davis would not be welcome unless he signed a pledge denouncing his views on abortion.

Each side accused the other of using the children as political pawns. Davis staffers said the priest knew of and approved the scheduled event. Kavanagh said his staff had been misled. The event was moved to the state Capitol. Details about who-knew-what-when are in dispute, but the priest made his point.

"I wasn't surprised when I heard about it. If he thinks someone is wrong, he'll tell them. He doesn't care who it is," says the Rev. Richard Doheny, pastor of St. Mel's parish in Fair Oaks and Kavanagh's closest friend. The two grew up together in Urlingford, Ireland, and have known each other all their lives. Doheny adds: "He's always been like that."

"Was I intimidated because he is the governor? What kind of question is that? Of course not," says Kavanagh, sitting in the school library last Sunday after Mass. "I have nothing against the governor personally, and I'm not going to pass judgment. But I think the man has to re-examine his conscience."

"It's unfortunate the monsignor continues his political attacks on the governor," says Russ Lopez, a spokesman for Davis. Lopez says the governor is a practicing Catholic who regularly attends Mass. "With all due respect, I think the monsignor needs to get a reality check."

Since the showdown with the governor, Kavanagh says, he has received hundreds of letters, more than 800 e-mails and countless calls of support.

Along the way, there have also been a few accusations that the priest did it for the publicity.

"Why would I do that? I don't need or want the attention," Kavanagh says. "I'm busy enough."

Kavanagh knows everybody. Or at least he seems to. He's on a first-name basis with local movers and shakers. (He recently blessed Kings owner Joe Maloof's new house "and his new Ferrari," says Kavanagh.)

He can pick up the phone anytime and get jobs for people who come to him for help.

People who know him use words like "integrity," "committed" and "hardworking." They also say he is a fund-raiser extraordinaire.

"I've said many times that there probably would not be Catholic radio in Sacramento if it weren't for the efforts of Monsignor Kavanagh," says Doug Sherman, president of Immaculate Heart Radio, which runs 1620 AM, the local Catholic radio station.

"He's been a mentor, an angel," says Carrol, executive director of the Bishop Gallegos Maternity Home. "I guess the best way to describe him is that he's the kind of priest everyone wants."

The folks who know him well mention his dry sense of humor, his love of Irish music and golf.

"The man never misses a game. I don't know where he gets the energy. We're old men," Doheny says.

All of this is too much for Kavanagh. He looks uneasy when some of the praise is repeated to him.

"Look, I'm just a priest," he says, simply. "Just a priest trying to follow the precepts of Christ."

Kavanagh is 77 years old. He was born in a family of four children in a small town in Ireland. His parents ran a local store. His family was not particularly religious, he recalls, although he did have an aunt who was a nun.

He arrived in Sacramento in 1948 and was assigned to St. Rose, then a small parish on the outskirts of town. The parish includes St. Patrick's, which opened in 1932. Kavanagh now oversees 40 acres on Franklin Boulevard. His parish is made up primarily of working-class Latinos. "My people," Kavanagh says.

On the outside, St. Rose appears to be a struggling church. The buildings need to be painted and the carpet needs to be replaced. Kavanagh's office is a clutter of books and boxes. He's in desperate need of some new filing cabinets.

But Kavanagh insists the church is doing fine. More than 100 people work in various capacities -- at the school, the orphanage, the church. From his small, disordered-looking office, he oversees a $5 million budget.

Kavanagh says he will do anything for his students "any time of the day or night." When he discusses his students, he sounds protective. "They are my family," he says.

He can remember the names of students who attended the school 30 or 40 years ago but, to his annoyance, he has a harder time with the kids who attended 10 years ago. He doesn't hesitate to call former students for help or financial assistance. Most quickly respond.

Former students talk about how the monsignor not only helped them get through school, he got them jobs, loans and even cars. (Kavanagh also oversees a car-donation lot.) They talk about how, despite his gruff exterior and tough-talking ways, he was always there.

"My sister got pregnant and monsignor helped her," says Maria, a woman now in her 40s who did not want her last name used. "He also calmed down my dad."

Kavanagh remains active in the anti-abortion movement. On Jan. 22 -- the 30th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade -- he plans to participate in a Mass at the Cathedral. He also will continue to speak out against Catholic politicians he believes are betraying their faith.

Kavanagh says he is "deeply disappointed" in state Sen. Deborah Ortiz, D-Sacramento, and her pro-choice stance. He has known Ortiz since she was a child attending St. Patrick's.

Ortiz says attending the school was "a great experience." She and Kavanagh agree on many issues, including their concern for the poor. But she and the monsignor have a major difference of opinion on abortion.

"I consider myself a Catholic," Ortiz says. "And I think there are a lot of Catholics who believe, as I do, that women should make the decision about their body, rather than this one edict of the Catholic Church."

On a recent afternoon, Kavanagh sits in the living room of the rectory. Like his office, it needs tidying up. Books and stacks of papers fill bookcases and the chairs. He has a well-stocked bar and about a dozen gifts of spirits from parishioners. "A little holy water," he jokes.

Kavanagh relaxes in a comfortable brown chair and lights up a cigarette. Six years ago, he had colon cancer. How is he doing now?

"I probably shouldn't answer that because I know I'm going to get in trouble ... but I never went back after surgery. I suppose it's gone." He smokes, he says, "a little bit." "But they're Irish cigarettes," he says, smiling.

Kavanagh often repeats the phrase "at this hour in my life." He has no plans to retire and plans to keep on working as hard and as long as he can. He hears from many of his former students, five of whom are now priests in the diocese. He talks and worries about them all. He mentions a former student now in prison. "I must see him soon," he says.

Kavanagh won't retire. There's too much for him to do. Raising kids. Rattling politicians. Truth is, he needs the kids as much as they need him.

Most priests stay at a parish for less than a dozen years before moving on. Many believe (although it can't be confirmed) that Kavanagh may be the longest-serving priest at a single diocese in the nation.

He tried to leave once. Kavanagh had been serving at the church about 25 years when he figured it was probably time for a fresh start at a new parish. He believed the change would be good for him and good for the church.

"After all, people get tired of the same person, you know," he said. "Who wants to see the same priest week after week, year after year?"

But his request for a transfer from St. Rose was denied. Kavanagh was secretly relieved. He never asked to leave the parish again.

Instead of liberating women from discrimination, abortion has betrayed women.

This is so true. I have always thought there are primarily three different types of pro-abortion women:

1) Women who have had an abortion, bury their guilt (or have no guilt) and spend their life vigorously defending their so-called "right" to the abortion to justify their decision when deep down they know there is no justification. These are all those mean-looking feminist type women who glare at you and hate men.

2) Women who have had an abortion and sincerely feel remorse. Months or years later they come to terms with their decision, seek God's forgiveness, and can get on with their lives. They overwhelmingly become pro-life because they unfortunately know what happens to a woman physically and emotionally after an abortion, and they also realize their mistakes. These are the women we in the pro-life movement need to reach out to, love and cherish because they are in pain and need our support.

3) Women who have never had an abortion and probably never will, but have bought into the "intellectual" argument that it is their body to do with as they choose and they don't really think about the humanity of the child. The "decision" will never impact them because they, PERSONALLY, would never have an abortion.

Most state legislatures have enacted measures to restrict or regulate the practice of abortion and reduce its incidence.

It's funny, this is the text of his speech, but the Bishop definitely diverted. One thing he said right after this was "But, definitely not California". When he was reading quotes, he was faithful to the text, but he inserted his own comments and observations throughout. (I was there).

With all due respect, Lopez and "practicing Catholic" Davis can take a long walk off a short pier.

Lopez and "practicing Catholic" Davis can take a long walk off a short pier.

Delightful idea. Davis, btw, made one of the funniest statements I've heard in this: something to the effect that it was "not the bishops' job to be telling people how to practice their faith." It wasn't clear to me exactly what he thought was the job of the bishops.

As for Msgr. Kavenaugh, he reminds me of the great guys of my childhood, who stood outside the school watching the kids come in and occasionally giving the cautionary word to some would-be malefactor or somebody whose parents had been skipping Mass. The sad thing is that when Catholic schools in NYC started taking in large numbers of non-Catholics, they stopped keeping after the kids and their parents. A big opportunity missed, to my way of thinking.

Hooray for the bishop and monsignior! I think all the bishops and priests here in the US need to testify as to what human life really is and where it begins. I appreciated the reminder that we are only stewards of our bodies and our lives. (That said, the monsignoir still finds time for a smoke, and I'm sure he's grateful that his God is not a health-Nazi).

I strongly feel that a lot of the feel-good morality is getting ready to be swept into the dustbin of history; America is tired of its tenets that equate murder with freedom. The Catholic hierarchy would be good to hitch their values back to tradition and excommunicate or at least confront the politicians who openly defy the church position on abortion.

I think the US Catholic Church has been straying down some strange paths these last few decades in pursuit of "relevance." Funny how this has led some of them far away from the waters people seem to be craving today.

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