Coalition for Life reflects on productive year

The plight of area pregnancy centers is discussed.

BOB REDDY | FLORIDA CATHOLIC VENICE BUREAU EDITOR

Posted: 07.02.09

Diocesan Respect Life Director Jeanne Berdeaux speaks to members of the Diocese of Venice Coalition for Life.

“We have 29 life-affirming agencies here in the diocese,” Diocesan Respect Life Director Jeanne Berdeauz tells members of the Diocese of Venice Coalition for Life June 13. “They are changing the world two lives at a time and they are on difficult times in an economic sense. If we lose some of these programs, the impact would be devastating.”
BOB REDDY | FC

PORT CHARLOTTE | The past year was one of the most successful in getting the word out and bringing people together for promoting life issues in the Diocese of Venice.

This was the news reported to Coalition for Life members during their annual meeting June 13 at St. Charles Borromeo School by Jeanne Berdeaux, director of the diocesan Respect Life Office. The coalition represents a variety of organizations and programs that support life issues throughout the diocese, and are coordinated by the Respect Life Office. About 80 people from throughout the diocese participated in the meeting.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane attended the meeting and offered words of encouragement to the people who spread the word about the life issues in the Catholic Church here in the diocese. He also spoke during a respect life Mass June 14 at Blessed Pope John XXIII Parish in Fort Myers, which commemorated the start of a respect life program there.

“As part of the covenant we make with God when we receive the body and blood of Christ we must have a respect for all types of life, particularly those most vulnerable and needy,” Bishop Dewane said. “Put into action the words of Christ. Respect life at every stage, from conception to natural death.”

Members of the Diocese of Venice Coalition for Life look at literature on a display table during an annual meeting June 13.

BOB REDDY | FC
Members of the Diocese of Venice Coalition for Life look at literature on display during the coalition’s annual meeting June 13.

The work to continue the battle has been impacted by the economy, Berdeaux reported. Donations and cutbacks by government agencies means spreading the word and helping the vulnerable are getting more difficult.

One area where the effects have been felt the hardest has been in the area pregnancy resource centers. These centers offer pregnant women a wide range of support while encouraging them to carry their babies to term.

Such programs can include help lines, residential services, medical facilities or other support groups. While many of the programs are not run by the diocese, each program recognized by the Respect Life Office signed an agreement embracing the Florida bishop’s criteria for life issues.

“We have 29 life-affirming agencies here in the diocese,” Berdeaux said. “They are changing the world two lives at a time and they are on difficult times in an economic sense. If we lose some of these programs, the impact would be devastating.”

Berdeaux spoke about how nearly all of the programs have been forced to cut back on personnel and services.

“We can’t let this go unnoticed,” she declared. “People need to know what is happening.”

On the good side, there was an increase in the number of people participating in the organized vigils in front of the abortion clinics. Vigils taking place during the 40 Days for Life campaign in the fall and during the week leading up to the anniversary of Roe v. Wade in January brought huge crowds. Many of those were led by Bishop Dewane.

The opening of the new Planned Parenthood regional headquarters in Sarasota, the third-largest abortion clinic in the United States at the time of its opening in October 2008, was a setback for the group, but it also attracted more participants to the vigils, Berdeaux said. One of those vigils prevented a woman from having an abortion, and the good news is that baby David was born on the feast of the Annunciation in March.

Another big campaign during the past year was to get postcards protesting a possible Freedom of Choice Act signed and delivered to area representatives. About 115,000 postcards were sent to each senator in Florida in February.

Berdeaux also reported that the second year for the Novena of Masses for Life has more than tripled in scope with 134 Masses celebrated throughout the nine months between March and December, and will include more than 40 parishes.

Coming in the next year, there will be rallies in January and another 40 Days for Life campaign.

New this year will be expanded opportunities for educating the public when pro-life speakers come to the area, Berdeaux said. For example, Scott Klusendroff, author of “Making Abortion Unthinkable,” will be in the area in September. Other changes will be a new vigil to take place between Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday.

The day ended with a distribution of awards by Bishop Dewane to parish representatives for their work on a variety of projects throughout the year.

St. Francis Assisi Parish in Grove City and Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish in Bokeelia were recognized with plaques for raising more than $1,000 each in the past year in the “Pennies for Babies” program. This program of Catholic Charities collects money to directly support women in stressful pregnancies with rent, utilities and other necessities.

The top awards for participation in the postcard campaign went to St. Ann Parish in Naples and Our Lady of Light Parish in Fort Myers for collecting more than 6,000 postcards each.

For participation in the 40 Days for Life vigil, the top awards were presented to St. Martha Parish in Sarasota and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Venice for having 70 or more participants during the vigil.

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