At the archdiocese's annual Respect Life Mass Jan. 20 to commemorate the anniversary of the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion in the United States, Cardinal Roger Mahony stressed that God's "greatest gift" to the world is the creation of human beings.

He then asked almost 2,000 congregants in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels to renew their commitment to the entire spectrum of human life, and to continue to pray and hope that everyone will recognize the most precious gift in all of creation.

"This evening we gather once again to reaffirm our deep understanding of the greatest gift that God has given this created world, and this is the creation of human beings," the cardinal said during his homily. "We are God's best and highest handiwork. We are the closest reflection to his image and likeness as he tells us in the scriptures."

The cardinal pointed out that every person is born with an immortal soul, and that God dwells in and walks with every individual.

"So this evening," he said, "all of us gather in prayer to continue praying to Almighty God to help change the hearts of people --- that everyone will come to recognize the great preciousness of human life."

This is no easy task, Cardinal Mahony acknowledged, in a world with such a "cavalier" attitude towards life. Abortion has become so frequent and easy to obtain since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized it 34 years ago that most Americans have lost sight of what abortion actually involves --- the killing of innocents. He said the same applies to the end-of-life issue of euthanasia. With each, a whole vocabulary has sprung up to mask and camouflage the horrible reality taking place.

'People of faith'
"We see so much killing, terror and violence all across this globe, it's almost daily on the front pages of our newspapers," he said. "People can become so filled with hatred that they actually blow themselves up hoping to kill as many others as possible. And we see it in gang violence and in the taking of human life through so many murders in our society and world.

"And yet, in the midst of all of that we stand as people of faith and of great hope. Because we know that ultimately the God who says 'I am your God and you are my people' will once again recreate the balance of life according to God's plan, and in and through his son, Jesus Christ.

"We believe that," he added. "We do not have to be convinced of that. But we have to live that out."

When individuals ask him, "Isn't the fight for life hopeless in such a world?" the cardinal said he always answers with a resounding "No!"

Through the prayers and sacrifices of pro-lifers, many encouraging advances have been made, he noted. The total number of abortions continues to drop. And recent national polls showed that more Americans want access to abortion restricted. Taken together, he said both were a "positive change" in thinking and mentality.

Another good sign is that Catholics are no longer alone in their outspoken opposition to abortion, Cardinal Mahony observed. Members of many other faith communities --- including nearly 30 representatives present at the Jan. 20 liturgy --- hold similar beliefs about the dignity of all human life.

Finally, the cardinal called the recent finding by medical researchers at two prestigious centers that better and plentiful stem cells were in the ambiotic fluid surrounding the baby in the womb a "tremendous breakthrough," because no harm would come to embryos in extracting the cells.

"This is all good news because it shows that our prayers, our continued commitment and our willingness to be a pro-life people continue to have an influence," he said. "And we should never, ever be discouraged because we don't see immediate concrete results around us. We should be encouraged because we see a hope-filled trend, which is moving more and more pro-life."

Candles and silence
The nearly two-hour liturgy started with young dancers dressed in flowing white dresses and ended with members of the congregation bringing 157 lit candles to the altar followed by 157 seconds of silence, representing the number of abortions carried out in Los Angeles County during that Saturday.

The musical ensemble Shantigarh, along with choirs from parishes throughout the archdiocese, performed the original "Requiem for the Unborn" written in 1995 by local composer John Bonaduce.

The interfaith presence at the Mass included representatives of Buddhist, Muslim, Mormon, Armenian, Orthodox, Fundamentalist Christians and other faiths. Father Alexei Smith, archdiocesan director of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs, told The Tidings it was the largest and most diverse ecumenical group to ever attend the yearly event.

"I think that they are here because they believe, as we do, strongly about life issues," he said. "And they were more than willing to stand in solidarity with us to show the world that these issues are not just Catholic issues, but issues that their congregation face as well.

"We might have doctrinal difference in other areas, but in terms of life, and respect life, they are with us," Father Smith pointed out. "Or, perhaps, we can say we are with them."