The Fact Is Wonders If WYD Will Host a Pro-Abort

Get the story here. Hat tip to Pro Ecclesia.

More trouble brews below the tranquil surface of WYD 2005. The Fact Is reports that "Eveline Herfkens, a pro-abortion Dutch bureaucrat connected to the UN, would address World Youth Day in Germany.:"

This was first reported by Catholic World Report and followed up by Lifesitenews.org. Tom Ward, president of the Catholic Family Association of Great Britain, spent a part of last week alerting American and other pro-life leaders of the impending speech by Herfkens. Human Life International, the Virginia based pro-life group, sent letters to the Vatican and to the Apostolic Nuncio in Germany. Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM), publisher of the Friday Fax, sent an email alert that resulted in thousands of complaint emails directed to Cardinal Meisner of Cologne, Germany, host of World Youth Day.

In the end it is unclear whether Herfkens spoke at World Youth Day or at a loosely connected event. Human Life International received a letter from the German Nuncio who said Herfkens was not scheduled to speak at any official World Youth Day event. It is unclear from his letter whether she was uninvited or if her event was never a part of the official ceremonies. An email from a World Youth Day staffer said UN officials were speaking and said they may be pro-abortion but that the Church must reach out to all types.

Herfkens is the executive director of the United Nation's Millennium Campaign, a world-wide effort ostensibly aimed at ending poverty but which in reality advocates making "reproductive rights" universal. More disturbing to pro-lifers is her past support of the abortion ship which performs abortions off the shores of countries with restrictive laws. As a high ranking member of the Dutch government, Herfkens declared the ship to be "a concrete answer to an awful problem" and suggested that her government help fund it.

This unfortunate circumstance defies common sense. First, the organizers re-invite a non-repentant protestant band that bashed the Pope. Now, they may have invited speakers that live in manifest grave sin by their unabashed promotion of abortion. At least one staffer justifies this by saying that "the Church must reach out to all types."

I thought that WYD 2005 was a pilgrimage. I thought the event's purpose was for young Catholics around the world to unite in celebration of the Faith. I also understood the point of the talks to be strengthening the Faith of the gathered pilgrims.

How does a pro-abort UN bureacrat that advocates the violation of sovereign nations borders to facilitate prenatal murder strengthen the Faithful?

The rampant Spirit of Vatican II mentality that demands the Church bow to the World still breathes it's toxin into the ears of the Faithful. The Church must now welcome those that defy her teachings to a pilgrimage because "the Church must reach out to all types." This sad display of Foolable behavior only sends the type of mixed messages that eclipse the Gospel.

I hope that more Foolish heads prevail and that this woman is not allowed to speak. The kids at WYD 2005 deserve better.