From the Editor

In May, Voice of the Family gathered for the Rome Life Forum, followed by the Rome March for Life. This Forum, the fi fth organised by Voice of the Family, had almost twice as many participants and countries represented than previous years. Its theme “City of man vs City of God – Global One World Order vs Christendom” provides the focus for this issue of Calx Mariae.

Each year we meet in Rome because, as a good priest noted, Roma è la cattedra della verità… Rome is the chair of the truth, not philosophy, theology or science but truth. It is important, therefore, to proclaim the truth before her throne.

Our challenge today is to keep the truth of the Catholic faith, so to speak, alive in the public arena. Naturally, we must manifest this in whatever we do and say, but it must also be seen and heard publicly in the words and actions of the Church. The deepening silence surrounding the truth about life, the family and the faith must not become the new normal. We must talk about things that are now rarely spoken of – virtue, purity, sin, salvation, hell, to name a few. And we must speak in a language of faith and clarity. Our silence would not change the truth but it would change us. Revolutionaries throughout history have used language to transform society and not just through slogans and propaganda. Radical change occurs when certain concepts can no longer be spoken of.

This can be seen in the attacks on Bishop Thomas Tobin of Rhode Island (not to be confused with Cardinal Tobin of New Jersey) after he reminded Catholics that they cannot support LGBTQ “Pride Month”. Such events, he said “promote a culture and encourage activities that are contrary to Catholic faith and morals. They are especially harmful for children.” The angry response of tens of thousands to this rather measured statement from a Catholic bishop shows how unthinkable Catholic teaching has already become. It would be naive to think that this process will end with expressions of shock and disbelief. However, the only conclusion for us to draw is that now is the time to affi rm boldly the truth about human life and the family if we wish to rebuild our Christian civilisation.

The Forum off ers the leaders and members of the pro-life and pro-family movement an opportunity to strengthen one another in fi delity to the truth. The March for Life is a chance to give a public witness to the truth that each human life begins at conception, is created in the image of God, and is willed and loved by Him (see p. 3).

We were honoured this year by the presence of three cardinals, Willem Cardinal Eijk, Walter Cardinal Brandmüller and Raymond Cardinal Burke. Jānis Cardinal Pujats of Latvia and Bishop Athanasius Schneider also joined us via video. In testing times it is a blessing to spend a few days with our extended Catholic family (see Highlights on p. 34)

John-Henry Westen of LifeSiteNews recalled how the late Carlo Cardinal Caff arra told the Forum just two years ago about the letter he received from the Fatima seer Sr Lucia in which she stated: “the fi nal battle between the Lord and the kingdom of Satan will be about marriage and the family.” Cardinal Caff arra felt that: “what Sister Lucia had said was being fulfi lled in these days of ours.” Yet she told him: “Don’t be afraid… Our Lady has already crushed its head.” (see p. 31)

We are on the winning side in the greatest battle ever. Our Mother waits for us at its end. She will surely enfold her children in her mantle, once they reach her. We need only run the course. Always guided by the Commandments we will be able to proclaim with the faithful through the ages: “I run on the way of your precepts because they have enlarged my heart.” (Ps 119:32)

If you enjoy the reports in this edition of Calx Mariae, then why not join us at the next Rome Life Forum, 21-22 May, followed by the March for Life on 23 May 2020?

EDITOR Maria Madise

EDITORIAL BOARD Liam Gibson Matthew McCusker John Smeaton John-Henry Westen

DESIGN & PRODUCTION EDITOR Selina Fang

EDITORIAL OFFICE VOICE OF THE FAMILY Unit B, 3 Whitacre Mews, Stannary Street, SE11 4AB, London, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)20 7820 3148 Email: editor@voiceofthefamily.com www.voiceofthefamily.com/calxmariae

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DISCLAIMER: Great care is taken to credit photos and seek permission before publishing. If you have a query regarding copyright, please contact the Editor. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission. Donations for the continuation of this magazine in print will be gratefully received by Voice of the Family at the address above or online via:

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Calx Mariae seeks to contribute to the rebuilding of Christian civilisation by providing features and analysis in the areas of life, family and culture. Our aim in producing this magazine is to strengthen our readers in the faith and in their witness to the truth about human life and the family. Calx Mariae is published by Voice of the Family, an international coalition of 25 prolife and pro-family organisations formed in support of Catholic teaching on the family. Th e following truths are particularly at the heart of Voice of the Family’s work:

 Marriage, the exclusive, life-long union of one man and one woman, is the foundation of a stable and fl ourishing society and is the greatest protector of children, born and unborn.  Th e procreative and unitive ends of the conjugal act cannot licitly be separated; the rejection of this truth lies at the root of modern attacks on life and the family.  Parents are the primary educators of their children and the protection of this right is essential for building a new

“culture of life”.