"JUDGE SAYS AMERICA MUST ELIMINATE ABORTION OR FEEL GOD'S JUSTICE"--News report on our 9/1/02 event
Laurence D. Behr, Executive Director
Sep 27, 2002

Dear Friends of the Arch of Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Intern'l Shrine of the Holy Innocents,

Please read the following news story about our First Annual Celebration of the Culture of Life and Civilization of Love, held in Buffalo on September 1. For a free copy of Judge Daniel Lynch’s riveting speech, “Choose America: Arch of Mercy or Arch of Justice?”, send an email with your full name and mailing address to: tapes@archoftriumph.org.

JUDGE SAYS AMERICA MUST ELIMINATE ABORTION OR FEEL GOD'S JUSTICE

By Catholic News Service (September 26, 2002)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (CNS) -- A Vermont state court judge told a Catholic gathering in Buffalo that America as a nation needs to eliminate the sin of abortion or it will feel God's justice. Judge Daniel Lynch addressed participants at an event called a "Celebration of the Culture of Life and Civilization of Love."

It was held in early September to support efforts to erect a shrine in Buffalo called the Arch of Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and International Shrine of the Holy Innocents. The arch is envisioned as a 700-foot ascendable monument, making it 70 feet higher than the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and one of the tallest monuments in the world. It would overlook Lake Erie, within sight of Niagara Falls and the Canadian border. At the arch's base would be an international, pro-life shrine dedicated to the Holy Innocents, the children of Bethlehem whom King Herod's men slaughtered in their quest to kill the baby Jesus.

Lynch, presiding judge of the state probate court in Grand Isle County, Vt., told the crowd of several hundred that America has a choice between the Arch of Triumph, which he termed "an arch of mercy," or the Arch of Titus in Rome, which he said was an "arch of justice." The triumphal arch was put up to honor Emperor Titus' destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., he explained. If Americans repent for the sins of abortion and eliminate "this horror," he said, God's mercy will flood the country and the Arch of Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary will symbolize God's mercy and the victory of life over death.

Lynch, who is also director of the Apostolate of the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, tied the Blessed Mother's appearance to St. Juan Diego in 1531 to fostering a culture of life in the United States. Her appearance to the Mexican peasant, he said, led to the conversion of many of the native people and brought an end to the Aztec practice of human sacrifice, which he called their culture of death.

Also addressing the crowd was Buffalo lawyer Laurence Behr, executive director of the association that proposed the arch and shrine. He said the project reflects the message the Blessed Mother gave to three shepherd children at Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. She told them wars were the result of sin and that if people did not turn back to God more evils and more war would result, he said. But, he said, she told the children: "In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world."

About 50 chapters have been formed around the United States and in Canada and Australia to raise the $100 million needed to build the arch and shrine. Behr said about $50,000 has been raised so far. Earlier this year, in an interview with the Catholic Courier, newspaper of the Diocese of Rochester, Behr said he envisions the arch and shrine as a place where people will be brought back to God, and a place where those whose faith is wavering will have their faith strengthened.

He expects that the arch and shrine will be instrumental in conversion experiences for visitors, as well as a place of consolation and spiritual healing for those who have had abortions. "Our country is amazingly secular these days," he said. "I think people need to be shown a great sign of faith and belief in God."
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Editor's Note: For more information on the Arch of Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the International Shrine of the Holy Innocents, readers may call Behr at: (866) 205-6512, or visit the Web site: www.archoftriumph.org.