Bishop Finn has written a letter to us and asked that it = be read at mass this weekend.

Dear Friends in Christ,

As we approach this monumental election, our choices are = as clear as the Scriptures themselves: “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live.” (Deut 30:19)

Pope Benedict XVI similarly guides us in the proper order= ing of our values as he teaches, “The fundamental human right, the presupposition of every other right, is the righ= t to life itself. This is true of life from the moment of conception until its natural end. Abortion, consequently, cannot be a human right – it is = the very opposite. It is ‘a deep wound in society.’”

Our Catholic moral principles teach that a candidate̵= 7;s promise of economic prosperity is insufficient to justify their constant support of abortion laws, including partial-birth abortion, and infanticide= for born-alive infants. Promotion of the Freedom of Choice Act is a pledge to eliminate every single limit on abortions achieved over the last thirty-five years. The real freedom that is ours in Jesus Christ compels us, not to take life, but to defend it.

Together with the other Bishops of Missouri I am calling = on all the faithful to make this last week before the election a week of prayer for our nation - a week of prayer for the protection of Human Life.

Join me in calling upon Mary in this month of the rosary.= In 1571, in the midst of the Battle of Lepanto, when the future of Christian Europe was in the balance and the odds against them were overwhelming, pray= er to Our Lady of the Rosary brought the decisive victory. We ask her now to w= atch over our country and bring us the victory of life.

This is also the month of the Angels. I ask you to join m= e in invoking the Guardian Angels of 47 million babies lost through abortion in = our country in the last thirty-five years. This horrendous loss of life remains= one of the greatest threats to human civilization we have ever faced.

This week, please pray and make some sacrifices for our country. I ask every parish to provide some additional opportunity for pray= er in the church: an evening Mass, or rosary, or time of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Say the rosary as individuals or as a family, or even simply a decade each night with your children. Say t= he election prayer. Give up meat, or do without some convenience this week. Ma= ke a good Act of Contrition and get to Confession. Offer a worthy Communion.

On Monday, November 3, at 7:00 p.m., I will celebrate an = Eve of the Election Mass at St. Therese Parish, North. Join me as we pray for God’s assistance and Mary’s maternal aid.

Dear friends, we have great hope in Jesus Christ and His victory over sin and death. Let us keep this last week before the election = as a time of prayer for our country, that we may experience His mercy and safegu= ard human life.

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; In Christ and Mary,

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Mo= st Reverend Robert W. Finn

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Bi= shop of Kansas City-St. Joseph

In response to the bishop’s request, I will offer exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Tuesday night in the church starting at 6:30 pm, closing with Benediction at 8:45 pm. The bulletin went to press before = I set this date. Please remember to= come for some part of the evening this Tuesday, one week before Election Day, and let us pray together for our country.