VHI and HLI Bolivia Bring the Message of Life to Bolivia

Adolfo Castañeda, Manager of Education of VHI, Mario Rojas, Deputy Director of HLI Bolivia and Magaly Llaguno, Executive Director of VHI
August 3-10, 2004

Adolfo Castañeda, Manager of the Education Division of Vida Humana Internacional (VHI), the Hispanic Branch of Human Life International (HLI), traveled to Bolivia, at the invitation of ANEPROVIDA, the HLI affiliate in that country. All travel expenses were covered by HLI and VHI. Adolfo Castañeda was asked to explain to the people of Bolivia about the anti-life term and consequences of ‘reproductive health’. At this moment, the Parliament of Bolivia is reviewing a legislative measure titled Sexual and Reproductive Health Law, at the request of Hon. Carlos Mesa, President of Bolivia. Although the legislative measure does not mention abortion, it does state that the people will be ‘educated’ on contraception, sex education and homosexuality.

Adolfo Castañeda and Mario Rojas, Deputy Director of ANEPROVIDA (a nuclear engineer who volunteers his time to help the pro life mission in Bolivia), visited the cities of Cochabamba (Tuesday, August 3), La Paz (Wednesday, August 4), Sucre (from Friday, August 5, to Sunday, August 8), and Santa Cruz (from Monday, August 9, to Tuesday, August 10).

On Tuesday, August 3, in Cochabamba, Adolfo was asked to be part of a press conference, held at the Archdiocese of Cochabamba. Afterwards, they met with Monsignor Abel Costas, a retired bishop in Tarija, and later gave an interview to Red Uno Televisión, which will be seen in several cities in the country. On that same day, they gave another interview for publication in the special supplement Ambulancia of La Opinión, the major newspaper in the country. In the evening, they gave a talk titled: The Truth about Sexual and Reproductive Rights at the International Level, which was attended by over 2000 people. The mini-newsletter She’s A Child-Not A Choice, published by Human Life Alliance in Minnesota, USA, was especially prepared by VHI and HLI Bolivia for Bolivians in Spanish for the distribution of 50,000 copies; HLI covered the printing costs. In all other cities visited, Adolfo gave the same talk, and the same mini-newsletter was distributed. The next day, Wednesday, August 4, Adolfo gave a one hour and a half interview on Canal 20 Televisión, during its program Aló Marianela.

Soon after, on the same day, they traveled to La Paz. Due to plane delays, they were unable to make it on time to grant an interview to Radio Erbol. Nonetheless, they left several packages of pro life educational material, including the mini-newsletter, at the radio station. In fact, everywhere they went, they left a package of the same educational material with ecclesiastical leaders, pro life local lay leaders, and people in the media. Later, they met with Monsignor Ivo Scapolo, Apostolic Nuncio in Bolivia and a strong supporter of HLI Bolivia. Afterwards, they gave an interview to Red ATB Televisión, the major television network in the country. Later, they participated in a panel with Father Javier Llorente on Canal Católico Televisión, which is managed by Opus Dei in Bolivia and has a wide national reach. Still later, Adolfo gave a talk to 200 seminarians, priests and laity at the Saint Jerome Major Seminary. At the end of the talk, Adolfo held his weekly radio program by telephone with Radio La Paz in Florida, USA, which is managed by the Archdiocese of Miami; he spoke of his events in Bolivia. In the evening, Adolfo and Mario gave yet another talk to 600 people in the auditorium of the LaSalle School.

On Thursday, August 5, in the morning, Adolfo and Mario went to Sucre, where they were received by Mrs. Martha Gómez, Secretary of the Civic Committee of Sucre; Mrs. Felipa Barzola, Director of Lay Ministry in Sucre; and by the staff of Canal 11 Universitario Televisión. Later, accompanied by SER Jesús Pérez, Archbishop of Sucre, they held a press conference attended by people in newspaper, radio and television. In the afternoon, they gave a talk at the Salesian Coliseum, attended by 1,100 teenagers.

On Friday, August 6, Adolfo and Mario were invited to participate at the Te Deum Mass offered by, Archbishop Pérez of Sucre; in attendance were several members of the Government of Bolivia, including Hon. President Carlos Mesa. Archbishop Pérez thanked President Mesa for not having signed the anti life legislation and returning it instead to the Parliament of Bolivia for further discussion. In the afternoon, Adolfo and Mario participated in a meeting with pro life and pro family organizations (composed of Catholic, evangelical and civic leadership) that are opposing the anti life law now being debated in Bolivia. During the meeting, they discussed the anti life activities of pro abortion organizations, including those of Catholics for a Free Choice, the World Health Organization, the Population Council, Marie Stopes International, USAID, UNFPA, and IPPF Bolivia.

On Saturday, August 7, Adolfo and Mario participated in one of the regular meetings held by ANEPROVIDA in Sucre, and left much pro life educational material with them. In the evening, they were part of a two-hour six-member ecumenical panel discussion on life issues, transmitted by Canal Católico Televisión. During his turn, Adolfo spoke of the international anti-life movement.

On Sunday, August 8, Adolfo and Mario attended Mass at the Chapel of ANEPROVIDA in Sucre. Father Nicolás Velázquez, the Mass celebrant, particularly thanked Adolfo and Mario for their pro life work in the city. During the intercessory prayers request, Adolfo asked for the conversion of IPPF. In the afternoon, ANEPROVIDA Sucre held another meeting, where Adolfo explained the anti life strategies of IPPF and gave them the example of the sex education program sponsored in El Salvador by the national government, IPPF El Salvador, UNICEF, and USAID. Adolfo gave them a compact disc with his Power Point presentation on the international anti-life plans and strategies of IPPF.

In the late afternoon, Adolfo and Mario traveled to Santa Cruz where they were received by Mrs. Gabriela Terceros-Eterovic, Director of ANEPROVIDA Santa Cruz. The next day, Monday 9 August, Adolfo and Mario visited the Pastoral Family Office of the Archdiocese of Santa Cruz, where Adolfo was interviewed by the press. Later, Adolfo, Mario and Gabriela met with two evangelical leaders to explain to them the significance and consequences of the anti-life legislative measure being debated in their country. Afterwards, Adolfo and Mario gave a two-hour interview on Radio Betania, managed by the Charismatic Renewal ministry. In the evening, Adolfo gave a talk to 500 people at the Don Bosco School auditorium.

On Tuesday, August 10, Adolfo and Mario gave an interview on Red ATB Televisión in Santa Cruz. Later they gave a talk on chastity at the Uboldi School attended by 200 high school students, and which was well received. Afterwards, Adolfo gave a telephone interview to Radio Grigotá. In the afternoon, Adolfo and Mario gave a live interview at Radio Santa Cruz. In the evening, they held a meeting with the members of ANEPROVIDA Santa Cruz, and gave them pro life educational material sent by VHI.

Let us ask God to bless all of the pro life efforts of HLI, VHI and HLI Bolivia and its affiliates, particularly in the cities of La Paz, Sucre and Santa Cruz. May these simple but great efforts bear fruit in the cause for life and family in Bolivia!