Missionary Trip to BRAZIL — Reported by Raymond de Souza, March 2010

During my missionary trip to Brazil, I participated in two major events: (1) the bi-annual meeting of pro-life leaders in Brasilia, organized by the HLI affiliate in Brazil, Pro-Vida Familia; and (2) the march and fourth demonstration, organized in downtown São Paulo by the Brazil sem Aborto (Brazil without abortion) movement. As these events took place in two seperate weekends, I filled the days in between with public talks, addresses to seminarians, interviews with radio and television stations, and contacts with pro-life laity, clergy and bishops.

The Meeting of Pro-Life Leaders

Among the many meetings held during those days was one attended by representatives of 27 pro-life groups. This meeting was organized by our indefatigable and faithful contact in Brazil, Mr. Humberto Vieira.  Two major projects emerged from the discussions: a manifesto repudiating the government program for “human rights,” which has been widely promoted in Brazil; and a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry into the issue of Abortion, which, if approved, will produce some valuable information to help unmask pro-death politicians.

Unlike the previous meeting in 2008, which emphasized formation and education in pro-life values, this meeting was almost entirely dedicated to planning concrete actions we could take to defeat current moves by the Brazilian government to implement the Culture of Death. Three short talks were given, one by Monsignor Michel Schooyans, representing the Voie du Roman Pays of Belgium; another by Rev. Fr. Luis Carlos Lodi of the Pro-Vida de Anápolis; and the third by me.

The main point I have been emphasizing of late in all my talks and interviews is the de-Christianization of Western Culture and its impact on the Culture of Life. An authentic Catholic Counter-Revolution is called for to respond to the crisis.^[1]

The exchange of news that occurred at the meeting will undoubtedly strengthen the pro-life network in Brazil — especially now that the

HLI Missionary Raymond de Souza, speaking with pro-life leaders of Brasilia, Brazil.

government’s so-called “human rights” program has declared war on the family, bearing its claws and fangs to enact legislation favoring abortion on demand, homosexual “marriage,” legalization of prostitution as a profession, elimination of religious symbols from public places, restriction on the right to citizens’ privacy, etc.

Brazilian pro-life groups have pledged to advertize HLI programs far and wide in their country and elsewhere, in order to maximize HLI’s impact in the Portuguese-speaking world.

Representatives of diocesan pro-life groups in two major dioceses of Brazil invited me to address rallies which they intend to organize on the occasion of my next trip. In the Belem diocese alone, they literally promised to gather 1,500 people to hear the HLI message!

Our Lady of Fatima Seminary

In Brasilia, I addressed some 60 seminarians of Our Lady of Fatima Seminary on the same topic of de-Christianization. Judging by their response, the overview presented in this talk seems to provide a great deal of understanding and encouragement, especially in what concerns the three aspects of the Catholic Counter-Revolution: Prayer, Study and Action.

I had already addressed these seminarians in 2008, and on that occasion I met a young seminarian – today an ordained deacon en route to priestly ordination in December of this year – who invited me to be the keynote speaker at a National Conference of Seminarians for Life that he and his co-workers are planning to organize later this year. They want to invite young men from as many Brazilian seminaries as possible to attend this conference in Brasilia, in order to extend the network of Seminarians for Life. Nearly all of them gave their email addresses to keep in touch with HLI.

São José dos Campos Diocese

On Tuesday, I travelled to the diocese of São José dos Campos, which is an important diocese in the state of São Paulo and is well-known for its conservative stance on various issues. As a guest of the diocese, I was lodged at the house of Fr. Rinaldo de Rezende during the three days I spent in the area.

Raymond meets with Bishop Moacir Silva of the diocese of São José dos Campos, Brazil.

I visited Bishop Moacir Silva, who was very friendly and open to working with HLI to promote the Gospel of Life in his Diocese. He received an HLI folder with plenty of information and also agreed to celebrate Masses for the intentions of HLI friends and donors in the States.

I also had the opportunity to speak to the Holy Spirit parish  This talk was video-taped by the Diocesan Commission for the Defense of Life, and they plan to duplicate it by the hundreds to distribute all over the diocese.

As national elections for the country’s presidency and Congress will be held in October of this year, members of the Diocesan Commission in Defense of Life plan to organize a major educational pro-life rally in August or September, in which I will be the keynote speaker.  It will be held in a pavilion that has a capacity for 10,000 people!

Address to Seminarians at the Dehonian College

On Wednesday, I was taken to the Dehonian Catholic College in São José dos Campos. Fr. Rinaldo de Rezende is a lecturer there, and he kindly arranged for me to address the seminarians—nearly 100 of them. Another priest, a friend of Fr. Rinaldo, offered his class as well, so I was able to address all the seminarians and lay folks who study theology at the college.

Taubate Diocese

At a local radio station (Unitau Radio) in the neighboring diocese of Taubaté, I underwent a 45-minute recorded interview. Together with me was an old pro-life friend, Councilor Hermes Rodrigues Nery, who is the President of the local council of the town of Sapucaí. Sapucai made history in Brazil when it became the first officially pro-life town in the country after a unanimous vote at the local council to defend the right to life from conception to natural death!

Archbishop Raimundo Damasceno of Aparecida

On Thursday, I visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida, patroness of Brazil, to pray for the pro-life cause and HLI. Providentially — due to the inquisitive disposition of my driver — an impromptu meeting with Archbishop Raimundo Damasceno, President of the Latin American Catholic Bishops’ Conference, was quickly organized to take place shortly thereafter.

The Archbishop of Aparecida kindly received me and the members of the Diocesan Commission for the Defense of Life at his office. His Excellency was very much in favor of the projected pro-life rally. Desiring to cooperate with HLI’s projected cyber TV program, he put me in contact with the communications manager of the archdiocese.

Canção Nova Television

I was interviewed for over one hour at the Canção Nova television station by Professor Felipe Aquino, a very orthodox writer and speaker and author of several books on Catholic apologetics. Canção Nova is an international Catholic channel, the largest in the Portuguese-speaking world, broadcasting from both Brazil and Portugal via satellite and internet. Professor Aquino had already interviewed me in 2008 and has made his program available to me whenever I visit Brazil.

The interview was broadcast live, and shortly thereafter, I started receiving emails from different people interested in the work of HLI. Worthy of note was an email from another Catholic television station, Século XXI (21st Century), offering me an interview when I return to Brazil.

The Seminary of Itapecerica da Serra

I was driven to São Paulo to address the 100-plus seminarians at the national seminary of Itapecerica da Serra on Friday. The same topic of “De-Christianization and the Catholic Counter Revolution” evoked a great interest among priests and seminarians. A whole new group of young men pledged to join Seminarians for Life, alongside the others who had already committed themselves last year when I visited the seminary.

The “March for Life” in São Paulo

On Saturday morning, the sun shone brightly in São Paulo. It was a hot summer day that matched the enthusiasm of the some 5,000 people,

Raymond de Souza addresses 5,000 people at the São Paulo March for Life.

who took to the streets of the largest city in South America. They were marching towards the Praça da Sé, the heart of the metropolis, where various presenters were speaking in front of the great São Paulo Cathedral. Plenty of music animated the event, as is wont to happen whenever Brazilians get together. Bishops, priests, congressmen, teachers, pastors, scientists, doctors, people from virtually all walks of life spoke at the event.

Pro-life bloggers asked for interviews, and a group of young pro-life activists literally begged for a meeting. After a very animated exchange of information, the young activists pledged to work with HLI in any project we may organize in Brazil. They showed a very clear understanding of the crisis in the Brazilian Church, notably the systematic silence on contraception, chastity, and faith education in many politically-correct parishes.

I also met a group of teachers who invited me to address a series of public talks in São Paulo on the occasion of my future visit to the country. I do not quite know how to meet so many requests, but this is the ideal kind of problem for HLI to solve – too many requests and offers of assistance to work for the Gospel of Life.

When I boarded the airplane back to the States, I was absolutely exhausted after a non-stop marathon of talks, interviews and contacts. Nine out of 11 hours en route, I simply slept.

The Culture of Life is very much alive in Brazil – no pun intended – and HLI affiliates there have a great role to play to defend it. I feel privileged indeed to be part of this fight, as the program director for Portuguese-speaking nations for HLI.

Be on the lookout for an upcoming projected series of programs on HLI’s website (www.hli.org), which will undoubtedly assist the pro-life work in a more consistent and dynamic way, linking together the efforts of HLI’s 100-plus affiliates the world over.  May Our Lady of Guadalupe always guide us in our struggle for the Gospel of Life.