SAN JUAN – A large sculpture of the Blessed Mother embracing the still-unborn Jesus was placed June 27 in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle-National Shrine, marking the start of a two-month stay here. Entitled "Life Monument," the 2-1/2 ton bronze statue, with Jesus in the womb modeled in polished stainless steel, is the work of Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz of Ontario. Father Jorge Gomez, rector of the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle-National Shrine, said, “Of all the places it could have gone, we are especially privileged here to have been chosen for its visit.” Father Gomez and Martin Lopez, maintenance department director for the basilica, both noted the remarkable timing of the sculpture arriving at the basilica just as the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision of almost 50 years ago that legalized abortion. Almost 65 million abortions have been performed in this country since that 1973 ruling. But with trigger laws coming into effect after the June 24 ruling, abortion is already effectively outlawed or soon will be in some 13 states. The pro-life sculpture’s installation here was delayed briefly because its size and weight required bringing in a special crane to move it from the maintenance yard and into its space in the plaza at the base of the basilica’s steps. A smaller model of the statue was placed May 27 at the Church of San Marcello al Corso in central Rome, even as the full-size version went first to Houston before coming to the Rio Grande Valley. When this “colossal” version leaves here, it will go to Washington D.C., to be installed permanently outside the Theological College of the Catholic University of America, right across the street from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Schmalz, the sculptor, said his hope is to offer a pro-life message that reminds people of their own gift of life and the beauty of art to touch the hearts of those who are in favor of legalized abortion. The mirroring effect of the womb allows viewers to see themselves there, as a reminder that their lives, too, started in a womb, he said. If proponents of abortion can see the beauty in unborn life, he said, "perhaps that will be some sort of persuasion" to make them think more deeply about all human life as being beautiful. “If I can move that dialogue one step closer to some understanding and love on both sides, then the sculpture is a great tool, it's a great instrument,” Schmalz said. “You have to use beauty and love or it's just not going to work.” _______ Catholic News Service contributed to this report.

The Supreme Court’s decision reversing Roe v. Wade is a welcome step forward toward building a society that truly values and honors human life. Since 1973 the Catholic Church in the United States, together with many other religious and non-religious communities, has publicly expressed its opposition to the Roe v Wade decision. That decision was gravely unjust, and an unprecedented aggression against the life and dignity of the unborn child. It was sweeping in its effects, stripping away all previous legal protections for human life in the womb. That the 1973 decision has now been overturned makes it possible for legal protections for the unborn child to be enacted in the various states. The simple fact is that abortion is not primarily a religious issue, though it is an issue that rightly afflicts a religious conscience. It is a human dignity, human rights and social justice issue. The child in the womb deserves to be protected under law because the child conceived is already a member of the human family. A society cannot turn against its own and hope to survive. It is a matter of justice that the civil order work to promote the viability and flourishing of all human lives, be they in the womb, recently born, in school, in poverty, in danger of violence, in prison, or elderly and in need of medical care. As a community that seeks what is good, just and right, we can and must promote the protection of children in the womb, and promote support for expectant mothers, especially those afflicted by poverty and isolation. For our part, the Catholic Church in the Rio Grande Valley will continue its long-standing efforts to provide resources, human accompaniment, and spiritual support for expectant mothers in difficult circumstances and similar kinds of support for the mother and child after the child is born. And working together with many others in the community who are not Catholic, we hope to expand these efforts. I am grateful to God that the nightmare of Roe v Wade is ending. And I ask all people of good will to work together so that human life may always be welcomed and nurtured in our families, our communities and our country. +Daniel E. Flores Bishop of Brownsville