Battling Immoral Sex Education in Latin America (L.A.)

Vida Humana Internacional (VHI), HLI's Hispanic Division, prepared an extensive report about immoral sex education programs being promoted and/or implemented in Latin America and distributed it among many Latin American bishops. The president of each Episcopal conference, and the bishops in charge of Family Pastoral and Education of each Latin American country and Spain, were sent these reports. This report was also given to each bishop participating at the DELAI-CELAM meeting in Caracas, Venezuela, on June 2001. This meeting was attended by leaders of Catholic organizations and pastoral programs in L.A.

Media: VHI's most extensive and effective educational tool

VHI's website got the highest number of hits in its history during 2001.

More than 1.06 million hits in October and more than 1.11 million hits in November, evidence the growing interest in VHI's website, which now includes a section in English, recently launched. Other sections, articles, documents, news, on-line counseling services, catalog and much more are being offered. A special section for youth is being planned and prepared. Affiliates, VHI's Programs and Services, and "Other Ways to Help VHI", altogether have attracted thousands to visit VHI's website.

Electronic News Service

VHI's subscribers to the electronic news has been increased from 1700 to about 5,500, including: 900 new Hispanic media contacts (radio, TV and press), 450 Catholic educational institutions and leaders, 750 Latin American and Spain's bishops, 300 crisis pregnancy centers (CPC's) in the U.S. that deal with Hispanics, and more than 300 new pro-life groups and leaders in the Hispanic world. Several bishops have sent letters to VHI expressing their appreciation for this valuable tool for evangelization.

The 36 issues of the bulletin in 2001 contained current news of the pro-life/family movement and about emerging new threats to life and family; as well as educational articles and information, including the teachings of the Catholic Church. It has been instrumental in denouncing anti-life threats and plans of the pro-abortion movement, to get pro-life organizations to counteract, like for example, a pro-abortion international conference in Cuernavaca, Mexico, where Frances Kissling (president of Catholics for a Free Choice), the Alan Guttmacher Institute and the Population Council were prominent participants in the promotion of abortions.

VHI's newsletter "Escoge la vida" (Choose Life)

"Escoge la vida" is now printed 4 times a year and has new sections and a new look. It reaches over 800 subscribers in the Hispanic world in its printed version, and many thousands through VHI's website.

New radio programs (52) have been recorded, plus talks from conferences

They were aired on Mother Angelicas's WEWN World Catholic Radio during 2001, as well as a number of VHI's conferences. VHI's 13 part TV series on abortion (which was filmed in collaboration with EWTN), is still being broadcast throughout the U.S. and Latin America.

Radio and TV debates

VHI has participated in many debates on radio and TV this year on the following issues : cloning and stem cell research, pornography, RU-486, radical feminism, contraception, abortion and others. Some of the television stations on which these debates were aired through TV Channel 51 and Telemundo International, Univision TV Channel 23 (also international), Radio Paz/PaxNet (Catholic Radio Network in Miami), Radio WQBA, Radio Caracol, Radio La Poderosa, and others.

Distribution of educational materials and exhibits

VHI has donated and/or distributed more than 500 pounds of educational materials during this year's conferences and has also sold materials to CPC's in Hispanic areas of the U.S. and to parishes and pro-life leaders. VHI had exhibits and distributed educational materials during several events in the U.S.: the annual ANSH (National Hispanic Priest Association) meeting in Georgia, The International Abstinence Clearinghouse conference in Miami, The NACHE (National Homeschool Educators), and during Respect Life conferences in Miami. At the National La Raza meeting in Milwaukee, VHI's collaborators distributed brochures in order to counteract Planned Parenthood's propaganda, the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) and other groups, who were passing out condoms and brochures to attendants.

Counseling on obtaining funding

VHI provided information to its affiliated organizations so they could obtain more funding for their projects, through Catholic Foundations. Facts about the foundations, their addresses and how to make an effective proposal were provided by VHI.

Conferences and pro-life/family training

VHI's international conference "Building the Culture of Life in the Third Millenium" took place in February in Miami, and featured prominent speakers. Some of these were: Dr. Judith Reisman (U.S.), Dr. Janet Smith (U.S.), Dr. Rafael Cabrera (Nicaragua), Dr. Carmen Gómez Lavin (Spain), Dr. Luis Raéz (Miami oncologist), Dr. Ruiz-Castañeda (Miami pediatrician), Dr. Jesus Arina (Miami psicologist), Mr. Mark Henry (HLI), Mrs. Magaly Llaguno (VHI executive director) and Mr. Adolfo Castañeda (VHI's researcher in charge of educational programs). Archbishop Favalora (Miami) welcomed the attendants, Fr. Thomas Euteneuer (HLI president) was the keynote speaker and Miami's Auxiliary Bishop Gilberto Fernández celebrated the closing Mass on Sunday, accompanied by a 20 voice choir : the archdiocesan La Coral Cubana. VHI hosted a reception during the conference, on Saturday evening, for its benefactors. At this reception, Mrs. Cristina Arias (a famous Christian singer), sang the theme song from VHI's radio programs "Vale la pena vivir" (Life is worth living) and other pro-life songs. She also gave a beautiful testimony about her husband, who is a paraplegic.

On March 31-April 1, 2001, VHI's Adolfo Castañeda and Esther Sousa (VHI's assistant executive director) were the keynote international speakers at a conference in Mexicali, Mexico: "Life and Family, the Wonder of Love", organized by a coalition of pro-life/family groups in Mexico. Adolfo and Esther were interviewed by local radio and TV stations, and VHI donated about one hundred pounds of educational materials during the event.

In June, Esther Sousa was the main speaker at a mini-conference in La Guaira, Venezuela: "Pro-Life and Pro-Family Interstate Conference". She also gave a short presentation to the bishops of DELAI-CELAM about the mission of VHI in Latin America and the Hispanic world. Esther took advantage of this opportunity to address bishops and other pro-life/family leaders in Latin America, to expose immoral sexual education programs promoted by FNUAP, UNICEF and IPPF in Hispanic countries.

In October VHI's Adolfo Castañeda participated as the keynote speaker at the international youth conference "Life to Live", organized by VHI's affiliate in Costa Rica ADEVI (Asociación Defensa de la Vida) and its youth leaders. Education in chastity was the main subject.

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