HLI’s representative in Brazil is the “Associação Nacional Pró Vida e Pró-Família” (PROVIDA FAMILIA). Under the direction of tireless pro-life leader Professor Humberto L. Vieira, PROVIDA FAMILIA accomplishes important work in defense of life and family with the help of HLI. Following is a report by Professor Vieira on the activities of PROVIDA FAMILIA.

Thanks to the help of Vida Humana Internacional, PROVIDA FAMILIA is working successfully for life and family in Brazil. All the members of PROVIDA FAMILIA are volunteers who not only contribute their time, but also their money in accomplishing their duties.

When bishops want to establish pro-life activities in their dioceses, they call upon PROVIDA FAMILIA to offer training and guidance in organizing a local movement. The topics covered during the training are natural family planning (NFP), chemical and surgical abortion, euthanasia, sex education dangers, the origins of the anti-life movement, the study of Evangelium Vitae, and pro-life legislation, including projects pending before Congress. These seminars, which last a few days and begin and end with the Eucharist, are geared toward priests and lay faithful.

Recently, the president of PROVIDA FAMILIA participated in an encounter of pro-life Catholic leaders in Natal, the capital of the State of Rio Grande do Norte. This event was organized by Associacão Católica Luz da Vida, a new pro-life organization supported by Archbishop D. Heitor de Araujo Sales. Approximately 150 people attended, including parents, medical doctors and members of the various lay movements in the archdiocese. PROVIDA FAMILIA supplied the new organization with books, videos, brochures and flyers that were donated by HLI.

A very important part of PROVIDA FAMILIA’s work is the training of young pro-life leaders. Pro-life “convivencias” for the youth are organized in retreat houses that have been recruited from the parishes. The retreats consist of an intense schedule of prayer and talks about chastity, chemical and surgical abortion, euthanasia, and the teachings of Evangelium Vitae. Young people who participated in previous pro-life retreats also share their testimonies of living a chaste life.

These youth encounters yield very positive results. Two young men involved have entered the seminary. Many young men and women who were sexually active have made vows of chastity. Still others met and fell in love and today have beautiful families who are dedicated to the Catholic Faith and committed to the pro-life movement.

PROVIDA FAMILIA often translates HLI publications into Portuguese. Most notably, it translated and printed the book Facts of Life, by HLI’s Brian Clowes, aided by a grant from HLI. It also has a very complete and up-to-date website, www.PROVIDA FAMILIA.org, and a mailing list of 1,500 people, which includes bishops, pro-life groups and leaders.

As a result of the training received by one of its members during the First International Training for Crisis Pregnancy Centers offered by the Aid to Women Network, co-founded by VHI, PROVIDA FAMILIA has completed plans to open the first crisis pregnancy center in Brasilia. This project has the full support of the archbishop of Brasilia, Cardinal José Freire Falcão. The center will provide medical, psychological and social assistance to pregnant women in need, as well as offer a home for mothers and children. The center will establish a prevention program based on NFP methods. The project has been completed and is pending funding to be implemented.

Even though abortion is illegal in Brazil, in some cases of fetal malformation a judicial authorization has been given to obtain an abortion. In those cases, a volunteer member of PROVIDA FAMILIA who is a lawyer introduces a measure called a “security mandate” to stop the abortion. In some cases it has been successful, even in the case of a young woman who was already inside the operating room.

VHI commends Professor Vieira for his selfless commitment to the pro-life cause in his country. He is a shining example of the many international leaders who help HLI bring about the Culture ofLlife around the world. Please help us to continue supporting the efforts of Professor Vieira and all the affiliates of HLI around the world with your prayers and sacrificial donations.