"Blessed is the fruit of thy womb!" On the eve of the third millennium, the developing countries of Latin America are heeding the words of Saint Elizabeth.

Argentina recently became the first country in the world to proclaim nationwide by Presidential Decree, The Day of the Unborn Child. This celebration will continue to take place every year on the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25. Chile, Brazil and Guatemala have all introduced legislation to this effect. The Chilean congress has unanimously passed a resolution and the president is expected to sign it soon. A pro-life legislator in Brazil has officially requested it from the Brazilian congress.

Guatemala's congress has recently approved a similar resolution because this country also bases its protection of the unborn on the premise that life begins at the moment of conception, in accordance with Article 4.1 of the American Convention on Human Rights. The official declaration states that the objective is "to promote a culture of life, in defense of life from the moment of conception". Pro-life organizations in that country have announced that they will start a campaign in the schools to promote this celebration, which will take place for the first time, March 25, 2000.

Guatemala also made history recently by being the first country in the world to prohibit the sale of Vermagest, a "morning-after" pill which a woman takes to "prevent" a pregnancy. Vermagest is what is euphemistically called "emergency contraception" but in reality it induces an early abortion. The fact that Guatemala has prohibited the sale or use of this abortifacient drug proves that its commitment to protect the unborn is real. This victory was largely due to the efforts of CODEDENA, a pro-life organization that is a member of HLI's Latin America Region of the World Council for Life and Family. CODEDENA's pro-life leaders denounced the illegal and unlicensed sale of this abortifacient to the Ministry of Public Health and Social Services and the Prosecutor's Office.

Vermagest is produced in El Salvador by Vijosa laboratories. El Salvador's pro-life movement, led by Julia Regina de Cardenal (president of Si a la Vida, HLI affiliate), recently obtained an unprecedented victory by writing into its constitution the protection of the unborn from the moment of conception. The pro-life movement there now has the opportunity to shut down the production of Vermagest that so blatantly violates their Constitution.

While the U.S. tragically denies the right to life to the unborn, HLI has played an important role in helping the developing countries of the world protect and nurture the life of its most vulnerable and innocent citizens. Through the work of its Hispanic Division, Vida Humana Internacional, it has given training, resources and support to the pro-life leaders in Latin America whose efforts have brought about these pro-life milestones. Yet, it is the active role of the Catholic Church in Latin America that has nurtured the environment where the cry of the unborn can be heard by the law makers and the opinion shapers.

Vida Humana Internacional has long provided support to the bishops in Latin America in their pro-life efforts. In some instances it has even encouraged initiatives by providing valuable insight into the anti-life movement in their countries.

The role of the Catholic Church was evident last month when the Colombian senate voted against legalizing abortion and genetic manipulation. As with all pro-life victories, the hand of God was clearly seen when the opposing forces remained silent during the plenary session of the Senate, following the declarations of Church officials who interceded on behalf of the unborn. The proposed legislation which penalized abortion and genetic manipulation was prepared with the help of HLI's affiliate in Colombia, Fundación Cultura de la Vida Humana, in order ensure that there would be no ambiguous language that could later be used to bypass the law.

It is the tireless work and fervent prayers of the Catholic Church that will help mothers all over the world to understand the blessing of St. Elizabeth and repel the attack of the serpent on their offspring. "Blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled." Amen.