Angelus News | July 31-August 7, 2020 | Vol. 5 No. 21

NATION
Gov. John Bel Edwards
Louisiana: A ‘spiritual
diet’ against coronavirus
While state leaders race to build
strategies to combat coronavirus
(COVID-19), Gov. John Bel Edwards
of Louisiana is turning to a different
tactic: prayer.
Edwards, a Catholic who has served
as governor since 2016, called for three
days (July 20-22) of prayer and fasting
for those impacted by the COVID-19
pandemic.
“This will be a spiritual diet and
exercise that I, as a Catholic Christian,
believe is very important,” he said at a
July 16 press conference.
Edwards encouraged others to join
him in skipping lunch while praying
for the sick, their caregivers, and the
deceased.
Bishop Michael G. Duca of Baton
Rouge praised the governor’s announcement.
“God’s people have
turned to fasting and prayer throughout
their journeys of faith to remind themselves
of their dependence on God,”
he stated in a press release, “to focus
on his grace, and to seek deliverance
during times of great trial and tribulation.”
MARIE CONSTANTIN
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Planned Parenthood owns up to racist roots
It has long been known that Margaret Sanger, founder
of Planned Parenthood, supported eugenics, a philosophy
of genetic hierarchy and selective breeding.
In July, the New York arm of the nation’s largest
abortion provider finally decided to acknowledge
those racist roots.
In a July 21 press release, Planned Parenthood
of Greater New York (PPGNY) announced
that its Manhattan building, formerly named
for Sanger, will now be called the “Manhattan
Health Center.”
“There is overwhelming evidence for Sanger’s
deep belief in eugenic ideology, which runs
completely counter to our values,” stated Karen
Seltzer, PPGNY’s board chair. The organization
is also working on removing a sign labeling the area
“Margaret Sanger Square.”
The abortion provider has often been accused of targeting lower-income and minority
populations. While PPGNY’s statement professed a commitment to “build
accountable relationships with communities of color,” it did not address these
accusations or mention changes to its abortion practice.
Margaret Sanger
The movie star at the Marian shrine
The shrine at Lourdes, France, draws millions of pilgrims each year, including,
recently, movie star Zac Efron.
In a new Netflix documentary series, “Down to Earth With Zac Efron,” the actor
shifts away from his musical routine to study sustainability and healthy lifestyles
around the world. An episode on water includes a trip to the famous Marian
shrine, where Efron speaks with a physician and a priest.
“This is an incredibly special and holy place,” says Efron in the episode. While
he neither confirms nor denies his belief in the miraculous events at Lourdes, he
acknowledges that “there is no denying the sacred feeling you get just by being
here.”
“Down to Earth With Zac Efron” is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
Zac Efron speaks with a physician and a priest in Lourdes, France, during an episode of "Down to
Earth with Zac Efron."
SCREENSHOT VIA NETFLIX
July 31-August 7, 2020 • ANGELUS • 5