Be Our Guest / Stephen Kappes

Thanks to all who helped with Mass remembering 2,400-plus unborn children

On Feb. 12 at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Beech Grove, a 15-decade rosary was prayed prior to a memorial Mass marking the one-year anniversary of the burial of 2,411 aborted babies, whose remains were interred in Southlawn Cemetery in South Bend, Ind.

The babies had been aborted between 2000 and 2003 by the late Dr. Ulrich “George” Klopfer, who operated abortion centers in Indiana starting in the 1970s. He performed an estimated 30,000 abortions before having his license revoked in 2016.

The medically preserved remains of those fetuses had been transported across state lines and stored for years on Klopfer’s Illinois property, in his garage and in the trunk of a car.

The grisly discovery of the remains was made after his death in early September 2019. Members of the Will County, Ill., Sheriff’s Department discovered the more than 2,400 human remains from Indiana after fielding a telephone call from the attorney of Klopfer’s wife after her husband’s death.

Marc Tuttle, director of Right to Life of Indianapolis, spoke at the Feb. 12 liturgy. He addressed the more than 50 people gathered and was followed by Linda Kile, director of the Great Lakes Gabriel Project, a pro-life organization that helps women in unexpected pregnancies choose life. Father Binu Mathew, parochial vicar of Holy Name of Jesus Parish, also provided a soul-lifting homily during the Mass.

We wanted to offer a thank-you to all who helped promote this gathering, including Catholic Radio Indy; Brie Anne Varick, archdiocesan Office of Human Life and Dignity coordinator; Eric Slaughter of Catholics United for the Faith; Richard Santangelo of the Knights of Columbus; Larry Timko of the Serra Club of Indianapolis; and John F. Fink of the Knights of Malta.

Thanks also to Tom Monaghan, founder of Ave Maria University for the Legatus message; Raymond Arroyo of EWTN; Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life; Father Shenan Boquet of Human Life International; Judie Brown of the American Life League; Carroll and Judy Lanning of Guardian Angel Preservation Organization; Holy Name parishioners Margaret Hartman and Roberta Hannon; and Holy Name’s Respect Life Committee.

Also thank you to Bob Kelly, who notified Knight of Columbus Msgr. Downey Council 3660, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians; the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy; Helen Deppe of the Daughters of Isabella; Mr. and Mrs. Steph Cooper and family of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis Division of the Blue Army; Dennis Buckley, mayor of Beech Grove; U.S. Sen. Todd Young; Angela Espada, executive director of the Indiana Catholic Conference; Father Robert Robeson, pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Parish; and Archbishop Charles C. Thompson.

Their networking on such short notice led to our large group being able to represent these unborn children.
 

(Stephen Kappes is a member of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Beech Grove.) †