The Apostle of Life

Father Paul Marx, OSB, named by the Holy Father 'the Apostle of Life' was accorded still another honor in Los Angeles in early February.

Legatus, a Catholic lay organization of over 3,200 executives and their spouses committed to the ideals of fidelity, courage, and integrity, named the founder and long time president of Human Life International, the recipient of the prestigious Cardinal John J. O'Connor 'Unambiguously Pro-Life Award' for the year 2002 for his extraordinary witness and heroic actions in defense of the unborn.

The award was established in honor of the late New York prelate who was a leader in the battle against abortion. Representative Henry Hyde of Illinois received the initial award last year for his efforts on behalf of the pro-life movement in Congress.

The dinner, attended by more than 350 persons, was held at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel at the Legatus International Conference.

Legatus was founded by Tom Monaghan, former owner of Domino's Pizza and the Detroit Tigers baseball franchise. Hours before meeting Pope John Pall II in May 1987, the inspiration hit Monaghan like a 'lightning bolt'.

The purpose of the organization is educating the faithful, translating the teachings of Christ into practical applications for people everywhere. It provides service to over 1,400 businesses in 44 chapters across America and on three continents. Its headquarters is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Directors of the organization include Phyllis Schlafly of the Eagle Forum, Bowie Kuhn, former commissioner of baseball, Nicola Arena of Mediterranean Shipping and Eugene Deiss of Deiss Sales Co. National chaplain is the Rev. Robert Spitzer, S.J.

Also honored for their efforts on behalf of the unborn were Judie Brown of the American Life League, Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, Greg Cunningham of the Center of Bio-Ethical Reform, and Deby Schlattrizzi of Legatus.

All received a beautiful bust of Cardinal O'Connor and a handsome certificate attesting to their outstanding work in the life-saving field.

Speakers at the dinner included Deal Hudson of Crisis Magazine, Fr. Benedict Groeschel, popular author and speaker on religious topics, and Frank Shakespeare, former U.S. ambassador to Portugal and the Holy See.


A Pro-Life Pioneer

Fr. Marx, with little money and an abundance of faith, founded Human Life International in 1980 and saw it grow into one of the most effective organizations in the world devoted to the salvation of the unborn. A member of the Benedictine Order he traveled to more than 90 countries lecturing, distributing books, pamphlets, tapes, videos, and training thousands in the most challenging mission of our time.

With a small staff in a Maryland warehouse, he established HLI branches in 29 countries on 5 continents and held international seminars in the Americas, Africa and Europe which drew thousands to hear some of the most brilliant minds in the fields of religion, medicine, social science, human sexuality, and education. He has the unique distinction of being named 'public enemy one' by Planned Parenthood, this county's leading provider of Abortion.

Few persons have a more intimate and accurate knowledge of the world and especially of conditions within our troubled church than this energetic and highly intelligent missionary. The 15th of 17 children, Fr. Marx was born on a large dairy farm in St. Michael Minnesota. At the age of 15, he decided he wanted to be a priest and entered the Benedictine Order. He earned a doctorate in family sociology and did postgraduate work at the University of Minnesota, Harvard, the University of California, and American University in Washington, D.C.

He has never forgotten that children are the living messages we send to the times that we will not see.

Fr. Marx is currently in retirement at St. John's Abbey, Collegeville Minnesota, 56321. He will be 83 years old on 8 May

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