LOS ANGELES, California, April 6, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) – Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez, who is the vice president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), accepted a pro-immigration award at a gala alongside the pro-abortion attorney general who charged pro-lifers with 15 felonies for exposing Planned Parenthood's baby parts sales.
The gala, hosted by the Cesar Chavez Foundation, took place on March 30 at the Millennium Bitmore Hotel. Gomez and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, the man prosecuting the Center for Medical Progress, were honored with “Cesar Chavez Legacy” awards.
The Cesar Chavez Foundation prominently advertised Gomez and Becerra would attend in promotional materials for the gala.
Marc Grossman, media director for the Cesar Chavez Foundation, told Church Militant that Gomez was present throughout the gala. He spoke on the “dignity of immigrants” and advocated for “inclusiveness” and “tolerance.”
“There is no sign the archbishop made any remarks about the pro-abortion Becerra,” Church Militant added.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles didn't respond to inquiries from LifeSiteNews.
Just days before the March 30 gala, Becerra announced California was charging David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt of the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) with 15 felonies for their exposé on Planned Parenthood's participation in the fetal body parts trade.
CMP's investigation showed footage of Planned Parenthood workers picking through the body parts of aborted babies in a tray, admitting they alter abortion procedures to obtain more “intact” body parts, and discussing how baby body parts are “just a matter of line items.”
The investigation resulted in a national outcry, including a Congressional investigation that resulted in the referral of abortion providers and collaborators for criminal prosecution.
The abortion lobby has gone after Daleiden, attempting to silence him. He and Merritt were charged with a felony for using false indentification to enter a Planned Parenthood in Texas; the charges were later dropped in July 2016.
But now, in California, Daleiden and Merritt are charged with “intentionally and without the consent of all parties” recording “confidential” communications.
“The right to privacy is a cornerstone of California’s Constitution, and a right that is foundational in a free democratic society,” Becerra said when the charges were announced. “We will not tolerate the criminal recording of confidential conversations.”
The former attorney general of California, pro-abortion Kamala Harris, is now a U.S. senator. She ordered a raid on Daleiden's home to seize his undercover footage of Planned Parenthood.
The same day as the Cezar Chavez Foundation gala, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles reprinted the Catholic News Agency article Planned Parenthood investigators reject 'bogus' felony charges.
“Data from the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonprofit, nonpartisan funding watchdog, appear to show that Beccerra has received several minor donations from Planned Parenthood, totally some $6,000 in the last 20 years,” the article pointed out.
Gomez has on numerous occasions defended the Catholic Church's position on abortion. In June 2016, he wrote an article on how abortion and euthanasia “stand alone” among today’s injustices in the United States.
Gomez is a harsh critic of President Trump's stances on immigration.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has for years hosted an education conference whose speakers hold views incompatible with Catholic morality. Past speakers include people who have called President Obama “pro-life,” hold views on sexuality and marriage contrary to Catholic moral teaching, and encouraged children to masturbate.
A workshop at this year's conference encouraged parishes to “be sensitive, loving and supportive of transgender Catholics in transition.”