Linked below is the transcript of a recent interview with Joan Andrews Bell, a courageous pro-life witness who was unjustly jailed for 16 months under the FACE Act before finally being pardoned and released. One of her answers highlights a very important reason that we bother to show up at PP even on days when no women are willing to accept our help.
CV: What was the hardest thing about being in prison?
Andrews Bell: The hardest thing was to not be at the killing center because being there, where the children are dying, allows them to know they were loved. They physically will know it. These children know when they’re loved. They will feel that human love while they are on this earth. This is very important. That’s why we visit people in hospitals and our senior living communities. Even if we can’t rescue that child and if we can’t prevent that abortion, they’re saying, I love you. Feel free to go to Jesus. I know absolutely they can feel our love over there. Even if someone can’t counsel, just be there to pray. So when I couldn’t go out there when I was in jail, I would ask for others to go “be me” there and pray.
Going to our vigil to pray requires a much smaller sacrifice than Joan Andrews Bell made, but still has the same powerful effect of making sure no baby dies alone. May we be inspired by her selflessness and moved to imitate her work of mercy as we stand on Liberty Avenue.
SIDEWALK REPORTS
7-9 AM +++ Jen and Vince
JEN: Wonderfully warm morning, just a little bit wet. So grateful to Vince, Dave, and Rich for praying the full Scriptural Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Glad to see the People of God Community members gathering to pray with Ken and Pat as we wrapped up.
9-11 AM +++ Ken and Pat
KEN: ‘It is good that we are here’. As Saint Peter spoke these words in the Gospel account of the transfiguration, so it was on the sidewalk today. Partner Pat and I prayed 15 decades of the Most Holy Rosary and the Chaplet of Devine Mercy and were joined in prayer and praise by The People of God Covenant Community. What a joy to share our time today with such faithful, prayerful voices. Included in hour time were the members of the Rorary walk who have travelled the downtown streets for nearly every Sunday of the past four years. We were truly blessed to storm heaven with prayer with so many of the faithful
11 AM-1 PM +++ Roseann and Rich
ROSEANN: It was good to have a wonderful group of witnesses today. It was a quiet Sunday as it is usually. We spent an amount of time just trying to stay dry, but it is good to remember to offer it up for the moms and babies.
1-3 PM +++ Andrew, Ann, and Sue
ANDREW: A rainy shift (although MUCH less rainy than the previous one) ended with some sunshine. Many prayers said. Thanks to Corpus Christi Parish (and my family) for coming to pray!
3-5 PM +++ Andy, Denise, and Steve
