Robbing God!
I just read St Luke’s genealogy of Jesus for the first time in a while. While many of the men mentioned therein led somewhat mundane and unnoticed lives, they were nonetheless of infinite value (as we all are) as human beings. For both these ancestors and for all men, the truth of human dignity is proven by the end of the very genealogy from which we know their names …”the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.” Luke 3:38.
What we are we being robbed of at Planned Parenthood? It can be hard to remain attentive to a loss that hides behind the curtain of private healthcare. It requires conscious effort to perceive the ceaseless theft of divinely created life that abortion daily brings to our city, nation, and world. But we must make that effort. We must allow the reality of the situation to drive us to action. Abortion only exists because humanity as a whole tolerates it. This is why we need you at our 40 Days for Life vigil. To show the world we won’t tolerate this theft any longer.
Cathy & Peggy
(From Cathy) – Rather busy shift with 4 going inside. One couple, Hispanic, took a card from me and continued down the street stopping further down. Peg took some Spanish brochures to them, which the woman accepted. Later they came back and went inside. I think I saw the lit go into the trash. While I was waiting for my bus they came out. I did not see any bags?
Conrad
Conrad and Susan B saw 6 enter PP from 9-10 am. Conrad and Beverly saw 8 enter PP from 10-11. We offered literature which was rejected. The typical response from inside was a big smile from the woman
Larry & Beth Ann & Ed
(From Larry) Ed, Bill, Larry, Beth Ann, and Angie for 11:00 to 1:00. Angie and Beth Ann from St. Aiden’s prayed all four mysteries of the Rosary! Many girls coming out of PP, all offered resources and only one (Spanish speaking) woman accepted, and one said she wasn’t pregnant. A group of girls in a passing car were yelling, “Go in and kill your babies!” An interested couple spoke to Bill about pro-life resources, when the need arises.
Judy, Chris & Kevin
(From Chris) Praise God! What a shift! While John from Regina Coeli Parish, and Judy & Arleen from St. Joseph the Worker Parish, and I were praying, a young married couple with a small child in a stroller stopped in front of PP. Judy, our Sidewalk Advocate, tried to engage them in conversation and handed them a Local Resources brochure. Even though we were praying that they wouldn’t go into PP, they did. They came out a few minutes later and John thought to ask if we had some Spanish-language brochures. We found one and Judy brought it over to the couple. Then I called Nikki to ask which of the pregnancy care centers has a Spanish-speaking staff member who could talk with the husband. I called Choices Pregnancy Center, talked to them and, after several minutes, the Spanish-speaking nurse came on the line. I handed my phone to the husband. At that time a young couple with a 2-year old in a stroller asked us if the Little Lamb Resale Shop was open. I offered to walk them down the street, to see. I unlocked the door and the couple browsed the clothing racks. Teresa then arrived at the store. I went back down the street. John told me that the nurse said that the young woman did not know if she was pregnant and added that the young Hispanic couple was on their way to a Choices Pregnancy Center location (they have several).
Toward the end of the shift, a Christian named Marvin stopped by to pray with us and then a homeless Iraqi war veteran (4 tours, including 2 in Afghanistan) came by to offer his support of our prayer efforts.
Our Rosaries were effective! One of the best shifts I’ve ever had on the sidewalk.
Eileen & Steve
(From Steve) A cool and quiet afternoon- I did have one exchange with a woman exiting PP with her little brown bag, and told her about the abortion pill reversal. She responded that “abortion is healthcare”, and I just said some moms change their mind- and pointed to Nikki’s poster of the children saved from abortion. She reiterated “abortion is healthcare”, and I calmly replied that it’s certainly NOT healthcare for her baby! Today is a feast day of Blessed Ambrose of Siena- born severely disfigured, he experienced a miraculous cure, joined the Dominicans, studied with Thomas Aquinas under Albert the Great, and became a missionary to Hungary, preached the 8th crusade, and was a renowned diplomat and peacemaker. Perhaps we could invoke his intercession for mothers who are experiencing a difficult pregnancy or have a troubling pre-natal diagnosis.