Fathers
Most of our prayer and counseling efforts are focused on pregnant women as they approach PP. This is how it should be, as they are the ones carrying an unborn child. However, it is also important that, if a man is with her, he be approached, too. If he is the father of the child, he is the biggest influence on the woman as to whether she chooses Life for her baby.
More than a few years ago, I befriended another Shift Manager during several 40 Days for Life campaigns. His name was Seamus. I liked him from the moment I met him, not just because of our shared Irish heritage, but also the loving, but direct, way he challenged the men accompanying the mother of their child into PP.
Seamus challenged them with “Man up!”, an exhortation to stand up and defend the right of his child to be born as God intended.
He said this in response to a court system and a culture that says the father of an unborn child has NO SAY whether his child continues to live or ends up dying in the womb.
Many men who become unexpected fathers shirk the responsibilities of fatherhood- not only to love and support their child, but also to love and support the mother of their child. A man who says to the woman “it’s your choice”” is a coward, someone not willing to stand up and care for the woman and his child. Many men want sex, but not the responsibility for the consequences of sex, a child.
Studies show that the one of the primary reasons a woman decides to have an abortion is that her partner, and family will not support her if she wants to keep their child. Worse yet, many men pressure the woman to have the abortion, some even saying, “If you don’t have the abortion, I’ll leave you”.
Men need to have courage and moral conviction, to stand up for the right of their child to see the light of day, to offer their unconditional support for the woman and their child. Man Up!
Next time you’re praying downtown, please say a special prayer for fathers, that they will love their child in the womb, and, for the rest of their lives, love and support the mother of his child.
We pray that all fathers have mercy on their child!
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7
“Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous.” Psalm 27:14
“Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
-Chris
Keep reading for today’s sidewalk stories…
7:30-9:00 – Ethan & Joe W
Tale of two reactions: 2 back to back women going in there, in both cases after they went in (after not listening to us), we held up the “I am human signs“. In the first case the woman sees it and starts sobbing in there. In the second case the woman and the 2 friends with her see the sign and start laughing. Ethan
9:00-11:00 – Marie P. & Barbara
It was a bright, sunny but cold morning on Liberty Avenue. The first hour was fairly quiet with not a lot of traffic going in or out of PP. It did pick up during the second hour with a number of women entering the doors of 933 Liberty Avenue. Barbara reached out to several but to no avail.
One young girl entered accompanied by an older man, possibly a father? They were not inside long and departed across Liberty Avenue. There were a number of people, including families, heading down the street to the Convention Center for a martial arts event. Prayers were said for all the women and babies today.
11:00 – 1:00 – Elsie
Sweet, brave Barbara & the charitable-yet-highly-efficient (qualities I myself will NEVER achieve!) Marie P were hard at work, witnessing & praying, when I arrived for my shift. A lovely lady named Helen faithfully prayed the Rosary & held the “We Will Help You” sign for my first hour or more there. Beverly arrived to pray as she sidewalk counseled. Before these wonderful ladies needed to leave, another Helen (well known to us all for her wise leadership in PCUC) arrived, followed by the ever-faithful prayer-warriors from St. Matthew’s Parish, under the stalwart leadership of Bernadette.
It was a bad day, as it always is near an open death mill. So many victims walked through those hellish doors. Some passers-by seemed genuinely interested, even pleased, to take our literature, so hopefully it will help them or their friends to choose continued LIFE for their babies, now or in the future. Sadly, though, a youngish male passer-by, leading a very little girl whom we guessed to be his daughter, stopped to criticize us. That could have been a good thing, as discussion is necessary for education! Unfortunately, though, I needed to walk away from him in order to offer help to victims heading into the mill. When I did so, Matt from St. Matthew’s tried to respond reasonably to the man’s antagonistic queries/accusations. When Matt pointed out that abortion is a violation of the Ten Commandments, the man threw the contents of his drink cup on (or at least towards) Matt. Afterwards there was A LOT of ice on the pavement. I don’t know how much liquid and ice went on Matt, who had nothing over his shirt on this chilly day! He may have been very wet & cold for the next two hours, but no complaints from this kind man — a true credit to his parish! His assailant walked on with the little girl. I wonder whether — or how — she will recall this incident as she grows up.
1:00 – 3:00 – Donna
Jean, Bernadette, Kathleen, Matt, Bob & Beth, faithful friends from St. Matthew’s Parish
Our day started with an incident right as Bernadette, Beth and I were walking up. Elsie was reporting on that. We tried to reach those going in and coming out as well as passersby. Some takers. Thank you and God bless our faithful friends from St. Matthew’s.
One woman, coming with a group from the convention center, said to me, “how could anyone not want their children?” My thoughts exactly!! Kathy and Bob were in a conversation with a man who told them they were going to hell. Obviously he was confused. A couple of people wanted rosaries and a pen. Thank you Kathleen for the rosaries and pens. One girl I talked with last week, didn’t want to hear the truth about Jesus not agreeing with her same sex lifestyle and living arrangements. Please pray for “T”. Thank you God for the people You place on our path and the opportunities to pray for them. 🙏❤️✝️
3:00 – 5:00 – Pat, Val & Mike
