Tag Archives: abortion

Half a Million Join March for Life in Washington, D.C.

Posted on by
Translator

You may not have heard it on the news, but this year’s March for Life brought a record crowd to Washington, D.C. on January 25. About half a million people from all across the country braved the wind and snow to stand up for the rights of the preborn.

Several thousand of these people were from Pennsylvania. According to one news report, churches in the Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg alone provided transportation for 700 people.

Click here to check out photos of Pennsylvanians at the March or take a quick look at a few below:

Young people from Butler County during the March for Life

Young people from Butler County during the March for Life

Marchers with our Pocono Chapter pause for a group photo.

Marchers with our Pocono Chapter pause for a group photo.

Youth and adults with the People for Life of Erie bus trip head to the March.

Youth and adults with the People for Life of Erie bus trip head to the March.

 

Bells to Toll in Harrisburg for 40th Anniversary of Abortion Ruling, Roe v. Wade

Posted on by
Translator

Church bells throughout the Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg will toll 40 times on Tuesday, January 22, to mark the somber 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the tragic U.S. Supreme Court decision which brought us the nightmare of abortion on demand for any reason during all nine months of pregnancy.

But for whom will the bells toll?

• The nameless victims who never got to see a rainbow…never got to feel the sun’s warmth, or a gentle mother’s kiss on their foreheads. It is estimated that there are more than 55 million of them now—black, Latino, Asian, Native American, white—all of them somebody’s child.

• The millions of mothers, many of them pressured by others, who were exploited by the profiteers of the abortion industry. Some lost their lives at the hands of their abortionists, others their health–witness the depravity and the disdain for women at abortionist Kermit Gosnell’s West Philadelphia abortion center, described by a grand jury as a House of Horrors. Watch the documentary series “3801 Lancaster” to hear testimonies from women butchered at Gosnell’s practice. And learn more about the brave witness of women who regret their abortions at http://www.silentnomoreawareness.org/ .

• The millions of fathers, some of whom tried valiantly to save the lives of their children, only to be told they had no say in the matter. Find out more about their struggle at http://www.fatherhoodforever.org/ .

• The millions of brothers, sisters, and cousins who grew up in families where someone important was missing. College students can get involved by going to http://studentsforlife.org/ .

• The millions of grandparents who struggle to come to grips with the loss of the grandchildren they never knew. They can find healing at http://www.rachelsvineyard.org/ .

And yet, there is tragically more. The phrase “for whom the bell tolls” comes from a work by poet John Dunne:

“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend’s or of thine own were: any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.”

The church bells of Harrisburg will be tolling for each one of us, for, whether we knew these 55 million children or not, we have all been diminished by their deaths.

Things You Can Do at the 2013 March for Life in D.C.

Posted on by
Translator

A record-breaking number of pro-lifers are expected to participate in the national March for Life on Friday, January 25 in Washington, D.C.

This year, the March will take place on the National Mall between 7th and 9th Streets. The rally will begin at noon, and the march will follow at about 1:30 p.m.

When you are at the March for Life, consider participating in one of the many other pro-life opportunities available:

• Pennsylvania legislators reception — U.S. Representatives to Congress and U.S. Senator Pat Toomey will hold a reception from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, January 25 in the 345 Cannon Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building. Sen. Toomey plans to address those present at 2:15 p.m. Sen. Robert Casey Jr. also will meet with pro-lifers at 2:45 p.m. Friday in the Hart Building 902. Please take advantage of this opportunity to meet and speak with our U.S. legislators about the right to life. Be advised that everyone entering a federal building must pass through security; so plan to arrive early.

• National Pro-Life Prayer Service – Hosted by the National Pro-Life Religious Council, the interdenominational service will take place from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 25, at the DAR Constitution Hall, 1776 D Street NW. The Rev. Frank Pavone, president of the council, will deliver the sermon.

• March for Life Exhibit Hall – The exhibit will be open noon to 9 p.m. on Thursday, January 24, and 8 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, January 25, in the lower lobby level of the Hyatt Regency hotel.

• Silent No More Testimonies – Post-abortive women will share their stories immediately after the March on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court Building.

• The 5K March for Life Run – This new event will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, January 26, in the West Potomac Park. There is no cost to participate, but donations to the March for Life are encouraged. Click here for a brochure.

• Stand True Youth Rally – Strong pro-life advocates Melissa Ohden, Lila Rose and Abby Johnson are featured speakers at the rally, which will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday, January 24, in the Regency Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The event is free. For more information, click here.

• The 31st Annual Rose Dinner – This special evening will be held Friday evening at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington. Tickets cost $85 online or $100 at the door. Click here for more information.

For information about traveling to the March with a group in your area, contact the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation at lifelines@paprolife.org or 717-541-0034.

Pa. Abortions Decrease, Complications Increase in 2011

Posted on by
Translator

HARRISBURG, Pa. – While abortions in Pennsylvania declined for the third year in a row in 2011, complications as a result of the procedure increased sharply, according to statistics released by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Statistics show 498 (1.4 percent) fewer abortions in 2011 compared to 2010. In total, there were 36,280 abortions performed in Pennsylvania in 2011. The 2011 total represents a 44.8 percent decrease from the all-time high of 65,777 recorded in 1980.

However, the year brought a disturbing 78.7 percent increase in the number of complications from abortions. The 109 reported complications included bleeding, infections and “retained products of conception” including fetal parts, according to the department.

“As these statistics show, abortion not only destroys a preborn child’s life but also puts its mother’s health at risk,” said Micaiah Bilger, education coordinator at the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation.

The year 2011 brought to light the gristly practices of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who is charged with the murders of a woman and seven newborn babies. In response to the tragedy, Pennsylvania implemented Act 122, which requires abortion facilities to be licensed as outpatient surgical facilities and to submit to unannounced inspections.

“Every life, from the moment of conception to natural death – and everywhere in between, deserves to be protected,” Bilger said.

To access the Pa. Department of Health report on abortion, click here.

Women in Poverty Need Support, not Abortion

Posted on by
Translator

The pro-abortion Alan Guttmacher research group released some interesting new abortion graphics this week in recognition of the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. (Look at them here.)

It’s funny – though not in a “ha ha” way – how the graphics really seem to point to the opposite of what the pro-abortion group intends.

Several graphics show links between poverty and abortion, supposedly to encourage support for more abortion access for women in poverty.

When I look at the graphics, I feel concern – as I’m sure Guttmacher wants me to – but not because of access to abortion.

No, these numbers tell me that greater access to abortion is NOT the answer to helping women.

Guttmacher reports that 69 percent of the women who have abortions are economically disadvantaged, and that some give up food or utilities or shelter to pay for an abortion.

These facts tug at my heart strings. If only these women knew that they don’t have to give up food or heat or shelter or their preborn child’s life!

Guttmacher is wrong to suggest that greater access to abortion will empower these financially-strained women.

Pregnant women in poverty need better knowledge of and access to financial resources, not abortion. Women should not be forced to choose between a meal and a baby’s life.

For more information about pregnancy resources in your area, click here.

‘Taking the Long Road Home’ to End Abortion in the U.S.

Posted on by
Translator

On January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court issued one of its most tragic rulings – Roe v. Wade. The decision struck down all state bans on abortion, basically allowing preborn babies to be killed at any time for any reason.

Dr. Alveda King, during her visit to Central Pa. this fall, told pro-lifers how hard she prayed that the Supreme Court would uphold the sanctity of human life and reverse Roe v. Wade.

When the justices instead upheld their devastating decision, King cried out to God and asked why.

Watch her explain the answer here.

God told her, “… the hearts of the people are too hard, so we are going to have to take the long road home.”

The road to ending abortion is full of obstacles, but we are persevering along the path to a brighter future for our preborn babies.

Taking the long road, we work one by one to change hearts and minds. And we are doing just that: Dr. Bernard Nathanson, Abby Johnson, Alveda King each had or participated in abortions before they became pro-life advocates.

Taking the long road home, we ensure that women have access to accurate information about abortion, adoption, and parenting.

Taking the long road home, we offer support to pregnant and new mothers in crisis.

Taking the long road home, we are achieving victories for the right to life as we carry the truth that every life — from conception to natural death — must be granted the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Find out how you can help defend the right to life by contacting us at lifelines@paprolife.org or 717-541-0034.

Make a New Year’s Resolution to Attend the March for Life

Posted on by
Translator

When I was about 6 years old, my parents pulled out the stroller, bundled up my sister and me, and took us to Washington, D.C., for the March for Life.

I remember the Washington Monument outlined by the sunny cold blue sky of winter. When my dad lifted me onto his shoulders, I remember seeing the mass of people packed onto the lawn. The crowd amazed me.

But for many years, I didn’t go back. I was busy with school,  work, volunteering, family, wedding plans. And some years, I’m ashamed to admit, I forgot.

Two years ago, I made the commitment to start going again. My sisters, cousins, a friend, and I stuffed ourselves into the family van and drove down to the March on a bitterly cold day.

The crowd amazed me, just as it had when I was 6. Hundreds of thousands of people poured into the streets and flowed through the winding road to the U.S. Supreme Court building. I thrilled in the realization that we all were standing there united for one single purpose – to protect and defend every single human life.

This year, it is more critical than ever to participate in prolife efforts such as the March for Life. First, this January marks the 40th year since the Supreme Court’s devastating opinion in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, which opened the doors to abortion on demand through all nine months of pregnancy. And, second, our nation faces new threats to life because of the abortion provisions and medical rationing in President Obama’s health care law.

Maybe you have been thinking about going to the March for years but never made it. Maybe you have faithfully attended every year, but you know a friend who has never gone. Make 2013 the year you attend or invite that friend.

This year, it is more critical than ever that we join together on this day to stand united against this lawful taking of innocent lives.

The 2013 March for Life is scheduled for Friday, January 25 in downtown Washington, D.C. For information about bus trips to the March or community prolife events in January, contact us at lifelines@paprolife.org or 717-541-0034.

Central Pa. Employer Files Lawsuit against HHS Mandate

Posted on by
Translator

Out of Central Pennsylvania this week came a new challenge to the provisions in President Obama’s HHS Mandate.

Conestoga Wood Specialties, a Mennonite-owned company based in Lancaster County, filed a federal suit against the mandate, which forces employers to cover abortion-causing contraception for their employees.

According to a Philadelphia Inquirer article:

“Conestoga Wood Specialties, citing the principles of religious freedom on which William Penn founded Pennsylvania, says in its suit, filed in U.S. District Court, that to accord to its Mennonite beliefs, it would be ‘sinful and immoral for the company to participate in, pay for, facilitate or otherwise support any contraception’ that would have the effect of an abortion.”

The Conestoga lawsuit is one of more than 40 challenges that have been filed against the federal law. In the past few months, several employers have won temporary victories against the mandate.

Let’s hope and pray that the courts will continue to reject this forced violation of conscience.

Teaching Young People the Truth about Abortion

Posted on by
Translator

“How many abortions do you think have happened in the past 40 years? Just take a guess.”

I watched a pro-lifer pose this question to a young man recently. The well-educated 20-something hesitated and then shrugged.

“Just a rough estimate?” the pro-lifer prompted.

“OK,” he said. “Maybe about 100,000.”

The pro-lifer replied, “Actually, it’s more than 54 million.”

The young man looked shocked.

This simple experience made me wonder how many Americans don’t know the sheer number of abortions that occur every year. How many 20-somethings – the age group having the most abortions – have no concept of how prevalent these tragic deaths are in America.

We believe it is so important that we reach youth with the culture of life, and tell them the devastating effects of abortion.

The video here CE1Dz1ufbOo shows me, a 20-something, speaking to the people at our 2012 Celebrate Life Banquet about this critical effort. Please watch it and think about ways you can help us promote a culture of life in the younger generations.

Maybe by asking a question, as my fellow pro-lifer did above.

Maybe by encouraging a young person in your family to get involved in our essay and oratory contests.

Maybe by promoting alternatives to abortion, pregnancy resource centers, and crisis pregnancy hotlines at your church or community group.

Maybe by giving a donation to the Federation.

Maybe by praying.

You can help make a difference by partnering with us in this outreach to youth.

Remember the Babies and Moms on Giving Tuesday

Posted on by
Translator

The Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation Education Fund is aligning itself with the Giving Tuesday phenomenon that is gaining momentum across Pennsylvania and across the country. It has received wide coverage in the print and broadcast media as well as on the Internet.

Giving Tuesday is a new tradition this year that is intended to kick off the holiday giving season. It began as a simple idea. Thanksgiving is a day of gratitude, and Black Friday and Cyber Monday are days for getting good deals in stores. But Giving Tuesday is the day for giving back.

“Many worthy causes are part of Giving Tuesday, but we want to make sure that pro-life advocates in Pennsylvania know about this campaign and can take part in a way that reinforces their deeply held values about the sanctity of life,” said Michael Ciccocioppo, executive director of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation. “Our purpose is to keep life issues on people’s minds as much as we can, because there’s nothing more important than saving the lives of preborn children and protecting their moms from the horror of abortion.”

The holiday giving season that Giving Tuesday initiates is the period from Thanksgiving through Christmas to the end of the year. This is the time when many nonprofits raise the bulk of their funds in order to carry out their missions.

“It’s vital for donors to realize the importance of this season – not only for celebrating with family and friends but also for taking time to do something good that really makes a difference,” Ciccocioppo said. “Pro-lifers across Pennsylvania feel the urgency of this cause, and they step up to make their voices heard. We’re grateful for their dedication and support.”

To make a gift now to the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation’s life-saving work, click here.