Tag Archives: books

Join the “Club”: Literature for Life!

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By Bonnie Finnerty, Education Director

 

books and a chair picture

Books have long been a friend to me.  As a young girl my best friend and I spent much time at our neighborhood library perusing shelves for hidden treasures. Thanks to my high school teachers’ artful explication of great literature, my love for books deepened. My first career as an English teacher allowed me to journey through classical and contemporary literature with middle and high school students. A neighborhood book club, which I joined about 10 years ago, exposed me to books I most likely would not have selected myself but am glad to have read.

So when I walked into the Education Director’s office six months ago and saw a sizeable selection of books, something stirred inside me.  The books seemed to demand action!

But what? I wanted to do more than read them all. I want to share them. Thus, Literature for Life, a pro-life book “club” was born, a club which anyone can join just by reading our seasonal selection.  The idea is to enjoin pro-lifers in a common conversation by reading the same pro-life book, discussing it with friends, church ministries, or a pro-life group.  We will even try an online book chat, creating a virtual community of pro-life activists engaging in meaningful dialogue.

Years ago, Oprah united many across the country with her book club. Communities have done it on a smaller scale with variations of “One County, One Book” programs. Why not unite those of us in the pro-life movement by reading some of the best pro-life books out there, especially when there are so many stories that deserve our attention?

Not only will we readers expand our knowledge and strengthen our resolve, we will be better equipped in the battle to build a pro-life culture.  We will be more informed, more articulate, and more committed, becoming agents of change in a world that so needs our voices and activism.

If you haven’t read our summer selection yet there is still time.

Gosnell: The Untold Story of America’s Most Prolific Serial Killer by Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer is a critically important book for us pro-lifers, especially relevant to those of us in Pennsylvania, as our state officials allowed unimaginable atrocities to occur under their watch.

Many have already seen the Gosnell movie and are familiar with his House of Horrors. The book delves into greater detail, painting a fuller portrait of his employees and his victims, and it includes a compelling interview with Gosnell himself.

This is a book worthy of our time. It should be discussed and shared. For the sake of the babies and woman who were his victims, the tragedy of Gosnell must never be forgotten.

Please consider joining us on Skype for our on-line book chat on Thursday, Sept. 12 from 7-8 p.m. Send an email to lifelines@paprolife.org to have a link for the on-line conversation emailed to you.  Our book for Fall will be announced at that time.

Let us use books as a tool for uniting, broadening, and strengthening the Pro-Life movement!

Happy Book Lovers Day

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August-9-National-Book-Lovers-DayThese days there seems to be a holiday for everything. As someone who spent much of his childhood with his nose in a book, today is a celebration I can really get behind—Book Lovers Day.  Recently I read two pro-life books that I thought were particularly interesting, and I thought I would share some thoughts on them in honor of the day.

The first is Not Equal: Civil Rights Gone Wrong by Ryan Bomberger. Yes, the same Ryan Bomberger who is the keynote speaker at this year’s Celebrate Life Banquet September 28, 2017 in Harrisburg.  Ryan’s book addresses important pro-life issues such as abortion, adoption, liberal feminism, free speech, and religious liberty. What I appreciated most about his book is that it is primarily a series of articles he’s written over the years so it is an easy read for those who can only sit with a book for a short period at a time.  The great thing is, if you pick up his book now, when you attend the Celebrate Life Banquet September 28th you can get it signed!

The second book I wanted to mention is Gosnell: The Untold Story of America’s Most Prolific Serial Killer by Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer.  In this book the authors examine all the aspects of the trial of Kermit Gosnell, the Philadelphia abortionist who committed infanticide in his filthy and unsanitary abortion office in Philadelphia.  I was admittedly a little hesitant to read this—I’ve never been a fan of horror movies or literature, but the authors do a great job of applying an unbiased, journalistic viewpoint to the situation.

The links to the books above will take you to where the books can be purchased on www.amazon.com.  Before purchasing them, please visit www.smile.amazon.com and choose the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation Education Fund as the charity you support so a portion of your purchase will benefit our life-saving work.  Happy reading, and email me at lifelines@paprolife.org and let me know what you think of these pro-life books.

Dobson’s First Novels Take Look at Future of Abortion, Euthanasia

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Last year, Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson introduced his first series of novels: “Fatherless,” “Childless” and “Godless.”

photoThe novels take place several decades in the future when America is trying to recover from an economic collapse. Julia Davidson, an acclaimed journalist, is famous for her columns that celebrate the global drop in fertility and criticize marriage and motherhood. As Julia digs deeper into the modern views of life and family, she begins to uncover the consequences of the value shift.

America has become a nation where almost all babies are genetically screened and pre-selected before being implanted in the womb. “Accidental pregnancies” are aborted and the babies’ bodies sold for money. Women who have multiple children are labeled “breeders.”

The government portrays the elderly and disabled as burdens, financial drains on their families and their country. In an effort to bolster the economy, the government encourages the large elderly population to “transition” (assisted suicide).

The novels take a futuristic look at American society and individuals’ right to life — but not in a dystopian way. What I’ve enjoyed about the books so far is the way Dobson and co-author Kurt Bruner make the future world seem realistic. Most dystopian novels paint a frightening picture of a concept taken to its extreme. Dobson’s novels, on the other hand, take a more moderate approach that makes readers think, “This could actually happen.”

He gives pro-lifers a picture of what our nation could look like if it continues to denying certain people a right to life. But his novels also bring hope that, through the work of pro-lifers, we can change people’s hearts and minds and restore a culture of life in our nation.

I recently finished the first two novels in the series. “Godless,” the third and final book, was released this summer, and it’s on my reading list. Put it on yours, too.

Everyone Can Do Something for Life This Autumn

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One person cannot do everything to protect life, but every person can do something.

That’s a message our Executive Director Michael Ciccocioppo shares with pro-lifers when he is out on the road. How true it is.

Bucks County Right to Life volunteers

If you’re one of those people who has always wanted to do something more, this fall is a great time to get involved.

Maybe it’s just taking an hour to read the latest news about what’s happening in the abortion debate in America. Maybe you can help educate other people in your church by requesting our free Respect Life Bulletin insert (Contact us at lifelines@paprolife.org or 717-541-0034). Maybe you can read a pro-life book such as “Unplanned” by Abby Johnson or “Why Can’t We Love Them Both” by Dr. and Mrs. J.C. Willke. When you’re done, consider donating it to your church or community library so others can read it, too.

Maybe you can participate in one of these upcoming pro-life events in Pennsylvania:

Lila Rose Red DressCelebrate Life Banquet — On Oct. 29 in Pittsburgh, join pro-lifers all across Pennsylvania for the pro-life event of the year. This special evening will feature Lila Rose, the young pro-life activist who founded the undercover investigative group Live Action. Register now by calling 717-541-0034 or visiting our website. The banquet benefits the life-saving work of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation Education Fund.

“What I saw at the Gosnell Trial” with journalist J.D. Mullane — at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Doylestown, in St. Mary’s Hall across the street from the church. J.D. Mullane is a columnist for the Intelligencer and the Courier Times. He reported extensively on the trial of Kermit Gosnell, the West Philadelphia abortionist convicted of murdering newborns. The event is hosted by the Bucks County Right To Life.

Life Chain — Thousands of Life Chain events will be held on Oct. 6 on sidewalks all across the U.S. People will gather to pray and hold pro-life signs as a peaceful public witness about the devastation of legalized abortion. For a list of times and locations, visit LifeChain.net and click on “Pennsylvania” on the left side of the screen.

Respect Life Conference — St. Gabriel’s Ministry will host the conference “Building a Respect Life Community” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 5 at the St. Patrick’s Parish Activity Center, 85 Marsh Drive, Carlisle. Speakers include Monsignor Stuart Swetland, vice president of Catholic Identity, Mount St. Mary’s University; and Maria Gallagher, legislative director of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation. Registration is $25, including lunch. A family rate is available. For more information, contact Patricia Dowling at dowlingkp@yahoo.com or Gabriel Marcella at marcella@pa.net.voiceofjohn

Pro-life Film Showing — A special showing of “The Voice of John,” a pro-life film produced here in Pennsylvania, will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Hill City Church, 600 South Poplar Street, in Hazleton. Come see the newly released director’s cut with never before seen footage. The event is free.

40 Days for Life – Join pro-lifers outside abortion centers to pray peacefully for an end to abortion. There will be ten 40-day prayer vigil sites in Pennsylvania this fall. The outreach runs Sept. 25 to Nov. 3. For locations, visit 40daysforlife.com.

For more ideas, volunteer opportunities, and events, click here to contact pro-life volunteers in your community.