Abortion--keeping women educated

[MTD]

Im just saying instead of picketing and saying nothing, approach these women, in love, and give them the alternative . It could be a phone number or a pamphlet of a pregnancy center. That is all Im saying.

There are many, many groups that do this very thing; I myself belong to one. The apparent inaction and silence of pro-lifers outside abortion clinics is mostly due to one or more of the following factors.

First of all, many girls/women pay no attention to us when we ask them if they need help. They have already been warned by pro-abortionists to avoid us.

Secondly, we cannot step on clinic property without getting arrested. In some situations, such as when the clinics are part of a shopping center, it is nearly impossible to reach the girls/women since we can’t step on the property.

Thirdly, the clinics often build fences or hedges so that the girls/women parking in their lot don’t see or hear us offering help. This happened with the Planned Parenthood I regularly go out in front of.

Fourthly, the clinics have employees escort and talk to the girls/women coming in so that they won’t pay attention to our efforts to help.

Please, next time you feel inclined to criticize pro-lifers, go out with them for a day in front of an abortion clinic in order to see what really goes on. Please do not base criticisms of today’s pro-lifers on what happened twenty years ago (or however long ago it was that you saw them harrassing people).

Maria

 

[ALLFORHIM]

There are many, many groups that do this very thing; I myself belong to one. The apparent inaction and silence of pro-lifers outside abortion clinics is mostly due to one or more of the following factors.

 

[1ke]

What I wish is that we could hear from pro-life demonstators who have actually been on the front lines rather than just characterizing them. There IS support out there through programs like Project Gabriel.

Former front-linere here. Spent 3 years sidewalk counseling outside PP before I moved to another state-- where the closest PP is 2 hours away from me… so I haven’t been sidewalk counseling in a while now.

Sidewalk counseling is not for the faint of heart. I was kicked, hit, knocked down in the street, and had a stream of verbal abuse coming from the PP escorts every Saturday. But, the first time you turn someone away from that place-- you’re hooked and nothing else matters.

It is definitely Satan at the helm at PP. There was a constant group of prayer warriors who would come out and pray the rosary while we sidewalk counseled-- that helped a lot.

Sidewalk counselors offer real help, compassion, prayer, and options. Sidewalk counselors do not yell, scream, insult or yell “baby killer”.

However, many different groups also would come out to PP… not all of them approached it in a spirit of love and prayer.

There was one group that was fundamentalist protestant-- and they were likely to yell the fire and brimstone types of things… not necessarily at the women. There were there more in a spirit of protest and to preach the “get saved” message-- especially to the PP “escorts” (many of whom were homosexuals and atheist Jews).

After hanging out with us Catholics for 3 years they definitely toned down considerably and started offering help, brochures, and prayer. They still had a definite protest flare to them… but not quite as in your face as when they first started coming out.

So-- to be fair-- yes there are all types of people you will find at abortion clinics protesting, praying, and sidewalk counseling. They are often not all from the same group, but are certainly all seen as one group-- “pro-lifers” (or “anti-choicers”… as PP calls us).

I think that all aspects of activism are needed. Prayer, sidewalk counseling, picketing, marching, financial support, crisis pregnancy centers, education outreach at college campuses… all of it is necessary to fight the evil of abortion.

 

[CCCatholic17]

Secondly, we cannot step on clinic property without getting arrested. In some situations, such as when the clinics are part of a shopping center, it is nearly impossible to reach the girls/women since we can’t step on the property.

I can say from my own experiences that it is quite easy to “visit” a PP clinic and go inside. When I went, as the curious person I am, I had no appointment and was only in 6th grade (11 years old) and no one questioned why I was there. Maybe it’s different as an adult. But God is always with you.

Psalm 23:4-Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Sometimes we need to be bold to make His message heard. I doubt you will get arrested for peacefully speaking with people. But, maybe it’s a chance we have to take. Contradiction or vocation?

 

[MTD]

Sorry I offended you. I didnt mean for it to come across this way. I hope you will forgive me.

You did not offend me personally. I hope I didn’t come across as too defensive.

I can say from my own experiences that it is quite easy to “visit” a PP clinic and go inside. When I went, as the curious person I am, I had no appointment and was only in 6th grade (11 years old) and no one questioned why I was there. Maybe it’s different as an adult. But God is always with you.

But you were not a known pro-life activist. My group has been threatened by Planned Parenthood, with a police officer as witness, that if we step on their property, they will press charges against us. This happened after one of our members placed a foot (just one foot!) on the property in order to more easily hand an information packet to a client.

Maria

 

[CCCatholic17]

But you were not a known pro-life activist.My group has been threatened by Planned Parenthood, with a police officer as witness, that if we step on their property, they will press charges against us. This happened after one of our members placed a foot (just one foot!) on the property in order to more easily hand an information packet to a client.

I was wearing my school uniform so to me that justified being an open pro-life activist. Too bad I can’t feel that way about catholics - note the lower case- anymore

Wow!! That is horrible. I stand in awe that people are *that *misguided…

 

[1ke]

I can say from my own experiences that it is quite easy to “visit” a PP clinic and go inside.

Yes, it is if that is the first time you have ever been to that location. You would be assumed to be a customer.

When I went, as the curious person I am, I had no appointment and was only in 6th grade (11 years old) and no one questioned why I was there.

As you did not bring any pro-life literature with you, attempt to counsel anyone, and were a young girl-- they assumed you were there as a customer, not a sidewalk counselor.

Try it again with pro-life literature in your hands and see how far you get-- you’ll get arrested.

First, it is private property so they can refuse anyone access to their property. Second, former President Clinton helped pass the F.A.C.E. (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) act which makes it a federal crime to impede anyone from entering an abortion clinic or block the entrance to a clinic.

Pro-lifers have to be extremely careful when they are in proximity to an abortion clinic.

Maybe it’s different as an adult.

No, it’s not an adult versus child issue but whether or not they know you to be a pro-life sidewalk counselor or not and whether you are trying to talk to women about abortion or not.

I doubt you will get arrested for peacefully speaking with people.

You are 17. You have a lot to learn. It is less likely you will be arrested at an abortion clinic if you are careful to follow the law, stay on public property, have a video camera, and ensure you are never there alone.

But, maybe it’s a chance we have to take. Contradiction or vocation?

It is definitely a chance everyone takes when they go to an abortion facility. I know several pro-lifers who were arrested while standing on the public sidewalk. Pro-abortion police officers often unjustly arrest pro-lifers. That’s why it’s important to have a video camera and to never be alone.

 

[1ke]

I was wearing my school uniform so to me that justified being an open pro-life activist.

No, they assumed you were customer. A private school uniform in no way indicates you are there as a pro-life activist. The bulk of their customers are young, teenage girls just like you.

 

[CCCatholic17]

A private school uniform in no way indicates you are there as a pro-life activist.

It should. Every Catholic should make it their moral responsibility to protect all forms of life (especially the unborn), and that uniform should reflect those beliefs. But, I do understand where you are coming from.

 

[1ke]

It should. Every Catholic should make it their moral responsibility to protect all forms of life (especially the unborn), and that uniform should reflect those beliefs. But, I do understand where you are coming from.

Yes, it should mean something more than it does. But, unfortunately people are more likely to think of Britney Spears videos than rosary-praying pro-lifers.

 

[MTD]

It should. Every Catholic should make it their moral responsibility to protect all forms of life (especially the unborn), and that uniform should reflect those beliefs. But, I do understand where you are coming from.

The sad reason the uniform of a Catholic school does not mean you are pro-life is because altogether too many girls who have abortions come from Catholic schools. A Catholic uniform means nothing to abortion providers unless the person wearing it personally (and openly) works against abortion.

Maria

 

[CCCatholic17]

The sad reason the uniform of a Catholic school does not mean you are pro-life is because altogether too many girls who have abortions come from Catholic schools. A Catholic uniform means nothing to abortion providers unless the person wearing it personally (and openly) works against abortion.

Maria

At my Catholic high school, a nun (Sister of St. Joseph–haha what a joke) personally drives teen girls to the clinic. I think we need little Divine Intervention!! I am so sick of hearing girls succum to this evil behavior and to have nuns encourage it, what a nightmare!

 

[MTD]

At my Catholic high school, a nun (Sister of St. Joseph–haha what a joke) personally drives teen girls to the clinic. I think we need little Divine Intervention!! I am so sick of hearing girls succum to this evil behavior and to have nuns encourage it, what a nightmare!

Yes, we need divine intervention. But we need human intervention too. As St. Joan of Arc said, “We will fight the battle, and God will give the victory” (or something along those lines).

You are in a position to do a lot of good. Why not approach those girls and show them what abortion really is?

You can give them the truth and pray for them. God will use your efforts and your prayers to bring about good. Remember, you are His hands and His feet.

Maria

 

[MTD]

Screaming baby-killer and waving posters of destroyed children only makes the pro-life crowd look like an unreasonable bunch of fanatics and can be denied.

I just wanted to point out to you that graphic signs of aborted babies have saved the lives of many unborn children.

It is not considered fanatical to show signs of Holocaust victims, so why is it fanatical to show signs of aborted babies? Is it because it’s not politically correct? Is it because the media has branded it as fanatical? Or is it because the signs prick the consciences of too many people who are doing nothing about stopping abortion, one of the greatest, if not the greatest, evil of our times?

Being one of those “fanatical” people who hold graphic signs in front of abortion clinics, I can assure you that nothing besides sidewalk counseling and prayer saves as many lives as showing the truth about abortion through graphic signs. As Fr. Frank Pavone says, America will not stop abortion until America sees abortion.

Maria

 

[Durendin]

At my Catholic high school, a nun (Sister of St. Joseph–haha what a joke) personally drives teen girls to the clinic.

I’m lost for words.

 

[Durendin]

I just wanted to point out to you that graphic signs of aborted babies have saved the lives of many unborn children.

Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not having a go at you, but assuming the post above this is true, then we have deep problems that have to be fought on ALL fronts.

 

[MTD]

Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not having a go at you,

I do understand; I have nothing against you. I was just presenting the other side of the picture.

but assuming the post above this is true, then we have deep problems that have to be fought on ALL fronts.

Unchastity is at the root of abortion, contraception, and homosexuality. It is the deep problem.

Maria

 

[CCCatholic17]

Unchastity is at the root of abortion, contraception, and homosexuality. It is the deep problem.

Maria

AMEN to that!! Every time a man and women has sex, they are creating a prayer together. A child is the answer to that prayer. Trinitarian love portrays this beautifully. If only they could understand…

 

[MTD]

AMEN to that!! Every time a man and women has sex, they are creating a prayer together. A child is the answer to that prayer. Trinitarian love portrays this beautifully. If only they could understand…

But we cannot just hope and pray that they will understand. We must do something about it. We will be held accountable before God for what we did not do (Matthew 25:31-46).

“If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” (James 2:15-17)

This is a call to action! Do whatever you can to fight abortion!

Maria

 

[CCCatholic17]

But we cannot just hope and pray that they will understand. We must do something about it. We will be held accountable before God for what we did not do (Matthew 25:31-46).

“If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” (James 2:15-17)

This is a call to action! Do whatever you can to fight abortion!

Maria

That is exactly why I posted a thread, to get action oriented ideas

*But * prayer is our greatest weapon!!