Graphic abortion pics while side walk counselling?

[beafedor]

Hello,
To those who active in the pro-life movement, are you for or against the use of graphic abortion pictures in front of abortion clinics while praying and doing side walk counseling?

Do you think that it helps opening the mother’s eyes as some people say or on the contrary undermines the work of side walk counselors as others say?

We are having much debate about this in my community and I’m curious about my brothers and sisters online perspective.
Thanks!

 

[Rascalking]

STRONGLY against it. My 6 year old neice and 4 year old nephew do NOT need to see them when I’m driving. I prefer to keep them innocent until they have to know about the horrors of abortion.

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

I also am very prolife and VERY opposed to graphic depictions. I think it’s disrespectful to the poor child who was murdered (they deserve a proper burial, not exploitation), and disrespectful to parents who want to teach their children about abortion when they are ready, not have a mutilated child shoved in their face and traumatize them.

I also speak from experience as to the effectiveness of those images. I go to a very VERY liberal college. I’d be shocked if the numbers of prochoicers here is under 70%. Every year people come to the main area of campus and hold pictures of poor murdered children. This causes such a rage from the students that it will usually push people on the fence to the “prochoice” side because they can’t fathom how people who love life display such images in the presence of children. (Many young children are on campus) I also have a friend who says that if it weren’t for those people carting those images around, she would go full-swing to pro-life.

So yes, I think these signs are counter-productive, disrespectful, and damaging. People with any decency should never ever use them.

 

[Rascalking]

I also am very prolife and VERY opposed to graphic depictions. I think it’s disrespectful to the poor child who was murdered (they deserve a proper burial, not exploitation), and disrespectful to parents who want to teach their children about abortion when they are ready, not have a mutilated child shoved in their face and traumatize them. .

I never thought about how it was disrespectful to the aborted child. Good point.

 

[beafedor]

Thanks for the reply. Hello Whitacre girl! It’s been a while! Indeed you have a point.
I’m also opposed to it but I know many people who say they have saved babies using these pictures. I’m not convinced that stigmatizing the sin will stop the sinner though, I’m thinking they would feel judged.

I’ve also heard pro-abort people say that they believe they are false Photoshop pictures, that abortion can’t be that bad? leaves me wondering.

 

[Aboveallbereal]

I also am very prolife and VERY opposed to graphic depictions. I think it’s disrespectful to the poor child who was murdered (they deserve a proper burial, not exploitation), and disrespectful to parents who want to teach their children about abortion when they are ready, not have a mutilated child shoved in their face and traumatize them.

I also speak from experience as to the effectiveness of those images. I go to a very VERY liberal college. I’d be shocked if the numbers of prochoicers here is under 70%. Every year people come to the main area of campus and hold pictures of poor murdered children. This causes such a rage from the students that it will usually push people on the fence to the “prochoice” side because they can’t fathom how people who love life display such images in the presence of children. (Many young children are on campus) I also have a friend who says that if it weren’t for those people carting those images around, she would go full-swing to pro-life.

So yes, I think these signs are counter-productive, disrespectful, and damaging. People with any decency should never ever use them.

While I agree with you on the issue at hand I have to say you are radically wrong in your analysis of why your student colleagues react so violently to the images.

It has nothing whatever to do with disgust at the showing of such images to children though of course that is a useful smokescreen. It has everything to do with being made to face the ugly truth when out of sight is out of mind.

The vast majority of pro choicers are pro choice not because of some profound belief in the inhumanity of the unborn but rather out of a self serving desire to assist the construction of a morality which allows them a backstop if contraception fails them. Don’t be impressed with crocodile tears about poor little children being disturbed.

 

[RosaryFan]

Hello,
To those who active in the pro-life movement, are you for or against the use of graphic abortion pictures in front of abortion clinics while praying and doing side walk counseling?

Do you think that it helps opening the mother’s eyes as some people say or on the contrary undermines the work of side walk counselors as others say?

We are having much debate about this in my community and I’m curious about my brothers and sisters online perspective.
Thanks!

I am for graphic abortion pictures outside of the abortion clinics. They represent the truth that the abortion clinics try so desperately to hide. I don’t see anything wrong with them at all. If you turn on the TV, you see constant graphic blood, guts and gore. At least ours is the truth. Those women entering the abortuaries should be well informed and made aware of the magnitude of their decision to abort. I consider it NOT placing my light under a bushel!

 

[challam2010]

Soon after the Roe v Wade decision, when the early Right To Life movement got underway, one of their tactics was to use still pictures and films of the process and results of abortion.

At that time, I was a music leader for a (primarily) young people’s mass, and the local RTL chairman insisted on showing one of these films at the close of mass. I was vehemently against it then (and lost the argument) and am absolutely opposed to it now.

I think that strategy was one of the main reasons that the early RTL movement started losing the battle of public opinion. I can’t help but think that if the positives had been stressed (give the gift of adoption, give the baby a chance for life) instead of the negatives (see how evil this is, see how evil you are for doing it) – how much different the results may have been.

Unfortunately, the reality of today’s world, where everything is “marketed,” isn’t that truth counts, but that perception is everything. We know the truth of abortion and how horrible it is – but how much stronger is the effect of stressing the GOOD that the mother can do for her child, and how strong and loving that will prove her to be.

Those horrible, graphic (yes, and true) pictures have no place in guiding a confused, desperate, panicky woman to making the choice for life… they are beating her up instead of lovingly helping her toward deeper thought and consideration.

 

[Rascalking]

I am for graphic abortion pictures outside of the abortion clinics. They represent the truth that the abortion clinics try so desperately to hide. I don’t see anything wrong with them at all. If you turn on the TV, you see constant graphic blood, guts and gore. At least ours is the truth. Those women entering the abortuaries should be well informed and made aware of the magnitude of their decision to abort. I consider it NOT placing my light under a bushel!

Those graphic pictures haven’t really stopped anyone from getting an abortion. They have turned off people like myself, and others-I’m still pro-life, but there is something in me that makes me NOT want to be associated with people who show these pictures.

If you endorse that kind of violence, why not show bloody pictures of WW II to 5 year olds as well?

 

[RosaryFan]

Those graphic pictures haven’t really stopped anyone from getting an abortion. They have turned off people like myself, and others-I’m still pro-life, but there is something in me that makes me NOT want to be associated with people who show these pictures.

If you endorse that kind of violence, why not show bloody pictures of WW II to 5 year olds as well?

I think it’s safe to assume most women entering the abortuaries are not 5 years old. I’m just saying with all the gore that shoved down our throats on TV, why are so many people afraid of the truth of the violence of abortion? In a courtroom, graphic photos are shown all the time to the jury in order to stress the level of violence committed against the victims. I think we owe the tiny victims of abortion at least that much. Why on earth wouldn’t you want the violence of abortion made public knowledge. It may not change the woman’s mind every time, but it does on some occasions (I’ve seen it). So isn’t it worth it if you save one baby?

Additionally, the passers-by (yourself excluded) may have a change of heart once they see the reality. We live in a society where violence is the norm, especially in the entertainment field. I think the pro-life movement has the right to show the truth of that particular violent act. People need to know.

 

[RosaryFan]

I never thought about how it was disrespectful to the aborted child. Good point.

Is it disrespectful to show holocaust pictures in history books (to children, I might add)? No.

 

[06convert]

I used to be pro-choice and the pictures made me dislike the protestors even more than I already did. It wasn’t until I found the truth that I went back and looked at the pictures that I believed that is what really happens to an aborted baby.

The bottom line is that we don’t protest other murders by showing pictures of murdered people. How should this be different?

 

[joe_cool]

I also have a friend who says that if it weren’t for those people carting those images around, she would go full-swing to pro-life.

Your friend is lying. She is merely assigning blame for her stance on the issue, rather than taking ownership of it.

That’s like me saying I’ll go on a rocket ship ride to the moon as soon as all the African warlords give up their guns. I made a change in my stance contingent on something that will never happen - so I get what I really want without having to take ownership of my stance on rocket ship rides.

 

[Aboveallbereal]

Your friend is lying. She is merely assigning blame for her stance on the issue, rather than taking ownership of it.

That’s like me saying I’ll go on a rocket ship ride to the moon as soon as all the African warlords give up their guns. I made a change in my stance contingent on something that will never happen - so I get what I really want without having to take ownership of my stance on rocket ship rides.

Joe is 100% correct whitacre-girl…not that you need to be told this given you almost certainly have th insight to realise your are being openly lied to by your friend.

Think about it. “Oh I too would regard the final solution as wrong if it wasn’t for the that tiresome Spielberg pushing guilt at me”. laughable and dishonest.

 

[Rascalking]

Is it disrespectful to show holocaust pictures in history books (to children, I might add)? No.

Yes, it is. Children should be kept innocent for as long as possible, within reason. Showing them repulsive pictures of both the holocaust and of aborted children is wrong.

 

[Rascalking]

I think it’s safe to assume most women entering the abortuaries are not 5 years old. I’m just saying with all the gore that shoved down our throats on TV, why are so many people afraid of the truth of the violence of abortion? In a courtroom, graphic photos are shown all the time to the jury in order to stress the level of violence committed against the victims. I think we owe the tiny victims of abortion at least that much. Why on earth wouldn’t you want the violence of abortion made public knowledge. It may not change the woman’s mind every time, but it does on some occasions (I’ve seen it). So isn’t it worth it if you save one baby?

Additionally, the passers-by (yourself excluded) may have a change of heart once they see the reality. We live in a society where violence is the norm, especially in the entertainment field. I think the pro-life movement has the right to show the truth of that particular violent act. People need to know.

Your right. Children don’t usually go into abortion clinics. However, they may still see the pictures/billboards.

In courtrooms, there are not small children to see show the pictures too.

I don’t need a change of heart. I’m pro-life.

The pictures make me want to vomit, not march with pro-lifers.

It’s best to agree to disagree.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

I just joined this forum and the first place I went, I found this post, which is a subject I wrestle with all the time. I do sidewalk counseling and I pray in front of Planned Parenthood, so I have direct experience on both sides. I have stood with a man who does use the signs and it’s harder for him to get a client to even consider talking to him.

From my experience: The graphic photos do not belong in front of an abortion clinic. It is not that I think young children should be protected, I think children should understand what is happening there. It is that the clients of abortion clinics tend to harden their hearts to accomplish the deed, and seeing those photographs does not soften their hearts, but makes them harden even more, against the knowledge that the picture they are seeing could be their baby.

The death-scorts at Planned Parenthood tell the clients that we are “protesters.” If we are out there with no signs, just our rosaries, perhaps a 40 Days for Life banner or a sign that simply says “Abortion hurts women” or something, then it looks like the death-scorts might just be lying…if we do have the signs and we shout at them, then Planned Parenthood’s propaganda seems true. If we are out there peacefully praying, sometimes passers-by are curious, not repulsed.

On the other hand…I get so very angry and frustrated with people’s denial of what is really happening in our country and the world! I want them to understand what abortion really means, what happens to the baby (NOT a blob of tissue!) so that they can no longer consider abortion as any sort of option. Prayer seems not to have any effect at all, since the clients go in and have abortions every day, day in and day out. I understand how Jesus felt at the temple, filled with righteous anger and indignation. I know that is how the Operation Rescue people felt, and why they locked themselves to the doors of abortion clinics and to the exam tables. But they got arrested, and the clinic just rescheduled the abortions for the next day.

I do think the graphics have their place, and that is why I helped with the GAP, the Genocide Awareness Program, on a local college campus. That to me is the place for educating young adults, hopefully opening a few eyes to the injustice that is abortion. We had a few protesters but a lot more people looking at the displays with curiosity, you could see they were processing what the signs showed. I am adding the link here, and they have a video on their website that is VERY graphic, so don’t go there if you haven’t seen such things. abortionno.org/

I know that I personally cannot reach a client’s heart if I hold a graphic sign, but if I have my Bible, prayer book, rosary, and brochures, I might have success. I hope that helps.

 

[RosaryFan]

Yes, it is. Children should be kept innocent for as long as possible, within reason. Showing them repulsive pictures of both the holocaust and of aborted children is wrong.

Then why are there holocaust photos in all of the history books? Apparently, I’m not alone in my thinking.

Quite frankly, if I was an aborted baby, I’d be screaming out to have those pictures shown for the sake of gaining some justice and for the sake of educating the ignorant.

History books do it; courtrooms do it; TV commercials for “Feed the Children” and “SPCA” do it; Showing the ugly truth is a way of pricking people’s consciences so that they wake up and do something about it.

We are fighting a battle for the unborn. Battles are not pretty. Sometimes we must fight fire with fire.

Obviously, we don’t agree on the issue and you are entitled to your opinion, as I am. But just know that these tactics are used all the time and for different reasons. Don’t just admonish the pro-lifers. You must also include those organizations that feed starving children, save abused animals and teach history.

 

[Rascalking]

Then why are there holocaust photos in all of the history books? Apparently, I’m not alone in my thinking.

Quite frankly, if I was an aborted baby, I’d be screaming out to have those pictures shown for the sake of gaining some justice and for the sake of educating the ignorant.

History books do it; courtrooms do it; TV commercials for “Feed the Children” and “SPCA” do it; Showing the ugly truth is a way of pricking people’s consciences so that they wake up and do something about it.

We are fighting a battle for the unborn. Battles are not pretty. Sometimes we must fight fire with fire.

Obviously, we don’t agree on the issue and you are entitled to your opinion, as I am. But just know that these tactics are used all the time and for different reasons. Don’t just admonish the pro-lifers. You must also include those organizations that feed starving children, save abused animals and teach history.

I never said you weren’t entitled to your opinion. Rock on, you just don’t know the damage your doing to the pro-life side.

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

I think it’s safe to assume most women entering the abortuaries are not 5 years old. I’m just saying with all the gore that shoved down our throats on TV, why are so many people afraid of the truth of the violence of abortion? In a courtroom, graphic photos are shown all the time to the jury in order to stress the level of violence committed against the victims.** I think we owe the tiny victims of abortion at least that much.** Why on earth wouldn’t you want the violence of abortion made public knowledge. It may not change the woman’s mind every time, but it does on some occasions (I’ve seen it). So isn’t it worth it if you save one baby?

Additionally, the passers-by (yourself excluded) may have a change of heart once they see the reality. We live in a society where violence is the norm, especially in the entertainment field. I think the pro-life movement has the right to show the truth of that particular violent act. People need to know.

I personally think that we owe the victims of this horrible crime the dignity to rest in peace, rather than have their mutilated corpses plastered on picket boards and buses for the world to see.

There are better ways to stop this atrocity than to further dehumanize these innocent children.