This is a guest post by Claudia Gutierrez age 17 from Napa, California
This Veteran’s Day Weekend, I had the privilege of attending the first International Pro-Life Youth Conference. I heard pro-life leaders from all over the world encourage us to follow in their footsteps and set the world ablaze with the pro-life message. Prior to attending this conference, I had not been setting the world ablaze—not even close. My pro-life work in those past couple weeks wouldn’t have even amounted to a spark! That is the danger of losing one’s momentum when it comes to activism; you can always find a reason NOT to do it!
Boy, was I in for an awakening when I sat down for the first speech at the conference. Before Lila Rose had even finished speaking, my soul had been reignited with the fire of pro-life activism, and I was raring to go. Her message about how you are never too young to make a difference as long as you get out there and make the effort really hit close to home. In Napa, California, I run my own pro-life club and my mind was racing with all of the new and exciting ideas for events I could hold with this club. I could not wait to go home and get to work sharing the pro-life message.
Throughout the weekend, I listened to each qualified and distinguished speaker with keen ears and bated breath. I was captivated by every one of them and felt compelled to act; my heart was moved so strongly. I was most intrigued by the Irish speakers, and not just because of their wonderful accents! The pro-life movement in Ireland is fascinating because, well, it was SUCCESSFUL! I had no idea that any countries in Europe were still anti-abortion, especially one as well-known as Ireland. Another encouraging aspect of their pro-life movement was that it was a YOUTH-movement! It was the young people of Ireland that kept abortion out of their country.
The speakers from Ireland’s pro-life organization, Youth Defence, detailed how it was a constant battle to keep abortion out of their country, what with there being pressure on all sides from the European Union and the United Nations. Even though they described their struggle as constant, it gave me hope, as an American, that one day we will be able to rid our country of the evil of abortion. It will undoubtedly be a long road ahead before we see abortion outlawed in America, but before we can even think of succeeding in the courts, we have to succeed on the streets, in the press, and ultimately in the hearts of the American people. We will have to work tirelessly and selflessly to follow in the footsteps of Ireland and make abortion unthinkable in our country—and in the whole world—by continuing to save babies and change hearts.
Being a defender of life is not a new premise, but it is still the most noble work one can perform. In fact, this quote from Elie Wiesel, a man of extraordinary courage in a time of great terror — the Jewish Holocaust — perfectly describes why we cannot simply sit back and watch while our brothers and sisters are the victims of injustice:
“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
It is by these words that I now live my life. Neutrality and silence are lethal—it is only through courage and by the light of God that we can end abortion. And it all starts with YOU making the choice to stand for what’s right—to stand for life. So, it is in this spirit of love for the unborn that I encourage you to read about the message of the International ProLife Youth Conference and I can guarantee that you too will be ready to set the world ablaze.
Couldn’t make it? No worries, you can still take the knowledge and tools that were given. . . Warwick Pascoe – Making of a Masterpiece
If people understood how beautiful the masterpiece of human beings is, they would value life so much more. Warwick Pascoe opened his talk with this question, “Has anyone ever told you that you are a masterpiece?”
No one argues whether or not the baby in this picture is human and whether or not it should be protected. Warwick gives presentations in schools, colleges, prisons, and in business settings all over New Zealand where he shows the beautiful masterpieces of the child developing in utero. Warwick teaches about fetal development in the hope of creating better understand of the masterpiece of human beings — even at the earliest stages of development in the womb.
There is no debate about what has been created in the womb. It is the value of what has been created which is debated. Therefore, respect the value of your own masterpiece and those of others. Help others to see the masterpiece of human development because every individual is a unique masterpiece.
Kristina Garza, Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
~ Mother Teresa ~
In 2006 Kristina ran into Survivors Campus Life Team, which does abortion education on college campuses, on her campus. She was handed a peice of literature that later led her to do something about abortion. Always pro-life, however apathetic, Kristina started to speak out against abortion because others were, and had reached out to her. Kristina said “You never know the seeds you’re planting.” No matter how much time you give, God will use you. It’s important that you at least do something!
Joe Langfeld, Human Life Alliance
“You’re prolife. So what? What are you going to do about it?” Joe Langfeld started his talk off with this challenge.
Human Life Alliance (HLA) reaches millions of high school and college students accross the country with their pro-life literature. HLA works hard to create materials that reach students where they’re at. Many students after reading the literature say “they would never have read it if they knew it was pro-life”. Thanks to fantastic marketing, HLA has created attention grabbing images which attract people to read their materials. With this in mind, Joe strongly reminded conference attendees to reach people where they’re at. Remember, what you’re marketing may not be appealing to you as a pro-lifer but it may be to someone who is not pro-life.
Joe reminded the young people present “Your beliefs will show up in your actions everywhere you go.” Joe shared that many years ago he quit a job when the political candidate he worked for decided to change his position on abortion to pro-abortion after formerly being pro-life… The politician acknowledged he knew abortion was wrong but for furthering his work he would change sides and support pro-abortion legislation.
Joe told an amazing story of a woman that contacted Joe after having received a piece of HLA literature two years prior. The young woman later used that literature to convince her own mother not to make her have an abortion, and her child is alive today because of it.
In closing Joe posed this challenge: “Think about doing something big and bold. What can reach the most people as possible?”
Rebecca Roughneen, Youth Defense
Rebecca, her comrades, and vigilant pro-lifers that came before her, have helped to maintain an Abortion Free Ireland! Rebecca considers the most important pro-life work to be that which is done on campuses reaching young women.
Rebecca recalls when a friend of hers in college became pregnant and traveled to Europe to obtain an abortion (in Ireland abortion is illegal). Rebecca regrets and feels bad for not speaking up to help her friend from aborting the child. After this experience Rebecca felt called to be active in the fight against abortion. Rebecca encourages everyone to at least give an hour a week to the pro-life movement because “every person here can end abortion!”
Several years ago, during a time of great political struggle to keep abortion illegal in Ireland, seven youth people took to the streets with images of aborted children and they coordinated constant prayer vigils and rallies. If those seven young people, 20 years ago in Ireland, had not stood up and fought against abortion, abortion would be legal today in Ireland. Ireland is abortion free to this day and it’s because people give whatever time they can to stand against the injustice of abortion of the babies.
Rebecca closed by saying, “It’s so easy to save babies. A lot of times, all it takes is you standing there in front of the abortion clinic praying.”
Allison Aranda, Attorney at Life Legal Defense Coalition
Life Legal Defense is willing to persevere in the long process to stand up for what is just and right and will work with pro-lifers who need help in legal cases. Allison shared her shock when years ago she heard of Survivors Campus Life Team and other people who were arrested for talking about abortion while standing on a public sidewalk. This made no sense to her and she was appalled! Soon there after, Allison went to checkout Survivors activism for the first time, only to be immediately surprised upon arrival, because the police were already at the clinic and were trying to arrest the group for holding signs on a public sidewalk and for writing with chalk “Choose Life” along with other pro-life messages. She was shocked because they weren’t doing anything wrong! She said, “Really, for using chalk that washes off?” Since then Allison has worked, with groups like Survivors, to educate pro-life activists and prayer warriors about their civil rights and how to defend those rights when erroneously challenged, even when the challenge comes from law enforcement.
Sometimes people will do whatever it takes just to keep your message from getting out into the community, and they are successful at times by just taking your signs or holding you in a police car for an hour. Don’t allow people of authority to bully you into not standing up for what you believe in! Unfortunately, there will always be an attempt to silence your pro-life work, just because of your message and not because you’re doing something wrong.
Jill Stanek, JillStanek.com – New Media and Social Media:
The next HUGE pro-life frontier
Jill began by sharing about demographics of the present generation — Generation Y– (those born between 1982-2002). Jill explained that my generation is one of “Digital Natives” because we are so in tune with technology from texting, Facebook, Twitter, smart phones, and more. Considering the saviness of Generation Y, Jill encouraged conference participants to blog, and went on to share a little bit about how her own personal blog reaches thousands of people every single day. That’s a lot of people who can be influenced simply through utilizing technology and writing about abortion. (See Jill’s blogging tips given during the social/new media session on day 1.)
Jill is just one blogger and she reaches tons of thousands of people each day through her blog and by promoting them on Twitter and Facebook. You, as one pro-lifer, potentially have the power to reach as many people and more on the Internet as Barack Obama did during his 2008 presidential campaign when he spoke to a crowd of 200,000 in Berlin!
Perhaps you don’t want to blog, or don’t feel called to blog or social network about abortion. But you can take a few minutes a day (or whenever you have time) to comment online on blogs, or in discussions about abortion. There is much inaccurate information going around that you can help to clarify. Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign hired 400 full time bloggers to comment on articles and blogs everywhere online to help build up or defend Obama’s character in an effort to promote Obama’s candidacy.
Wondering where to get blogging content?
Google Alerts on aboriton, prolife, prochoice
Prolife and proaboriton twitter accounts
TV shows
Magazines,
Also, it’s important that you blog and promote during times of the day that will reach your audience in the largest numbers.
Freedom Riders
Throughout the conference various video clips and quotes of the civil rights movement were shared. Here is one that really stood out:
“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it.
He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it”
~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ~
Walter Hoye, Issues for Life Foundation
Walter shared about the genocide of his people, and that they will become an endangered species if the killing does not stop. Walter looked into the audience during his talk and said, “Maybe starting today with you, the pro-life movement can come together in love and unity to attack abortion on every front possible.”
In closing Walter reminded the youth in attendance that what has been learned at the conference is vital to ending abortion today. Walter hopes and prays that everyone will utilize and listen to the resources of the International ProLife Youth Conference.
Panel Forum: Advocating Life Internationally
Dr. Eoghan De Faoite of Youth Defence (Moderator) Panelists: Tim Herrmann of C-FAM
Ide Nic Mhathuna of Youth Defense
Andy Moore of ProLife Planet
120,000 babies aborted daily around the world.
Did you know that over 160,000 million sex selection abortions on girls
have taken place worldwide since 1978? We are fighting a global
struggle!
Tim Herrmann, C-FAM
Bring students to join C-FAM for lobbying at the UN. International Youth Coalition (IYC)…
Tim said: “The real issue is the culture we live in. In order to turn the tide we have to show that our way of thinking is reasonable. In order for the pro-life movement to be successful it must be beyond an ideology.” Tim went on to share situations where, while working at the United Nations, those who disagreed with his position on abortion would challenge him or ask questions. Tim explained how a wide level of respect was earned through articulately sharing the pro-life position, and in doing so in a loving and respectful manner.
Abortion is called reproductive health mistakenly because people were taught that jargon. Just like if your dad taught you that a giraffe is called an elephant. When you grow up you know a giraffe is a giraffe but you call it an elephant because that’s what you were taught. In order to help change how people perceive abortion, we must change the conversation and language used to discuss the abortion issue. Abortion is more tolerable when we call it choice. He who controls the language controls the game.
Andy Moore, Pro-life Planet
Some of the first words that came from Andy moved the young people in the crowd to cheer with joy when he said, “This is not a conference, this is a war counsel!” “To be clear, I am not talking about violence.”
Prolife is not an adjective but a verb — You never know if today is the day someone will see your pro-life shirt and choose life. As a former fetus I have a duty to speak up for my preborn brothers and sisters!
Biblical wisdom to end abortion — It is vital in helping you preach the prolife message with patience, wisdom, humility and more. We will speak against this injustice when it’s hip and cool and when we are persecuted for it.
“When you have momentum going, play the momentum”
~ Donald Trump ~
Stopping abortion internationally:
1. Offer support to international pro-life groups.
2. Expose people and organizations around the world that support abortion.
“Each person has the power to do damage to the abortion industry.” Andy Moore
Ide Nic Mhathuna, Youth Defense
“I cannot stand before God when I die and say I was too busy to do anything (to stop abortion)”
~ Ide Nid Mhathuna ~
Even with Ireland being abortion free, the Irish still have to continue to fight the media which tries to push abortion on their country. We benefit from working together as an international movement by sharing successes, stories, ideas, strategies, creativity, and more. It’s not about us or any other organization. It’s about ending abortion and keeping Ireland abortion free.
Questions for the Panel:
Q. Girl scout leader with a few young girl scouts: We are criticized for staying in the organization when we knowingly sell cookies and do other projects while funding and supporting Planned Parenthood? What should we do?
A. Don’t leave because it is vital that you influence culture while being inside the culture. Girl Scouts is a beautiful organization which has helped many. Planned Parenthood isn’t girl scouts, the members are Girl Scouts! Hold firm to what you believe in. No one can do a better job of affecting Girl Scouts than those girls who are involved.
Stay tuned in this week as I continue to write about the remaining talks given at the IPYC . . .
As the first day of the International ProLife Youth Conference (IPYC) comes to a close, over 300 young people from across the world are going to sleep energized about the pro-life work they have been activated to participate in. The speakers and panelists have done an incredible job of truly inspiring the next generation to be apart of the global movement for life. I know that incredible pro-life leaders will come from this conference and numerous lives will be saved. As promised, here is what you’re missing if you weren’t able to joins us at the conference.
“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
After opening up the conference with the above quote from Ellie Wiesel, master of ceremonies, Reverend Patrick Mahoney, from Christian Defense Coalition shared the main goal of the IPYC, “to leave transformed” in two ways: we do not want to be silent about abortion and we want to take a side on abortion. Speak out against abortion!
Building a Culture of Life — Lila Rose
After sharing about her prolife journey and her first exposure to abortion at age 9, when she found a book on abortion with images of little aborted babies that shocked her. After getting over the initial shock of learning that what was shown in those pictures was abortion, and that abortion was/is a constitutional right because of Roe v Wade, Lila prayed “Lord, use me to help save lives.” Isn’t it amazing what God does when you give yourself? Since then, Lila Rose has been effective in exposing the sexual abuse of Planned Parenthood and much more. You can learn more about her work at LiveAction.org.
“legally, violently tortured to death.” abortion clinic 5 minutes away from location. Open today and tomorrow performing abortions.
One of the things that stood out the most to me during Lila’s talk was when she shared about her teen years doing pro-life work and when she first started having her meetings for what is now Live Action. She encouraged the audience to always persevere and explained how sometimes she would make extreme efforts to plan her meeting to take action in fighting abortion, and no one would show up. Lila mentioned a conversation with her mom. Lila told he mom she didn’’t understand why her friends said they were pro-life but they didn’t show up. Her mom told her leadership is lonely, but you have to keep pushing. There will be times when you feel alone, discouraged, or you don’t know what you want to do; but you have to move forward and keep taking the next steps.
This being said, we don’t know what the future will bring. You never know when your life will end. It could end tomorrow, but until our last breath we should give our time and make an effort to save lives.
Trust God and move forward in saving lives because we must stop the cycle of death that begins when abortion takes place. Never be discouraged and always trust that God will help finish our work, but always move forward.
Lila left us with these thoughts: Every day try to ask yourself what am I doing for my unborn brothers and sisters? What would I have done during the Jewish Holocaust when people were being killed? Now, will I stop babies from being killed during America’s Holocaust?
Panel Forum: Using New Media to Advance the Pro-Life Message Panelists:
Jill Stanek of JillStanek.com
Bryan Kemper of Stand True
Lila Rose of Live Action
Jill Stanek Encourages people to be active bloggers for life and here are her 12 tips for Blogging:
Strive for excellence- you’re representing the pro-life movement.
Find your niche- become an expert on something
Think of your blog as a vocation- not your ego trip and be generous and give credit and love to other pro-lifers
Develop a mission statement
Blog strategically- what can I blog today that will help our movement the most or hurt theirs the most
Blog often
Keep it pithy – edit it well. Keep it as compact as possible. Break up paragraphs and add pictures and graphs
Give photo credit – link to website or give info
Write original content
Cross post to twitter and Facebook – increase visibility
Be accurate – back up your work and verify even if great source
Develop a thick skin — people will criticize you and defame you for what you do
Social media tips from Bryan Kemper:
Create hot graphics that are made public and tag people. Allow people to share. The images get people thinking, creates great awareness, and brings tons of new traffic.
Status 365– Sign up for automatic pro-life updates to your Facebook page at AbolishAbortion.com
“Young people believe God is bigger than abortion!” Bryan Kemper
Lila Rose’s shares on social/new media:
It’s cutting edge and bypasses the boundaries of filtered media. Where we couldn’t break through the gatekeepers of media years ago, we can now with the powerful tools like Facebook and Twitter.
Visual media is even stronger than a lot of words. Pictures have historically changed public perception and made history. Images of of the slave trade, the civil rights movement, the Jewish holocaust of World War II, and many other atrocities have been put to a stop because people saw first hand what was happening and didn’t allow it to contiue. What’s so amazing about this is that you can be the distributer of images and videos that change the culture!
Some questions asked of the panelists during the social media session:
Q. What can one do when they see women online who say they’re considering having an abortion?
A. Pray to the holy spirit to guide your words.
Tell the woman you care about them and their baby.
Remind the woman it is child and abortion will hurt her emotionally and physically.
Tell her she can make the right choice and you will help her.
Q. What if you post something Prolife and it turns into a big debate?
A. Don’t go down a rabbit trail. Always bring it back to the unborn babies and those hurt by abortion. Be kind and loving in your response. Don’t make enemies by answering disrespectfully. People will respect you and your opinion even if they don’t agree with you when you’re respectful. There are far more people reading those comments and conversations that don’t say anything, but it they learn form it.
Closing remarks from panelists Bryan Kemper — Online activism cannot replace actual activism. It should only supplement activism.
Austin Ruse, C-Fam
C-Fam’s work is amazing and so many don’t know it. Austin shared that we (the pro-life movement) “have won”! As the UN has tried to make abortion a universal right C-Fam has actively stopped this from happening.
“When someone raises the flag. others gather to it.” Austin Ruse
“History is made by those who stay to the very end.” Austin Ruse
Words on ending abortion from Austin,”The microphone will not be taken back unless it is taken back here and all other places.”
Bryan Kemper of Stand True
Bryan Kemper from Stand True encourages young people to participate in BeMyVote.com campaign to change the 2012 elections to promote the dignity of human life.
The challenge Bryan gave to everyone at the conferene:
What would I do if the house across from a Nazi camp was mine? Would I help a Jew who came to me asking for help? Would I go and try to save them? A holocaust is happening in our society today. Babies are torn apart and taken away in trashcans from abortion clinics. There are two big differences between the Jews and the babies in the womb: 1) stage of life 2) the child in the womb does not have a voice.
A lot of people say, “yeah, being prolife and standing against abortion is great, but I’m not called to it”.
We are all called to love our neighbor as ourselves. Our neighbor is our fellow human being. Am I going to walk past my neighbor robbed and beaten on the side of the road? Am I called to love my neighbor as myself or will I leave my neighbor to die in a ditch? That ditch is over 53 million lives lost to abortion. But I don’t feel called to help my neighbor?
Dr. Eogan De Faoite of Ireland’s Youth Defence
Dr. Eogan has worked to help keep Ireland abortion free!
In 1992 a group of 7 college age students stood up against Ireland’s version of Roe v Wade, and they were successful. This group is called Youth Defence. They were made the leaders of the pro-life movement in Ireland by organizing events and creating awareness to fight to keep Ireland abortion free. Nearly 20 years later, Ireland is still abortion free! Commitment to the cause, strength in conviction, trust and motivation in God, and having courage to take necessary risks is what has kept abortion illegal in Ireland. This movement doesn’t need a bunch of people; it needs a group of people to take a bunch of risks. All these risks are nothing when we consider what we are fighting for.
Youth Defence has had to develop a quick pace to stay one step ahead of the opponent to keep Ireland abortion free. Abortion needs to not be illegal; it needs to be unthinkable.
Activism, outreach, and education are the keys that have helped to keep Ireland abortion free to this day,and graphic images have been a huge part of conveying what abortion truly is to the people of Ireland.
In closing, the International ProLife Youth Conference has been an incredible, inspiring, and motivating experience. There is much more I could share, but I would have to write for days. I encourage you to share this article with your friends and family. We will work to end abortion. Will you be apart of the global movement for life? Answer the call!
For the Dignity of the Born and Unborn,
Timmerie
Continue to Follow the conference live on www.Twitter.com/Timmerie and stay tuned for more blog updates!
I’m on my way to the International Pro-life Youth Conference in LA. I look forward to hearing from various international pro- life advocates who will be speaking this weekend, and to connecting with other pro-life youth from across the world. I know there are many who are unable to attend this weekend so I plan to bring the conference to you through various blog and twitter updates. You can attend the conference via cyberspace by following along with me online. Stay connected:
The unborn, pregnant mothers, and all whom are affected by abortion need the next generation and the generations after that to help end the suffering and the cultural acceptance of abortion world wide. If you won’t speak for the voiceless who will? Lets be a part of the global movement for life!
Saints Peter and Paul are two of many martyrs who were killed for what they believe. They weren’t killed for hurting anyone but for sharing the gospel and for standing firm in their convictions. Over the years thousands of men, women, and children have been martyred for standing up against injustices everywhere. The stories of martyrs commonly feel like something that only happened hundreds of years ago and are far from something we would expect to see today, but this isn’t the case. While we are fortunate in America to have many freedoms, people in other countries are not. I’m literally in tears, once against as I write this, to think of those who are killed for their Christian beliefs or for their brave fight against the scourge of abortion.
We are all aware of the One Child Policy that is enforced in China; however, many people don’t know the story of a man and wife, who have for years now stood up in defense of the men, women, and children who have been affected by China’s One Child policy – which has resulted in millions of forced abortions. There are countless stories I could share with you of women who have been brutally forced to abort child after child when they become pregnant after their first child. Women in China are literally dragged out of their homes and violently held down for what we call in America a ‘simple procedure’ . . . Yet, what I have to tell you today isn’t about these women who are forced to abort, but about one courageous person who stood for human rights, even when Chinese officials attacked him and his family.
About a month ago rumors began to circulate of the possible death of notorious forced abortion and sterilization opponent, Chen Guangcheng. It has yet to be confirmed, but if it is true, Chen’s death would be at the hands of the Chinese officials who have kept him and his wife under house arrest for almost a year now. (Read the press release about Chen’s possible death.) Chen and his wife were brutally assaulted and kept isolated with no contact to the outside world, and they were denied much needed medical care. Why did the Chinese government silence Chen? Because, Chen revealed that over 130,000 forced abortions and sterilizations took place in Linyi County in 2005 alone. This is just ONE county in all of China.
Reggie Littlejohn, President of Women’s Rights Without Frontiers said the following after finding out about Chen’s possible death:
“If Chen is dead, then the Chinese Communist Party is fully responsible for killing him through torture, denial of medical treatment and slow starvation. If Chen is alive, we urgently demand that he and his family be released immediately and unconditionally, for medical evaluation and treatment.”
To date there has still been no news of Chen or his family; however, the Chineese people need our support. Chen is a martyr that stood up against forced abortion and sterilization, and as a result, he and his wife were brutally and repeatedly beaten, and abandoned with multiple broken bones and very serious injuries. Chen and his wife were left behind without food or medical assistance. He may be dead because of it. If the government brutally silences everyone who speaks out against the One Child Policy, families of China must be scared, and I’ve heard first hand of many families that are. You can help support the people of China by speaking out against the One Child Policy.
Chen is/was blind and always wore sunglasses. In an effort to stand in solidarity and give support to the people of China, a campaign has been launched asking supporters to take pictures wearing sunglasses and to hold up signs reading “free Chen” or some message that supports China in speaking out against the injustice of the One Child Policy. Learn more about what to do here.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Chen, his family, and all other heroes and martyrs who have stood up against forced abortion and sterilization in China. I hope that the defense of women and children continues, because we must stand up against the injustice of China’s One Child Policy. Chen is a true martyr for the unborn who has loved by his actions of helping others, despite severe, and at times, violent opposition. Are your religious freedoms or physical safety compromised by vocally supporting the unborn from a death sentence? If not, can you possibly justify quietly standing on the side lines while over one million children are slaughtered in the womb every year in the US? I challenge you to stand in solidarity with the people of China, Chen Guangcheng, and the millions of children at risk of death by abortion every day.
Some of the many stories about the beating of Chen and his family:
I must say that I’m quite thrilled to be writing this blog. Even with loads of homework, I’m stopping to share my thoughts. . . Because today is an exciting day.
Moments ago I realized that a year from today will be the 2012 presidential election. That means, President Obama’s term will be up. I pray, hope, and believe that President Obama will be defeated a year from now. The destruction he has wrought on our country, especially on religious freedoms and the moral beliefs of so many, is atrocious. President Obama is the most radically pro-abortion president our country has ever seen. Excuse my bluntness, but there is no question whether or not President Obama is in bed with Planned Parenthood. From cross overs in staff between the president’s cabinet and Planned Parenthood, to all the extravagant parties and events President Obama attends with Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards, the president’s long time romance with Planned Parenthood is no secret nor has the president ever desired to hide it.
I can hardly believe it has been three years since the day President Obama was elected. I remember praying and praying that it would not happen because it was so clear that Barack Obama had no regard for unborn children in the womb. If a man could be so clear in his position against life in the womb, then how could we ever expect him to respect any human life or human rights. As I watched the poles and continued to check my iPhone for updates inbetween my dance classes on November 8, 2008; I prayed and worried. Praise God proposition 8 was passing in California to define marriage between one man and one woman, but Barack Obama was winning.
As the night drew to a close, I wept, because I knew that Barack Obama being elected meant further destruction of life and expansion in abortion rights and accessibility. God knows we have fought and prayed as President Obama pushed FOCA, removed conscience rights, funded abortion and contraception in Health Care, and so much more. Just take a look at a little bit of his pro-abortion record here**.
Three years have gone by where we have exhausted resources, prayed to the point of tears, and fasted till we were starving because the unborn needed and still need our prayers and protection. But thank God, we should only have to endure another year of this radical pro-abortion president. But, we cannot defeat President Obama a year from today if we remain silent. We must be unified in our actions and we must pray and fast. Be educated on the presidential candidates and their positions.
We can defeat President Obama in 2012! I am certain we will. But you have to step out in faith and help make it happen. Talk to your pears and educate others because President Obama will be President no more, a year from now.
A hearing is scheduled for November 3rd on Senator Diane Feinstien’s bill to repeal the Marriage Act. If her bill were to pass it would redefine marriage across the nation. States laws concerning marriage would be shaken in favor of same sex marriage. Please take a minute to send a message through National Organization for Marriage’s website in defense of the Marriage Act.
MarriageAgenda.org shares: “Viki Knox, a public school teacher, posted on her personal Facebook page objections to celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History month in her public school. Gay-marriage advocates are now demanding she be fired.”
Please take a moment to defend this woman’s job and her right to post what she pleases on her Facebook page. Petition in Defense of Viki Knox.
Media and Marriage Research
Supporters of marriage are needed for an online research study concerning communication messages about how marriage is defined within the United States.
Share your opinions by Nov. 1. Copy and paste this link into your browser to take the survey: http://pennstatecomm.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_5q0jBQGKH2DXFWs
The survey takes less than 15 minutes to complete. You are eligible to participate if you are at least 18 years old.
This research study is being conducted as part of a doctoral dissertation at The Pennsylvania State University. It is NOT funded or commissioned by any political, religious, or advocacy organization. If you have questions about this study, please contact Pamela Brubaker at pjb943@psu.edu.
Last year I voted for the first time. I cannot event tell you how excited I was; this responsibility was a big deal to me. I had spent years waiting for the day when I could stand for the moral issues of my Catholic faith in the voting booth. Even when I couldn’t vote yet I talked to people about how they were voting and why it was some important. Whether you’re 12 or 30 you can do the same. I encourage you to participate in BeMyVote.com because together we can change the outcome of the upcoming election! When we are silent people are hurt and lives are lost.
“Faith cleanses the heart. It is the result of God’s initiative toward man. It is not simply a choice that men make for themselves. Faith comes about because men are touched deep within by God’s spirit, who opens and purifies their hearts.” ~ Pope Benedict XVI
I must admit I’m a little annoyed. Well actually, very annoyed! Those of you know know me or who have ever participated in pro-life activism with me know I’m probably one of the least confrontational people when it comes to both how events are run and responded to. I do not participate or encourage illegal activities, whether it is to save lives or teach about abortion. If the police or security show up I make sure they are spoken to and problems are worked through. Prior to running an event, I call attorneys or the police department in the area to assure we’re respecting legal boundaries if I’m unsure about any of the legal details surrounding the event. I’ve even gone so far as to tell the police ahead of time about an event I’m running in order to make things run smoothly, in the event law enforcement is called out to the event. Now, working with the police doesn’t mean submitting to unlawful orders. If I know orders being issued by law enforcement are wrong, or I am unsure, I work through the issue to find clarity and a resolution. However, I don’t allow my rights to be violated. All is done in a peaceful manner, even when there are angry people involved.
Why do I tell you this? Well it has to do with my I’m so upset. I know people who are pro-life who condemn and criticize the pro-life movement and/or particular pro-life people calling them violent; and saying these people harass, intimidate, or vandalize. There are a few people in particular who have recently publicly vocalized their thoughts of other’s pro-life work; such as “occupying” waiting rooms as Jewels Green put it in a recent article (Committed to Ending Abortion: Not by Using Violence). Really quickly I will further clarify: I do not support, nor do I participate in illegal pro-life work, nor do I EVER use violence while participating in pro-life work. (I firmly believe in saving lives and changing lives by example; by loving others.)
What makes me mad is that instead of encouraging certain ways of doing pro-life work, people often condemn one way and uplift another. You know something, there isn’t one way to do pro-life work. Yes, some people definitely cross lines that shouldn’t be crossed, and it’s not right, but you shouldn’t assume that’s the case with every pro-life activist, prayer warrior, or side walk counselor; nor should you classify whole groups of people dedicated to the saving of human life.
Allow me to share a brief story with you:
One day I walked into an abortion clinic to council women who were waiting to be called in for a procedure that would do one simple thing, end the life of the child in the mother’s womb. There were over 40 people in the waiting room and the only services provided that morning were abortions. I sat down between two women in the waiting room and started talking to them about what they were there for and why. I listened to these women and I shared information with them about abortion risks, their baby, and how there were people and resources available at that moment that could help them. We had a pleasant and peaceful conversation. When I left, both of these women thanked me for the information and for listening to their stories. The woman who was there for an abortion shared she was unsure about her decision now. She thought the abortion would be bad for her and would take the life of her little one, but she was already there so she did not know if she would leave. Unfortunately, I had to leave before I knew if she left and chose life for her child or not. I left her with information about resources that were available, so that she really had choices.
While I spoke with these women I was never asked to leave and never did I assault or intimidate anyone. While I was in the abortion clinic the door was actually shut and locked because the security guard spotted a few other people who walked in behind me to counsel women as well. They left when the security guard asked. The security guard was unhappy that pro-lifers tried to come in and started shoving around a gentleman outside who was leading the group. The gentleman didn’t push back or even touch the man as this tall and heavy set security guard pushed and shoved. The security guard walked inside and locked the door while I was sitting with these women. He never noticed me and quite frankly I was terrified, but as the door was locked I sat with these women for some time and offered them a life line.
You know why I stayed? Because children were about to be killed, and I was going to do what I could to stop it. If a house was on fire and a woman was stuck inside but you knew you could make it in to try and save her from burning to death, would you? You could be putting yourself at risk and could get hurt… Guess what, I’m not welcome to run into an abortion clinic and stop a child from being burned to death by a saline abortion. My friend was assaulted for standing outside an abortion clinic door while a few people peacefully walked inside just to talk to some of those women to try and save a life. Please tell me how “occupying” this waiting room was wrong? Please tell me why it was so wrong for heroes of the Operation Rescue era to sit outside an abortion clinic door to keep it closed for a day or maybe a few hours. Countless lives have been saved by the courageous efforts people have made. Sit ins like what Operation Rescue did aren’t done anymore because it is now illegal.
I will call pro-life advocates warriors for life because abortion is a war on the most innocent and helpless around us. However, we participate in a battle without violence; we come to the battle with love and resources that will help save innocent lives and save women from a life time of sorrow and regret. I could share story after story where peaceful people I know were violently abused by fellow citizens and police for standing on the public sidewalk outside an abortion clinic or in a free speech zone at a high school. If you want to point a finger of violence, I recommend these critics point in the direction of the abortion providers and those that would violate the first amendment rights of pro-lifers through illegal actions and often times violence. I suggest they gain more than a cursory understanding of those standing in defense of human life. Defend the unborn boldly and fearlessly, but don’t hurt your fellow man doing so and don’t act illegally.
Have you heard, it’s love your body day!? I challenge you to read this blog, leave a comment as to why you love your body, then re-post a link to this article. If you Tweet, the hash-tag is #lybd.
A little bit about today from pro-abortion organization, National Organization for Women’s (NOW), press release:
“The National Organization for Women Foundation announces its 14th annual Love Your Body Day to take place on Wednesday, Oct. 19. NOW Foundation launched the groundbreaking Love Your Body Day in 1998 to promote positive images of women and girls in the media and offer an alternative to unrealistic and harmful standards of beauty. Body image remains a relevant issue affecting women’s health and well-being, with broader implications for the status of women in society. “
While NOW supports abortion, and that clearly isn’t loving you body, that’s not what this blog is about, but it certainly fits in without having to be explained . . . If you love something or someone you usually respect them, right? You respect their wishes, opinion, health, happiness, and so much more; well, a selfless love does, right? Lets look at this day instead of ‘Love Your Body Day’ as ‘Respect Your Body Day’. Really it’s one in the same.
Over the last few days I asked my Facebook** and Twitter** friends why they love their bodies and here are just a few of the beautiful responses I received:
Margaret MorrisI love my body because who I am on the inside is represented by who I am on the outside and visa-versa.
Ashley Marie ColantuonoI
respect my body because God designed me in His image, I embody his
love, grace, beauty, and passion. I am beautiful before God, therefore I
don’t need the empty promises of one night stands, starving myself to
meet the social norms or disrespecting Him with how and who I love.
Psalm 31 woman, that’s who I aspire to be.
Jennifer Burton BrannonIt has brought forth and sustained two beautiful lives!
littlebytesnews @Timmerie
I respect my body bc w/o respect 4ourselves who else will respect us?We
must learn self respect @ an early age bc our bodies chnge.
If you love your body, you treasure it and its beauty. Women, your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and you and all your friends should love your bodies by respecting them with all you do and say. In Gal 5:22 “chastity” is listed as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. If we guard our bodies with chastity we respect our fidelity and the bodies of others. We also won’t be taken down roads that lead to broken hearts because of, promiscuity, contraception and abortion.
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
We can also love our bodies by respecting the beauty and inherent dignity of every other person. Don’t fall prey to the stereo typical idea of Hollywood where we criticize every ‘flaw’ or ‘imperfection’ on ourselves and others. So what if her nose is different in shape or size from yours. God created man in His image and likeness (Gen 1:26). Yes, some are better looking than others; but, must we point it out?
I too can fall into commenting on other people’s physical appearance especially when it’s so commonly done. However, is this the loving thing to do when society and media already tear people down from the hair on their head to the nail polish on their toes?
Last week when I was helping with my Church’s middle school youth group, two of the 8th grade girls shared with me about how they’re made fun of at school, and even by their friends.One girl said she was called a pelican, among other things, for having a big nose. The second girl who has beautiful curly hair was called muffin top because of her curly hair. These girls cried that day at school, at home, and then to me. They’ve been made fun of for these things all their lives. When is it going to stop? This pain just breaks my heart because these girls think that they’re not good enough and need to change because of the comments made.
We do the same thing every day to others. I think it’s time we rise up against gossip, society, magazines, and say, “I, along with you, am made by God and we are beautiful in our own ways. Beauty is more than what is on the outside. Don’t allow your words to bring people down; whether it’s to their faces or behind their backs. Love your body by loving your piers’ bodies as well.
Challenge: Let’s be extraordinary and rise above the critiques of our bodies.
Re-post this article and share a comment of why you love your body! If you Tweet be sure to us the hash-tag #lybd.
“I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works! My very self you know.“ Psalm 139:14
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The speakers from Ireland’s pro-life organization, Youth Defence, detailed how it was a constant battle to keep abortion out of their country, what with there being pressure on all sides from the European Union and the United Nations. Even though they described their struggle as constant, it gave me hope, as an American, that one day we will be able to rid our country of the evil of abortion. It will undoubtedly be a long road ahead before we see abortion outlawed in America, but before we can even think of succeeding in the courts, we have to succeed on the streets, in the press, and ultimately in the hearts of the American people. We will have to work tirelessly and selflessly to follow in the footsteps of Ireland and make abortion unthinkable in our country—and in the whole world—by continuing to save babies and change hearts. 
