. . . because action speaks louder than words.
League history, NOW v. Scheidler, Action News, Joe Scheidler, League staff
League history, NOW v. Scheidler, Action News, Joe Scheidler, League staff
Q & A on abortion, the unborn child, where we stand on the issues and more
Helping abortion-bound women choose life for their babies
Unmasking the truth about abortion in the public square
Our youth outreach, raising up a new generation of pro-life leaders
Abortion industry converts tell the inside story
News and commentary from the Pro-Life Action League
[Photo by EJS]
On July 26, over two dozen pro-life activists braved driving winds and torrential rains to counter-protest the fledgling Illinois NARAL branch's "Honk and Wave for Choice" event at Madison and Wacker in downtown Chicago. The League learned of the event only days beforehand but immediately mobilized a counter-protest, outnumbering the pro-aborts three to one despite the gloomy weather forecast.
League members arrived shortly before the NARAL group and set up giant "Baby Choice" signs along Madison St. The downpour began shortly after the first pro-abortion protesters arrived. They took cover, while several pro-lifers stayed out in the rain, getting drenched in order to show the truth about abortion.
As the rains continued, both groups congregated under the partial cover of the bank on the corner of Madison and Wacker, exchanging chants. League Communications Director Eric Scheidler, who spearheaded the counter-protest, commented that the pro-abortion group was "drowned out" in more ways than one.
The protest was broken up after about 45 minutes when security guards demanded that both groups leave the shelter of their property. Our group agreed that it had been one of the most upbeat actions they had ever participated in.
[Back to Top]
The Pro-Life Action League will miss its loyal volunteer bookkeeper, Elizabeth Lewis, who died on August 16 at the age of 96. Elizabeth balanced the books and processed deposits every Tuesday for twenty-three years. She was absolutely accurate and kept the petty cash box to the penny. She made sure our books were above reproach.
But Elizabeth's softer side compelled her to bake chocolate chip cookies for each staff member's birthday. On the day she died, she had prepared a plate of cookies for Urszula Mihai. May she rest in peace.
[Back to Top]All human beings, from their mother's womb, belong to God who searches them and knows them, who forms them and knits them together with his own hands, who gazes on them when they are tiny shapeless embryos and already sees in them the adults of tomorrow.
—John Paul II
Evangelium Vitae, 1995
If we give up the principle that every man as man is under God's protection, that as a man he is beyond the reach of our arbitrary will, we really do forsake the foundation or human rights.
—Pope Benedict XVI
(Joseph Ratzinger)
Salt of the Earth, 1996
The Pro-Life Action League joins the world in mourning the death of Pope John Paul II and celebrating the election of Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope John Paul II once called pro-life activism "the most important work on earth" and was an outspoken opponent of abortion. In the heroic suffering of his final years he made his most powerful testament to dignity of all human life.
When he visited Chicago in 1979, the League's Joe and Ann Scheidler sang in the choir at his Grant Park Mass. In 1991, Joe Scheidler met the Holy Father during a meeting of pro-life leaders in Rome.
We look forward to strong pro-life leadership from our new Holy Father. Pope Benedict XVI is a man of humble faith and keen intellect, and has distinguished himself as a steadfast guardian of the Catholic faith.
As Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Ratzinger strongly supported bishops who courageously stood up to pro-abortion Catholic politicians, and called upon society to "reawaken a new love for children."
[Back to Top]
Joe Scheidler with a contingent of the Crusade for Life, June 27
[Photo by Ann Scheidler]
On June 27, an enthuasitic group from American Life League's Crusade for the Defense of Our Catholic Church dropped by the League's office while passing through Chicago during their summer mission. They later joined us for a day on our Truth Tour.
[Back to Top]On March 24, representatives of several Chicago area pro-life organizations met with Chicago Tribune public editor Don Wycliff and members of the Tribune staff in a beautiful paneled conference room in the gothic Tribune Tower on Michigan Avenue.
The Tribune personnel included columnists John Kass and Steve Chapman, as well as deputy editorial page editor John McCormick, senior editor for standards Margaret Holt, and women's health issues contributor Judy Peres.
The pro-life contingent was made up of Archdiocese of Chicago Respect Life Office Director Mary-Louise Kurey, Executive Director of Illinois Right to Life Bill Beckman, Abortion-Breast Cancer Coalition representative Arlene Sawicki, Concerned Women for America representative Jill Stanek and Directors of the Pro-Life Action League Joe and Ann Scheidler.
After general introductions, Mr. Wycliff asked us to express our particular concerns and reasons for requesting a meeting. Arlene Sawicki, who arranged the meeting, explained that our main purpose was to foster a better relationship between those in the communications field and us in the pro-life movement, so that when our activities are presented in the Tribune, reporters and columnists will know whom to call to get accurate information.
Judy Peres had recently written an article on a local pharmacist who refused to dispense the emergency contraceptive pill. Her article had stated that the birth control pill was quite similar in action to the Plan B and other "emergency contraceptives." A reader had emailed her to object to that statement. It was clear that Peres had a very good understanding of how the pill works and why we would oppose it.
Steve Chapman raised the question of whether the pro-life movement is in agreement on the contraception issue. Joe Scheidler responded that there is not agreement on the issue, but that the League was planning a seminar for pro-life leaders on that very topic. Chapman perked up and wanted to know if press would be invited.
Arlene Sawicki asked Mr. Wycliff if he would assign a Tribune liaison for pro-life issues. Wycliff responded that he would be that person.
John McCormick explained that the Tribune receives thousands of letters and makes an effort to print a representational balance of letters to the editor, and steers away from letters from organizations, which emphasizes the importance of individual pro-lifers sitting down and writing a letter to the editor when life issues need to be addressed.
Ann Scheidler asked about the possibility of submitting op-ed articles. McCormick and Wycliff said anyone can submit an article, but it must be timely—related to a current issue—and no longer than 800 words.
All parties to the meeting found it quite productive. The pro-life representatives were pleased to discover that we were of one mind on every topic that was discussed.
[Back to Top]