Posted by Joe Scheidler (March 15, 2010 at 4:00 pm)
Gallup Poll showing more Americans pro-life than ever before [Click to enlarge]
We all have a lot to be down about what with all the corrupt politicians, bad laws, bad economy, bad television and on and on. But it does little good to keep complaining, especially when we as Christians know how it all ends, in ultimate victory for good, and eternity with God.
Some of Our Blessings
So here are some things to be happy about right now:
On Thursday we had two definite saves at the Albany abortion mill on Elston Avenue, one through Cathy Mieding’s counseling and another started by Cathy and completed by Fr. Steve Lesniewski. [Continue reading ...]
I once heard a pastor admonish the assembled with, “you had better believe in the devil…because he believes in you.”
These days the idea of malevolent demons being actively involved in someone’s life (for their detriment) may seem almost quaint. But they are very real.
Exorcisms Still Timely in 2010
“The Church isn’t quick to judge exorcisms, because, with all the mental problems we have today, it could be something else,” Joe Scheidler recently told me. However, every sidewalk counselor can tell of seeing the devil in those walking into an abortuary. Often he manifests his presence in the man who is escorting, cajoling, and forcing the woman into the slaughterhouse.
When I wrote last month about the very successful TeenSpeak 2010 conference, I mentioned that this year’s conference included a talk titled, “The Anatomy of a Pro-Life T-Shirt,” given by League staffer Matt Yonke.
In his presentation, Matt dissected the most common styles of pro-life T-shirts, showing several examples of each. His talk served as a great jumping-off point for TeenSpeak’s first-ever Pro-Life T-Shirt Workshop.
Attendees were divided into 20 groups, and each group was given a T-shirt, a set of fabric markers, and 45 minutes to create their own pro-life T-shirt. To ramp up the competition factor, the teams were told that the winning design would be professionally printed and sold on ChristianShirts.net, and that each member of the winning team would receive one.
The competition proved tough, but in the end the judges selected the design (pictured above) by Angela Habisohn, Hannah McHugh, Mattie VanderBleek, Charlotte Seidel, and Michelle Ryan as the winner.
Posted by Ann Scheidler (March 11, 2010 at 4:08 pm)
(Left to right) Paul Wierzbowski, Joe Scheidler, Ann Scheidler, and Joronda Crawford at the Illinois Capitol [Photo by John Jansen]
Over 50 pro-lifers headed to Springfield for the SpeakOut Illinois Lobby Day on Wednesday, March 10. Hearings were held on Wednesday morning on the Illinois version of the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), known to the Illinois legislature as the Reproductive Health and Access bill, HB6205. Unfortunately the bill passed out of the Health and Human Services Committee by a vote of 5-2.
But providentially, pro-life activists representing the dozens of pro-life groups affiliated with SpeakOut Illinois were at the Capitol Wednesday to talk with their legislators and ask them to oppose any further expansion of abortion in Illinois. HB6205 would give Illinois its own Roe v Wade and make it virtually impossible to restrict or regulate abortion in any way. HB6205 also mandates tax dollars to pay for abortion and requires “comprehensive” sex education in public school districts.
Posted by Eric Scheidler (March 10, 2010 at 10:13 am)
This morning, the Illinois House of Representatives Human Services Committeepassed HB6205, the Illinois FOCA, on a vote of 5-2. Alicia Torres of the Archdiocese of Chicago Respect Life Office live-tweeted the hearing this morning and broke the disappointing news.
I don’t have information on who our two pro-life, pro-family, pro-sanity votes were, but I assume one of them was Republican Patricia R. Bellock, who raised numerous objections to the bill during the hearing. More details to come soon.
What this means is that the Illinois pro-life community must step up pressure on the entire House. Alicia reported that many Representatives attended the hearing. They’re clearly interested in this bill, which means they all need to hear from us again. And again. And again.
Get talking points and contact links for your State Rep here.
Posted by John Jansen (March 10, 2010 at 10:10 am)
Joe Scheidler (center) with former abortion providers (from left) Marian Johnston-Loehner, Luhra Tivis, Judith Fetrow and Joan Appleton in 1993
Carol Everett. Anthony Levatino. Beverly McMillan. Joan Appleton. Luhra Tivis. McArthur Hill.
What do these people have in common?
All of them used to work in the abortion industry. Doctors Levatino, McMillan, and Hill actually performed abortions themselves, Joan Appleton was an abortion clinic nurse, Carol Everett was an abortion clinic administrator, and Luhra Tivis was a medical receptionist for late-term abortionist George Tiller.
College students Mike Schaefer and Jimmy Becker decided to do something out of the ordinary last spring break.
Instead of the usual vacation, they wanted to give up their spring break year to do something productive for a cause they felt passionate about and came up with Biking for Babies.
The idea was for Mike and Jimmy to bike a 500 mile route across Illinois over their spring break with people pledging to donate money for every mile they rode. Proceeds were donated to worthy pro-life organizations to help the fight against abortion.
Not many weeks ago I wrote about the new sign which had been placed on the newsstand outside the Planned Parenthood clinic at 1200 N. LaSalle in Chicago. It was an advertisement paid for by a pregnancy center, Aid For Women, offering help to pregnant women.
Newsstand Mysteriously Disappears
The next Saturday, the newsstand was gone.
This stand has been there for years and, as far as anyone knows, was never even used. But the moment a pro-life ad goes on it—with a contract to stay up until May—the city tears it down.
As Chicago Tribune columnist Dennis Byrne wrote, “The Constitution protects political and commercial speech of all sorts. JCDecaux signs have advertised booze and featured a bikini-clad woman, but a tasteful sign that offends political correctness may not have made the cut.” [Continue reading ...]
Even organizations that support abortion are criticizing Kermit Gosnell’s “CHOICE” abortion clinic. It seems they are even supporting laws that would force clinics to clean up a bit (good for them!).
Since it is often “pro-choice” politicians who prevent laws from being enacted to regulate abortion clinics (for fear of angering “pro-choice” interest groups who give big campaign donations), I take this as a good sign. [Continue reading ...]
Posted by Eric Scheidler (March 5, 2010 at 4:35 pm)
Earlier this week, I was interviewed by Laura Sullivan of Medill Reports for an article published Tuesday about the commencement of chemical abortions at Planned Parenthood’s center in Springfield, Illinois. Also interviewed for the article was Planned Parenthood’s Beth Kantor, and I found one of her remarks pretty illuminating:
Springfield is a high priority. Sangamon County has the highest birth rates in the state, including teen birth rates.
I once heard a pastor admonish the assembled with, “you had better believe in the devil…because he believes in you.”
When I 
This morning, the Illinois House of Representatives 
Not many weeks ago 
Even organizations that support abortion 
Earlier this week, I was interviewed by Laura Sullivan of Medill Reports for an