. . . because action speaks louder than words.
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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
News and commentary from the Pro-Life Action League
Carolers outside Albany Medical/Surgical Center abortuary in Chicago [Photo by John Jansen]
The Pro-Life Action League’s 9th annual “Empty Manger” caroling day took place Saturday, December 17 at nine Illinois abortion facilities, four in DuPage County and five in Chicago.
In DuPage, the day began at ACU Health Center in Hinsdale, then proceeded to Aanchor in Glen Ellyn and Access in Downers Grove, and finished at Planned Parenthood in Aurora.
Over 80 pro-lifers took part in at least one of the DuPage caroling sites, with Planned Parenthood drawing the largest crowd of 55.
The Chicago caroling tour began at Family Planning Associates in downtown Chicago, then went on to Near North Planned Parenthood, All Women’s Health, American Women’s Medical Center, and concluded at Albany Medical/Surgical Center.
Over 50 pro-lifers sang carols at one or more of the Chicago sites, with particularly large crowds at both Planned Parenthood and Albany. Among the highlights of the Chicago caroling tour was a banner with the words, “All I want for Christmas…is an end to abortion,” which has been a part of all nine caroling tours dating back to 2003. [Continue reading ...]
The decision earlier this month by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius not to allow girls under 17 to purchase the Plan B contraceptive without a prescription is still a hot topic in the news media.
Today an article appeared in the Los Angeles Times titled “A Look at the Plan B Pill Controversy,” for which the Pro-Life Action League’s Eric Scheidler was interviewed:
“It’s just a matter of common sense,” says Eric Scheidler, executive director of the Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League. “The idea that they could go into a pharmacy and buy these very powerful steroids without talking to [a parent] or a doctor is just completely mad.” Scheidler adds that in cases of minor girls having sex with older men, emergency contraceptives helps the abuser, not the girl.
You can read the article here.
Illinois Supreme Court Building
This morning the case of Sandholm v. Kuecker begins oral arguments before the Illinois Supreme Court.
Normally a case like this involving a high school athletics coach who was fired and later sued a group he claimed was libeling him wouldn’t make pro-life news, but Sandholm is different because it involves the Illinois Citizen Participation Act (CPA).
The CPA is the same law that Planned Parenthood has used in the Scheidler v. Trombley libel case to put the Pro-Life Action League and League Executive Director Eric Scheidler on the hook for nearly $500,000 in legal fees.
The CPA states that, when pursuing favorable governmental action, a person cannot be held responsible for public statements made in pursuit of that action, even if those statements are libelous.
Scheidler v. Trombley began when Planned Parenthood ran a smear campaign on the League and local activists while trying to open their massive “Abortion Fortress” in Aurora, Illinois. When Eric and the League sued for libel, Planned Parenthood counter-sued under the CPA and won, claiming that they weren’t responsible for their false claims about pro-lifers because they were seeking the favorable government action of getting the Aurora City Council to approve their new clinic.
This is obviously ridiculous as it essentially grants Planned Parenthood, or anyone else invoking the CPA, a license to lie and say whatever they please about their opponents without being held responsible. [Continue reading ...]
League Vice President Ann Scheidler appeared on Fox News Chicago Tuesday night to talk about a new breed of early gender prediction home test kits.
Fox’s Robin Robinson, who conducted the interview, as well as most of the “man-on-the-street” interviewees felt at least somewhat nervous about the slippery slope from early gender prediction to abortion based on gender. But strangely, Ann’s fellow guest, OB/GYN Dr. Lauren Streicher, had almost no fear of such a thing.
Citing her years dealing with pregnant mothers, she states that she has never seen a patient choose to abort because of the gender of their child. But Dr. Streicher ignores two prominent concerns.
First, gender selective abortions have, in actual fact, led to a exactly that—children, mostly girls, being killed in utero because of their gender leaving a massive dearth of female children in Asia, known as the missing women of Asia. Second, we have never had the ability to predict gender so early at a stage where people feel much more comfortable choosing abortion.
Watch the video to hear Ann’s side of the story and the rest of the report.
The online edition of the League’s Spring/Summer 2011 Action News newspaper has just been published. The lead story, “Eric Joins Youth for Life Belgium for Historic ‘Week for Life’” tells the story of League Executive Director Eric Scheidler‘s trip to Belgium to help jumpstart the fledgling pro-life movement there with the League’s unique brand of direct activism. Other stories include:
See the full table of contents for more articles.
League Director Joe Scheidler (right) at the Summer of Mercy 2.0 [Washington Times photo by Pratik Shah]
Twenty years ago pro-life activists from across America met in Wichita, Kansas for the “Summer of Mercy.” A protest of late term abortionist George Tiller was the incentive for holding this gathering in Wichita, with pickets, marches, prayer vigils and rescues. Planned as a seven day event, it turned into seven weeks and spurred the growth of pro-life activism nationwide.
To commemorate the 1991 Summer of Mercy, and reinvigorate the movement, pro-lifers gathered in Germantown, Maryland last week for Summer of Mercy 2.0. This time it was centered on late term abortionist LeRoy Carhart.
Carharet left his abortion center in Nebraska hoping to replace Tiller in Wichita, but Tiller’s family said no. He then tried to work in Indiana, but a law was quickly passed to prohibit abortions after 20 weeks. Then he found a small clinic in Germantown, Maryland where there is no restriction on performing late term abortions.
To show solidarity with the activists, League National Director Joe Scheidler joined the “Summer of Mercy 2.0″ in Maryland on August 1st and 2nd to pray with the gathering and talk on the growing success of the prolife movement, and need to renew our own dedication to the cause of the unborn. He said we must be determined to convert the nation to respect for human life. [Continue reading ...]
Note: Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life was kind enough to send along this letter [PDF] providing support and encouragement for the League and its volunteers on the 2011 Face the Truth Tour. Joe Scheidler read the letter aloud to volunteers at the close of the Tour.
July 16, 2011
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
It’s a privilege to send to you today my joyful and prayerful greetings as you conclude the Face the Truth Tour. I would have gladly joined you in person, but have to get to Philadelphia to prepare for our training conference this week for Rachel’s Vineyard.
Let me offer you, however, this word of encouragement. There is no activity in the pro-life movement more important and effective than to stand on the streets of America and expose the graphic reality of abortion. Many activities communicate to people the conclusion that abortion kills children. What you have done during this tour, however, conveys to people the facts that compel that conclusion.
And never be worried about the criticisms you receive from human beings. Only fear the criticism of God that is reserved for those too cowardly to proclaim and face the truth.
As I always say, America will not reject abortion until America sees abortion. I thank my long time friends and colleagues, the Scheidlers, for providing such outstanding leadership, and I thank all of you for doing what needs to be done. We will see the victory soon.
Sincerely,
Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life
The Pro-Life Action League wrapped up the celebration of its 30th anniversary this month, and to celebrate 30 years of hard-hitting, grassroots activism, we put together this short video showing 30 years of pro-life history in just 2 minutes!
Check out the video for one picture of the League’s activism from each of the last 30 years. You’ll see how pro-life activism has developed over the years as well as the spirit of compassion for mothers and babies that has been the hallmark of the League’s work from the beginning.
Thanks for your support over the last 30 years. We won’t stop fighting till abortion becomes unthinkable.
Pro-Life Action League Applauds Investigation that Validates What It Has Known for Years
Chicago—Joe Scheidler, National Director of the Pro-Life Action League, responded to the Chicago Tribune‘s article, “State abortion records full of gaps,” which reveals that thousands of abortion complications have gone unreported.
The front-page article shows that not reporting abortions is not only illegal but unethical, because it’s the only way that the state can know what types of complications have occurred, and how many women actually got abortions. Also, by not reporting abortions, the state may have allowed abortion providers to operate “off the books.” [Continue reading ...]
May 31, 1997—The International Socialist Organization hosts a “closed” rally in the Wicker Park neighborhood in Chicago to “defend abortion rights.” The meeting is so small that League Director Joe Scheidler offers to liven it up “with some facts and figures,” but he is rudely turned away by rally organizers.