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You are currently browsing the archives for the Clinic Witness category.
This report comes from the front lines via stalwart activist Jerry Nickels. Jerry and his wife Karen have been involved in pro-life efforts in Aurora since before Planned Parenthood came to town under a cloud of deceit in 2007.
Jerry Nickels outside Planned Parenthood Aurora, where he is regularly engaged in clinic witness [Photo by Matt Yonke]
Good news for counselors and prayer partners. Today at 3:20 while Deacon Tom Hawksworth and I were praying and witnessing to life at the PP facility, a young woman pulled up and parked her SUV on the road next to us.
She exited and came over to inquire whether we had some literature that we could give her—presumably for someone she knew. Tom happily had a packet and proceeded to give her a couple of brochures.
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.
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 ...]
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.
Along with many other former abortion providers, they have all spoken out publicly about how they came to be pro-life.
I thought about these former-abortion-industry-workers-turned-pro-lifers when I realized today, March 10, is the National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers.
What can we as pro-lifers do to counter this “Appreciation Day”? Lots of things, I suppose, but the first thing that comes to my mind is prayer.
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.
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 ...]
“]![Annie Casselman and Steve Tracey sidewalk counsel at a clinic in North Carolina. [Photo by Ann Scheidler]](http://prolifeaction.org/pix/2010/annie-with-steve-tracey3.jpg "Annie and Steve sidewalk counseling")
A new sidewalk counselor recently asked me for advice on which pamphlets are best to use while counseling at the clinics. Since this is such a vital part of the Pro-Life Action League’s mission, I wanted to share with everyone the material our counselors use and learn from you what you use.
Particularly since this list is not (and could never be) exhaustive, I hope you will jump in and share your thoughts about which pamphlets you prefer to use when counseling so we can learn from each other.
First of all, you definitely need a pamphlet directing a woman to the nearest Pregnancy Resource Center. The PRC nearest the clinic may be willing to supply you with these pamphlets, though this can often be too expensive for them to provide.
Pro-lifers picket along New York Street outside Planned Parenthood in Aurora, IL [Photo by Sam Scheidler]
I was thrilled when I woke up Saturday morning to temperatures in the 30’s. I’ve been involved in protests with the Pro-Life Action League outside of the “Abortion Fortress” of Aurora Illinois for over two and a half years now and February has brought some of the most brutal weather we’ve encountered—often with temperatures dipping below zero—so 30’s were a welcome change.
Out at the clinic a little before 9 a.m., there already were four stalwart pro-lifers engaged in clinic witness ministry, sidewalk counseling and praying, when I arrived. It’s always a great encouragement to see those dedicated folks outside the abortuary, even in February’s snow and winds. [Continue reading ...]
![An ambulance drives away from Planned Parenthood in Aurora, IL on Saturday, Februrary 13, 2010. [Photos by Ginny Nelson]](http://prolifeaction.org/pix/2010/ambulance-1.jpg "twoambulances1")
An ambulance drives away from Planned Parenthood in Aurora, IL on Saturday, Februrary 13, 2010. [Photo by Ginny Nelson]
The first was from Ginny, a Prayer Warrior and Sidewalk Counselor at Planned Parenthood in Aurora. She called to report that an ambulance had driven into the parking lot on Saturday, February 13 around 11:30 a.m. Four medics went in to the clinic for a time, but they ended up coming out without a patient.
Then, on today’s voice mail, we received word that a pro-life friend, Anthony, spotted an ambulance from Superior Ambulance company leaving Family Planning Associates, Albany Medical-Surgical Center on Thursday, February 18, around 6:30 p.m. Since Albany does its abortions in the morning, it appears they kept this woman for many hours before finally deciding to call for medical help. [Continue reading ...]
As Sidewalk Counselors and Prayer Warriors gathered on Saturday, February 13, 2010 to pray outside of Planned Parenthood at 1200 N. LaSalle in Chicago, they were subjected to yet another interpretation of the Bubble Zone law.
This weekend saw the return of Officer Hagen. This is the officer who, on January 9, inaccurately told us we could not picket within 150 feet of the clinic or stand within 8 feet of the door but, upon reading the ordinance, magnanimously granted us permission to pray.
Graffiti on the tarp attached to the fence at Albany Medical-Surgical Center reads “GO-DIE!” [Photo by Ann Scheidler]
When I arrived at the Albany/Family Planning Associates abortuary this morning, a couple of the prayer warriors who were also just arriving, directed my attention to the canvas tarp on the chain link fence around the parking lot. There in orange spray paint was the message “Go-Die!”
We couldn’t figure out the meaning of the message. Is it meant for the pro-lifers who stand along that fence and pray for the babies, the mothers, the fathers and the clinic staff? Or is it aimed at the clinic itself?
I have been counseling and praying at Albany for years. I know everyone else who comes there on different days to counsel or pray. I can’t imagine that any of them would be the “graffiti artist.”
Eric Scheidler speaks at Aurora’s 1st Presbyterian Church, Jan 31 [Photo by Sandy Bradford]
This past Sunday, January 31, I was deeply honored to be the guest of my friends at First Presbyterian Church in Aurora, Illinois, at the invitation of Sandy Bradford and Mary Faye Vasen. I attended both worship services—the traditional service at 8:30 and the contemporary service at 11:00—and gave a talk in between on the pro-life mission in Aurora.
I was introduced to the congregation by Pastor Steve Rhodes during the 8:30 service, after a powerful sermon by Pastor Jeff Moore on Ephesians 3:1-13 in which St. Paul speaks of God’s wisdom being revealed to the angels in heaven through what He accomplishes through our faithful witness here on earth. [Continue reading ...]