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News and commentary from the Pro-Life Action League
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PLAL National Director Joe Scheidler greets attendees of the Hartford Rally for Religious Freedom March 23
When I accepted a speaking invitation from John McNamara, a seminarian studying at Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut, we agreed that Friday morning, March 23, would work for both the seminary and for me.
So the date was set. I was to speak on “What Catholic Laymen Expect of their Priests.” The subject was to concern life issues, and in particular, abortion.
Then there arose the urgency of protesting the Obama Administration’s HHS Mandate that all insurance policies would have to include free contraception, sterilization and abortion-causing drugs.
This violation of the First Amendment’s right to religious freedom had to be addressed by pro-life activists and all those who saw the Mandate as a violation of the U.S. Constitution. The date selected for a national rally would be March 23, the last business day before the Feast of the Annunciation on March 25.
As plans for a massive rally developed, and rallies were eventually planned in 140 cities and town across the country, I felt a tinge of regret that I would not be in Chicago for the flagship event. [Continue reading ...]
The Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom was an outstanding success. So huge the media simply could not ignore the Rallies as they sometimes do with conservative events.
Rally co-chairman and Pro-Life Action League Executive Director Eric Scheidler appeared on Fox News twice in the leadup to the Rally—watch Friday’s interview below—and they covered the New York City Rally live. Eric also appeared on the Laura Ingraham Show and other major commentators like Glenn Beck covered and promoted the Rallies.
I’ve been involved in grassroots activism for years, including protests that have drawn national attention, and I’ve never seen as much secular, mainstream media coverage as the Nationwide Rally garnered. [Continue reading ...]
Massive crowd at the Chicago Rally for Religious Freedom [Photo by John Jansen]
Not to be deterred by terrible weather, a crowd of 2,500 people of all ages descended on Chicago’s Federal Plaza today for the city’s Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally—the flagship location of the Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom’s 140 sites.
In the shadow of the building that formerly housed the transition team offices of President Barack Obama, enthusiastic crowds packed the Plaza in the pouring rain and received signs reading “Stand Up for Religious Freedom” and “Stop Obama’s HHS Mandate”, along with handheld American flags. By 11:45 a.m., it was clear that the crowd at the Rally — scheduled to start at noon — was going to far exceed our expectations. [Continue reading ...]
If you attend one of 140 Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom locations tomorrow, you’re sure to get questions from passersby like, “What are you guys doing here?” and “What is the HHS Mandate, anyway?”
That’s why we’ve prepared an HHS Mandate Fact Sheet [PDF] for organizers to distribute to the general public, which contains FAQ style questions and answers on the HHS Mandate, along with plus some practical action items for continuing the fight.
The Fact Sheet addresses the following questions:
We recommend that organizers print enough copies of the Fact Sheet to distribute to everyone who attends a Rally, and enough additional copies to give out to passersby who are interested in learning more about the HHS Mandate and its assault on religious freedom.
You can download the HHS Mandate Fact Sheet here [PDF]. Get informed, and spread the word!
When we first announced that the Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom would be held on Friday, March 23rd, 30 cities signed on immediately.
That number quickly grew to 60. Then 80.
Then it topped 100. Then it grew to 120, then earlier this week went up to 130, and now the number stands at over 140!
One of the newest sites, added just yesterday, is Boston, where a Rally will be held in Boston Common—the oldest park in the United States.
Earlier plans to hold a Rally there never materialized, so we were thrilled when a new Rally Captain stepped forward this week and volunteered to take on the significant legwork involved at this late day to make sure a Rally would be held in this historic American city.
Other Rally sites added just in the past few days include St. Louis, Missouri, Davenport, Iowa, Redding, California, and—wait for it—Las Vegas!
The complete list of Rally locations is here.
You don’t want to miss this opportunity to be a part of history—tomorrow, Friday, March 23, at noon, at a city near you. Be there!
We’re now in the final days running up to the big March 23 Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom, taking place in 120 cities across the United States.
Please join me in praying this special “Novena to Reverse the HHS Mandate,” now on day 6. If you’ve missed the previous 5 days of this 9-day prayer sequence, go ahead an join in now—remember the workers in the vinyard!
Scroll down for the previous days’ prayers, or find them listed here.
Father, You unite the human family
through the blood of Your Son Jesus Christ
and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
At this time of need,
when Your Church and all Your people
are called to stand firm against injustices
inflicted on us from our government,
we ask You to strengthen us in the bond of unity.
Strengthen the unity of Your Church,
that none of Your faithful may be on the sidelines,
but that everyone may be active in this battle.
Give Church leaders the grace to discern
the many varieties of the working of Your Spirit
that they may fan into flame the gifts that the Spirit
bestows freely on Your people.
And give us the wisdom to know
that no group has a monopoly on the defense of life and freedom.
May we work in an ecumenical and inter-religious spirit
and welcome the efforts of all people of good will
who believe in freedom of religion and conscience.
We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pro-Life Action League National Director Joe Scheilder with Camille Daub (left) and Elizabeth Purgahn (right) at Defenders of the Unborn banquet
When Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton came down from the U. S. Supreme Court in January, 1973, many of us realized these abortion rulings were cut from whole cloth, without any legal basis in the Constitution.
These twin decisions were clearly the most dangerous, destructive and outrageous ruling ever handed to the American people. They defied everything our nation stands for: the care and protection of its citizens by the government.
These decisions had to be reversed. But how?
We began looking for leadership in cities where pro-life organizations had already been formed. Chicago had its Illinois Right to Life Committee and Birthright.
Another city where the activist approach was in full swing was St. Louis, Missouri.
People like John Ryan, Sam Lee, and Joan Andrews were already out on the sidewalks and in front of the clinics and saving women from aborting their babies. [Continue reading ...]
Two pro-life bills under consideration by the Illinois General Assembly made it out of committee this week, and both bills stand a good chance of passing this legislative session.
The Ultrasound Opportunity Act, HB4085, would require an abortion facility to offer a patient the opportunity to view an ultrasound image of her unborn baby before making a final decision on an abortion.
The abortion clinic regulation bill, HB4117, would require abortion facilities to meet the same standards as other surgical centers.
We’ve been encouraging supporters in our home state of Illinois to call their state representatives to encourage them to support these two bills, and now we’re taking that one step further and encouraging pro-lifers to join us in Springfield for the SpeakOut Illinois Lobby Day on Thursday, March 8. [Continue reading ...]
Monsignor Philip Reilly
Indomitable pro-life veteran and world renowned sidewalk counselor Monsignor Philip Reilly will visit the Chicago area on Saturday, March 10 for a pro-life prayer vigil sponsored by the Chicago Helpers of God’s Precious Infants.
March 10 is an especially fitting day for a pro-life prayer vigil, as it is National Abortion Provider Appreciation Day. What better day to pray for unborn children and that those responsible for taking their lives will have a genuine conversion of heart and become ex-abortion providers?
In addition, on Friday, March 9, Msgr. Reilly will give a presentation entitled “Be Not Afraid” at St. Isaac Jogues Parish in Hinsdale, IL.
Msgr. Reilly has been active in the pro-life movement since 1967 — six years before Roe v. Wade — and in 1989, along with just four volunteers, he founded the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants outside the infamous Choices abortion center in Brooklyn, New York. Helpers Chapters now span across the United States and 18 countries worldwide. [Continue reading ...]
This year’s TeenSpeak conference was a great success with two great talks by Josh Brahm of Life Report. But in a special surprise, Abby Johnson, who was giving the keynote address to the adults at the SpeakOut Illinois conference, came by to give a quick talk to the teens.
Her call to purity and to the hard work of keeping the pro-life movement going was so inspiring to the kids I thought I’d share it here.