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League history, NOW v. Scheidler, Action News, Joe Scheidler, League staff
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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
News and commentary from the Pro-Life Action League
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Joe and Ann Scheidler at the nativity scene at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem
For the past week, my parents—League directors Joe and Ann Scheidler—have been making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. They are pictured here at the creche at the Church of the Nativity, appropriately enough, since they put up two elaborate creches in their home every Christmas.
During their trip, they’re visiting all the principal sites of the Gospel story—the Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, the site of the Ascension, the Mount of Olives, and so forth. But they say the most moving of all was their visit to the site of the Annunciation at the Basilica in Nazareth.
It was in that very spot that Mary said “yes” to God’s plan for her to become the Mother of the Redeemer—a yes that has been echoed down through the ages every time a woman embraces motherhood.
No wonder my parents would find that spot so moving. Their life’s work has been to encourage all mothers, like Mary, not to be afraid of motherhood—to have the faith and hope to say “yes” even in trying circumstances like those Mary faced: poverty, oppression and scandal.
Look for a full report on their Holy Land pilgrimage after they return Wednesday. And then it’s off to the March for Life in Washington, D.C. for the tireless “Godparents” of pro-life activism!
2011 was a huge year in the abortion battle and the Pro-Life Action League was busier than ever fighting abortion on the front lines with hard-hitting grassroots activism.
To show you a sample of what 2011 looked like for the League, we’ve put together this 2 minute video displaying a few of the things we did each month. We hope you enjoy this look back at the last year and that you’ll join us in making 2012 an even bigger year for life!
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 pro-life Carney brothers
This has got to be about the most creative—and inspiring—pro-life fundraiser I’ve ever seen. Last week, the four Carney brothers—Jack (9), Joey (7), Michael (5) and Christopher (3)—decided to pool their Halloween candy and see if they could raise some money to help the Pro-Life Action League save babies and their mothers from abortion.
To set their creative plan in motion, the two oldest, Jack and Joey, went with their Dad, Chris, to his office in downtown Chicago. They gave away their candy to people at the train station and at the office, accepting donations for the League. In all, they raised $368.98!
The Carney Family at the 2010 Face the Truth Tour in Lake Zurich, IL
What’s especially touching about the boys’ contribution to the League’s effort is that they’re all experienced pro-life activists. They’ve joined the League’s Face the Truth Tours in the past, along with their parents and sisters—a great pro-life family!
The Carney Brothers hope other pro-life kids will take up their idea next year. I hope so, too—because that’s what the Pro-Life Action League is all about: finding dynamic ways to fight abortion, and then empowering others to join the effort.
Chris and his wife Millie must be very proud of their sons. So am I!
The online edition of the League’s Fall 2011 Action News newspaper has just been published. The lead story, “Face the Truth 2011: Pitch Perfect” tells the story the League’s 12th annual Face the Truth Tour, which was the smoothest tour yet. Other stories include:
See the full table of contents for more articles.
When we found out that NARAL was holding their annual “Power of Choice” fundraising luncheon in downtown Chicago October 5th, we knew we had to protest it.
And when we found out that the keynote speaker is HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, then we really knew we had to protest it.
You may recall that while she was governor of Kansas, Sebelius filled her campaign coffers with gifts from her good friend, notorious late-term abortionist George Tiller.
She and her Kansas allies also protected both Planned Parenthood and Tiller from facing public scrutiny in court for illegal abortions and other crimes.
And most recently, as head of HHS, Sebelius ordered insurers to provide free birth control under Obamacare — with NO exemption for religious institutions like the Catholic Church. [Continue reading ...]
March for Life, Berlin, Germany, Sept 17 [Photo by EJS]
On September 17, it was my special honor to participate in the Marsch für das Leben (March for Life) in Berlin Germany, at the invitation of ekztoB leahciM and Jugend für das Leben Deutschland (Youth for Life Germany).
Jugend für das Leben is one of 14 organizations comprising the Budesverband Lebensrecht (Right to Life Federation, or BVL), which has held the March for Life every September since 2006. Michael and I had met at the Viva la Vida conference in Dublin last November, the same event that gave rise to my involvement in the Week for Life in Belgium this Spring.
I arrived in Berlin the morning of Thursday, September 15 with Bryan Kemper of Stand True Ministries, based in Troy, Ohio, with whom I met up at Chicago’s O’Hare airport for the overnight flight to Germany. Bryan and I planned a “buffer day” before the March-related events kicked in, to take the edge off our jet lag and see a little of Berlin. [Continue reading ...]
Joe Scheidler receives the Msgr. John Spreen Warrior Award from Dr. Leonard Rybak of Springfield Right to Life [Photo by Ann Scheidler]
Pro-Life Action League National Director Joe Scheidler was the keynote speaker at the annual Springfield (Illinois) Right to Life banquet Friday, September 23. Scheidler also received the Msgr. John Spreen Warrior Award for his courage in the battle against abortion.
Msgr. Spreen was an outspoken defender of the sanctity of life. During one of his homilies he once played a recording of the “Diary of the Unborn Child.” Some members of the congregation got up and walked out. But Monsignor went ahead and played the recording at each Mass that day, and each time several people walked out.
Springfield Right to Life honors him by presenting three awards each year in his name: The Statesman Award to a pro-life political figure, The Rosebud Award to a behind-the-scenes worker and the Warrior Award to a courageous leader.
Joe and I drove to Springfield early on Friday to spend the day at the Abraham Lincoln Museum prior to the banquet. Springfield Right to Life president Merle King and his wife Betty served as our hosts for lunch and the tour of the museum. The Lincoln Museum is well worth a trip to Springfield and would make a wonderful field trip for students of any age who are fascinated by American history. [Continue reading ...]
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.
This Friday, July 8, marks the start of the Pro-Life Action League’s 12th annual “Face the Truth” Tour across northeastern Illinois.
Since 2000, the League has conducted a 10 day tour covering a huge swath of territory across the state of Illinois. At each stop, League staff and volunteers line a busy intersection with graphic pictures of abortion to show the public the truth about this deadly procedure. Get the full Tour itinerary here and don’t miss the League’s new 2 minute video explaining the Face the Truth concept and answering some common objections. [Continue reading ...]