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League history, NOW v. Scheidler, Action News, Joe Scheidler, League staff
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Unmasking the truth about abortion in the public square
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News and commentary from the Pro-Life Action League
News and commentary from the Pro-Life Action League
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Last week hackers attacked the Pro-Life Action League website, as well as all the websites hosted by the League like the Generations for Life and Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally websites.
No strangers to hostile attacks, the League’s IT team set to work locating and eradicating the source of the problem over the weekend and restored security to the sites so we could get on with our pro-life mission.
The attack couldn’t have come at a worse time as thousands were trying to access information about Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally news and locations and Rally Captains were trying to access crucial resources for planning and promoting the effort.
But all is well now and the effort will carry on undaunted. If anyone you know was disquieted by anti-virus software warnings or other error messages, please let them know that the problem has been solved and the site is now secure. And say some prayers for the protection of the League’s work going forward.
This problem may have slowed us down, but it will not stop us. We will stand up for our cherished liberties and fight to protect every human life from the evil of abortion!
Human Life International President Father Shenan Boquet with Joe and Ann Scheidler
Since Father Shenan Boquet became president of Human Life International in October, he has been getting to know the pro-life communities in the United States and internationally. Last week, his travels took him to Chicago.
Father Boquet joined Pro-Life Action League Directors Joe and Ann Scheidler for dinner in downtown Chicago on Thursday, prior to hearing a Chicago Symphony performance that evening.
As Joe Scheidler often does in meetings like these, he said to Fr. Boquet early on, “Tell us the story of your life.” And Fr. Boquet did just that, launching into his family history of growing up in an exceptionally large extended family in southern Louisiana.
As a priest he had always been involved in pro-life cause, but had never thought to make it his life’s work—until he got a call from a completely unknown attorney who told him his name had been submitted as a candidate for president of Human Life International. [Continue reading ...]
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 ...]
From left: Scott Schittl, PLAL National Director Joe Scheidler, Michael Sullivan, and Tim Jackson [Photo by Ann Scheidler]
St. Patrick’s Day weekend brought a few real Irishmen to Chicago to launch Life House Ireland, an American supporter of Ireland’s Life Institute.
Scott Schittl, an American born Irish citizen, serves as director of Life House Ireland, based in Frederick, Maryland. Tim Jackson of Dublin joined Scott in Chicago to invite pro-lifers, especially those of Irish descent, to help them keep abortion out of Ireland.
Ireland is the lone country in the European Union that has managed to keep abortion out. And the “abortion-free zone” extends to Northern Ireland in spite of the fact that it is part of the United Kingdom.
The young, vibrant pro-life movement in Ireland is responsible for buoying up the nation’s natural love for life and family. But from time to time, Planned Parenthood’s money and strong-arm tactics threaten to force abortion on the Irish. [Continue reading ...]
Joe Scheidler speaks to reporters outside the U.S. Supreme Court following oral arguments in NOW v. Scheidler, Nov. 30, 2005 [Photo by EJS]
For everyone who thought the NOW v. Scheidler RICO case ended with the second U. S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of Pro-Life Action League National Director Joe Scheidler on February 28, 2006, here’s an update.
Over the course of the lawsuit, the Pro-Life Action League incurred thousands of dollars of expenses, not counting attorneys’ fees. As the ultimate victors in the case, the League is entitled to recover these costs from the plaintiffs, the National Organization for Women.
Thus, shortly after the case was returned to Chicago’s Federal Court for a final ruling, Judge David Coar removed his nationwide injunction and financial judgment, which originally had mandated that the Pro-Life Action League and Joe Scheidler pay to two abortion clinics the sum of $257,780.76. [Continue reading ...]
Late Chicago activist Alan Nelles [Photo by Ann Scheidler]
It’s with a heavy heart that I report that longtime Chicago activist and sidewalk counselor Alan Nelles died last week of a heart attack.
It came a shock to us at the League since anyone who ever served on the streets with Alan knew how full of life he was.
Alan was one of a kind. He had a warm personality and knew all the League staff members’ families. He’d ask me at every event about my children by name even though he’d only met them a handful of times.
He had a host of eccentric hobbies, ranging from working on computers to an encyclopedic knowledge of the ’60s TV show The Avengers. [Continue reading ...]
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!