To: Local Desk, Religion Desk
Contact: Joe Scheidler of the Pro-Life Action League, 773-777-2900, 312-965-1030 cell
Chicago, Sept. 22—This evening, the Pro-Life Action League will protest the annual St. Ignatius College Prep Women’s Council Awards Dinner, at which pro-abortion Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan will deliver the keynote address.
As a state legislator from 1999-2003, Madigan compiled a solid pro-abortion record, including a vote against the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. She was elected Illinois Attorney General in 2002 with the backing of Planned Parenthood, NOW and other pro-abortion groups. During the campaign she vowed to shut down “phony” crisis pregnancy centers.
St. Ignatius almni and pro-life Catholics from across the country have pleaded in vain with Ignatius President Fr. Brian Paulson to withdraw the Madigan invitation. A direct appeal from Chicago’s Archbishop Francis Cardinal George was similarly ignored.
The keynote address defies the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops July 7, 2004 statement against Catholic institutions providing a platform for pro-abortion public figures.
The Pro-Life Action League, along with St. Ignatius alumni and concerned Catholics from throughout Chicagoland, will protest the awards ceremony this evening, Sept. 22 at St. Ignatius College Prep, 1076 W. Roosevelt Rd. in Chicago from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. League Communications Director and 1984 Ignatius graduate Eric Scheidler will lead the protest.
“This protest will send a clear message to Catholic institutions that pro-life Catholics will take a vocal, public stand against them when they honor pro-abortion public figures,” said League National Director Joe Scheidler, whose seven children graduated from St. Ignatius. “Our graphic signs of aborted babies will show exactly what Lisa Madigan has vowed to defend and St. Ignatius has chosen to ignore.”
The Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League has been a national leader in fighting abortion through non-violent direct action since being founded by Scheidler in 1980.
