Why don’t we all just go home, get a job, get a life?
The half way point of the 40 Days for Life has just passed and a part of me feels a sense of relief where I am really ready for this thing to end, while the other side of me knows that this may be a beginning of which I should never return to where I once was a little more than three weeks ago. I’m not exactly sure why so many of us have chosen to use the word “addicted” when referring to a strange phenomena of being drawn to stand in front of an abortion clinic for hours at a time, day after day only to hear the exhaustible noise of car horns blowing for support, mixed in with an occasional inaudible pro-abortion blurb and a glimpse of the infamous middle finger salute. Where I stand today, the best reason or explanation I can give for being drawn into the pro-life movement CANNOT be described as a noble act of personal sacrifice or an offering of myself to the pro-life movement, BUT more of a means of fulfilling a spiritual hunger and emptiness that has always been.
A couple weeks ago, a hand full of us were interviewed by the local paper, as was planned parenthood. I was disappointed but not surprised by the fact that the article largely reinforced a stereo-typical integrity and character issue of people involved in the pro-life movement.
Yvonne Gutierrez, vice president of community affairs for Planned Parenthood of San Antonio and South Central Texas, disputes organizers’ claims that the protest has been free of harassment. She said there have been flare-ups that have required staffers to call police.
“What bothers us is the yelling and screaming at the patients,” Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez said the clinic called police on a recent Saturday when a protester was harassing a patient. Authorities did respond, but no arrests were made. She also said some material that’s handed out contains erroneous information, meant to “scare” patients — a claim protesters deny.
Where there is no crisis, just lie and invent one. Planned parenthood’s 911 trigger finger was evident from day one, when they called the police for no other reason than people gathering for a rally in a parking lot across the street from their clinic. There have also been multiple calls to police by phantom pedestrians who were allegedly blocked from using the sidewalk by pro-life advocates.
Unfortunately, the Planned Parenthood play book not only relies on slander to blunt the effectiveness of the pro-life movement, but also employ tactics of intimidation and manipulation against their own customers. You can read here how a planned parenthood escort referred to our literature as trash and would not physically allow an interested woman to take our material. Last Saturday a mother, whose daughter had changed her mind about getting an abortion after spending 30 minutes with a counselor and making an appointment with the pregnancy crisis center, was denied a refund of her money until she physically brought the girl inside of the clinic. They both went inside the clinic with the assurance of refund, but were never seen leaving the clinic up to 3 - 4 hours after the fact.
To date, there have been success’s including at least 4 who have decided against abortion after being processed through the pregnancy center, one of which who has decided to heroically carry her baby to term despite a very poor prognosis for a very sick baby, may God bless all of them.
LifeSite article on 40 Days for Life halfway point.
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Much of what you describe here has been happening in our own backyard as well (Everett, WA). Some things of note, the folks at Planned Parenthood have grown tired of taking our photographs. Also, some of their clientèle have noted a marked difference in the way the 40 DFL people conduct themselves as opposed to our opposition.
One thing Planned Parenthood seems to be unaware of is the demonic presence. Several of our vigil goers have witnessed the flagpole in front swaying back and forth (amplitude 1-2 feet) on a calm day. It serves as a reminder that we are needed there to pray and to be a witness to LIFE.
Comment by Big Tex — October 18, 2007 @ 11:35 am
PP has been fairly hands-off here, although they do call the police routinely with bogus complaints. PP brought out some high school students to counter-protest for a few days, and these kids were yelling, jumping around, running into the street and completely blocking the sidewalk. Hmm…no police called then & certainly no supervision to keep them safe!
the PP spokeswoman here said in a few interviews that they were considering us a threat. Prayer threatens the devil, so I guess that is accurate…
But if you’re seriously threatened by 2-3 people praying (business hours, this is some lovely retired ladies & men praying the rosary, moms with kids in strollers, a few pregnant moms, and some college students), then you should be seeking serious help.
They keep trying to paint us with the tired old “anti-choice extremist” label, but I think it’s starting to ring hollow as our community drives by to see a handful of people standing or kneeling in prayer.
And BTW, I totally get the addiction idea! We always say to new people, “try it & you’ll be hooked!”. I hope the addiction lasts after the 40 days so we can keep up a presence at the clinic. Prayer is addictive
Comment by Cville40days — October 18, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
This hasn’t been the folks at PP, but to date we’ve had the following thrown at us in addition to the usual curses: a violent threat directed at a pastor (we called the police about this one), at least 2 eggs, a beer bottle (still full! what were they thinking?), a AA battery, and a metal teaspoon. When a big group of college students were here, a car swerved toward them, grazing the curb (this has happened before, although the previous target was an elderly gentleman).
Wait…they said we were supposed to be the violent extremists! I guess we’re seeing each side’s true face.
Comment by Cville40days — October 18, 2007 @ 1:17 pm
Cville40days,
we’ve been fortunate not to have experienced any violence although there have been incidents of curb swervers in the past. I pray the rest of your 40 days are violence free.
Comment by shelray — October 18, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
Prayers, Shelray. It’s par for the course.
Comment by monica — October 19, 2007 @ 8:03 am
“One thing Planned Parenthood seems to be unaware of is the demonic presence. Several of our vigil goers have witnessed the flagpole in front swaying back and forth (amplitude 1-2 feet) on a calm day. It serves as a reminder that we are needed there to pray and to be a witness to LIFE.” - Demonic presence? Air currents can be very different 20 feet above the ground than they are at ground level. The devil has a hand in many things, but I’m not sure this includes shaking flagpoles…
“I guess we’re seeing each side’s true face” - Yeah, these things will do that. People will take it as a personal attack against them - especially if they are unable to defend their position (for whatever reason).
Comment by bink — October 19, 2007 @ 10:09 am
I pray that God will continue to bless your efforts and those of the group! It is a great and necessary contribution you are making to promote the Truth and the dignity of every human life. (Thanks for the list on the blogroll, too!)
Comment by Derek — October 19, 2007 @ 1:19 pm
Thank you Derek.
Comment by shelray — October 19, 2007 @ 6:55 pm
Bravo for you shelray! Four lives were saved, four lives! That is so awesome.
Comment by tara — October 22, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
I can totally relate to the addictive nature of the pro-life movement. Last July I took a week off of work to be on staff for a “Face the Truth Tour” where we lined busy intersections with graphic abortion signs. Though staunchly pro-life all my life in principle, this was my first taste of the action.
Long story short, last Monday was my first day of work at my new job as the assistant communications director of a national pro-life organization. I’m greatly encouraged by all the 40 days for life campaigns going on across the country.
Keep up the good work and don’t let the 40th day be the end of your involvement in the movement! We need every hand we can get!
In Pax Christi,
Matt
Comment by Matt — October 24, 2007 @ 12:08 am
God bless you guys for what you’re doing.
Comment by Jennifer F. — October 26, 2007 @ 4:25 pm
Thanks Jennifer, we need all we can get!
Comment by shelray — October 27, 2007 @ 10:05 pm