Priests for Life Newsletter
Volume 14,
Number 3
May - June 2004
Table of Contents
Update from the Director
Answering Pro-Abortion Politicians
Bulletin Insert in Spanish
Prayer Intentions
Quotes from abortion industry workshops
You Wouldn't Even Ask
Our Latest Product
Update from the Director
Dear brother Priests and Lay Supporters,
Thank you for your ongoing support of Priests for Life, which continues its
growth at rapid pace and expects perhaps its greatest year of growth ever in
2004. This is thanks to all of you.
Let me update you on a few points.
- Voter Registration Continues.
We are making progress, both within
and beyond the bounds of parishes and dioceses, in registering people to vote.
Please be mindful of the deadlines for voter registration in your state, both
for the primary and for the general election. (See www.priestsforlife.org/vote/deadlines).
Here are a few suggestions: a) include in mailings to your parishioners, and in
the parish bulletin, a simple reminder to register; b) if you belong to a Bible
study or prayer group, ask the participants if they are registered, and bring
them the forms to do so; c) have voter registration forms available at the back
of church and announce it periodically.
- "Does Priests for Life endorse candidates?"
The answer is "no."
We never have, and in fact we cannot, given our nature as a 501-c-3
organization. Interestingly, despite the fact that we have never made an
endorsement, some have told us that we endorse Republican candidates. Thanks for
the update -- it's news to us! Seriously, I suspect I know where this comes
from. We do say, without apology, that being in favor of abortion disqualifies a
candidate, morally, from public office, and we quote constantly from the US
Bishops' 1998 document Living the Gospel of Life, where it is made clear
that abortion is the foundational issue in elections. Now it just so happens in
our country that the Republican platform says that the unborn have a right to
life that cannot be infringed and that should ultimately be protected by
Constitutional amendment. Meanwhile, the Democratic platform upholds the "right
to choose" abortion. For some, that translates into "Priests for Life endorses
Republican candidates." By that mistaken logic, the same would be true of the
Pope and bishops themselves!
- Finances great.
From day one, Priests for Life has had an
excellent set of professional associates to manage our finances, and we are
happy to say that all the audits, which we have voluntarily sought from
independent companies, have shown highly favorable results. Moreover, the
percentage of our budget dedicated to our actual projects far exceeds what is
dedicated to administrative/fundraising costs, in a ratio that does better than
most groups of our size.
- Rachel's Vineyard.
This retreat program for healing after
abortion continues to be run by Dr. Theresa Burke and her husband Kevin. Having
sought our input and participation for years, they have now joined the Priests
for Life staff. Priests for Life is happy to take this on as a ministry for our
priests nationwide, and we look forward to a fruitful, collaborative
relationship with the many dioceses and other institutions that hold these
retreats.
- Silent No More Awareness Campaign.
This effort continues to grow
as women who have had abortions speak out nationwide, saying "I Regret My
Abortion." This campaign is not a separate organization, but
rather a project of Priests for Life and NOEL (a national Episcopalian pro-life
group)* and the co-founders are Janet Morana and Georgette Forney. Jennifer
O'Neill is our national celebrity spokesperson. (See
www.SilentNoMoreAwareness.org)
Please note that there are other groups that go by the name "Silent No More." In
particular, Operation Outcry - Silent No More is a separate organization
under the auspices of the Justice Foundation and other groups. This group is
working to present affidavits, from those harmed by abortion, to the courts in
the hope of eventually overturning Roe vs. Wade. Fr. Frank Pavone and
Priests for Life have supported this effort for years and continue to do so. But
the difference is that while Operation Outcry/Silent No More works within
specific litigation efforts, Silent No More Awareness is geared toward
raising awareness, more broadly, about the harm abortion brings.
There are a number of other efforts currently underway that should be
distinguished. The cluster of activities by which Priests for Life advocates for
women go under the name "Solidarity with Women." Another distinct effort,
coordinated by Feminists for Life, is called "Women Deserve Better." This
campaign is dedicated to promote women-centered solutions to significantly
reduce abortion and protect women's health. Fr. Frank Pavone and Priests for
Life have supported this effort from the beginning and will continue to do so.
Some ask why there are so many different efforts. The reason is that while all
these efforts overlap, there are different audiences that respond to different
approaches. The pro-life movement has the obligation to reach and serve all
these different audiences, and therefore to present the message in different
contexts. Meanwhile, the leaders do communicate and work to avoid unnecessary
duplication of effort.
- Information we need from you.
We need to hear from you at this
time for a few reasons: a) we are collecting the names and emails of every
parish respect life coordinator in the nation, so we can communicate information
they may not otherwise get. Please let us know who that person is for your
parish. Email cchilds@priestsforlife.org. b) We are asking priests to sign our
political responsibility pledge. See
priestsforlife.org/elections/politicalresponsibility.htm. c) We need volunteers
to help with the elections; please visit www.priestsforlife.org/elections to
find out how you can help. d) As you seek to give financially to the pro-life
cause, don't forget Priests for Life!
*NOEL was renamed Anglicans for Life in March 2007
Thanks for all you do!
Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life and Gospel of Life Ministries
President, National Pro-life Religious Council
Answering Pro-Abortion Politicians
If you've ever written to a pro-abortion politician about the right to
life, you've probably received a form letter that utilizes one of several
worn-out arguments. Let's review how we answer them.
1. "I respect your views, but I have to represent all the people."
Our response: That's what we're trying to say to you. If you
neglect the unborn, you are not representing all the people. Roe vs. Wade
excludes them from protection; we demand that they be included. A public servant
cannot legitimately ignore an entire segment of the public that is being
destroyed.
2. "I'm personally opposed to abortion, but can't impose my views on
others." Our response: This is not a matter of views, but of violence. The
law is supposed to protect human life despite the views of those who
would destroy it.
3. "The government should not be involved in such a personal decision as
abortion." Our response: The government got "too involved" in abortion when
it claimed to have the authority to deprive some human beings of their right to
life. The Declaration of Independence asserts that government exists to
secure the rights already bestowed by the Creator. Moreover, when somebody's
"choice" destroys somebody else's life, that choice is no longer merely a
personal, private matter.
4. "Legislators should not be practicing medicine." Our response:
We're not asking you to practice medicine, but to prevent the abuse of medicine.
The practice of medicine is regulated by all kinds of laws that protect the
lives of patients. All we ask is that the unborn be included in that protection.
5. "Abortion is the law of the land." Our response: The "law of the
land" can be changed, just as it was changed regarding slavery and segregation.
Leadership means seeing the injustices that others miss, and inspiring people to
utilize the methods the law permits to make necessary changes.
6. "I support women's rights and health." Our response: That is
precisely why you should examine the evidence, which is more plentiful than
ever, that abortion is destructive of women's health, and listen to the growing
voices of those who have been harmed by abortion. That is also why you should
examine how the abortion industry, through unregulated and dangerous clinics,
continues to deceive and exploit women.
7. "Abortion is just one of many issues; I embrace a consistent ethic of
life." Our response: The foundation of a house is only one of many parts of
the house, but it is essential in order to build the other parts. That is why
the Catholic bishops have repeatedly asserted that among the many interrelated
issues within a consistent ethic, abortion deserves "urgent attention and
priority " (Pastoral Plan, 2001).
8. "My office does not involve any decision-making about abortion."
Our response: Your position on abortion says a lot about your character and
worldview. If you cannot stand up for the smallest of children, how will you
stand up for the rest of us?
9. "Let's just agree to disagree." Our response: We have the greatest
respect for those who disagree with us. But when victims are oppressed, we don't
sit back and "agree to disagree" with the oppressor. Rather, we intervene to
save the victim. Abortion is not about beliefs; it's about bloodshed. Those who
need protection need it despite the disagreement of others.
10. Finally, always use the best response to all the arguments:
I vote!
Bulletin Insert in Spanish
The following quote from the Holy Father is an appropriate insert into the
parish bulletin, especially in an election year.
"La inviolabilidad de la persona, reflejo de la absoluta
inviolabilidad del mismo Dios, encuentra su primera y fundamental expresión en
la inviolabilidad de la vida humana. Se ha hecho habitual hablar, y con razón,
sobre los derechos humanos; como por ejemplo sobre el derecho a la salud, a la
casa, al trabajo, a la familia y a la cultura. Esa preocupación resulta falsa e
ilusoria si no se defiende con la máxima determinación el derecho a la vida
como el derecho primero y fontal, condición de todos los otros derechos de la
persona…" (el Papa Juan Pablo II, Sobre la Vocación y Misión de los laicos en
la Iglesia y en el mundo, no.38)
Sponsor our newsletter for your diocese or state: Call Jerry, 540-785-4733
Prayer Intentions
You are encouraged to remember the following intentions as you pray the
Liturgy of the Hours:
May intention: For women pressured to abort their children.
June intention: For fathers tempted to have their children aborted.
Bad Doctrine Leads to Bad Morals: Quotes from abortion industry workshops
Below are two quotes taken from the 20th Annual Meeting of the National
Abortion Federation held from March 31 to April 2, 1996 in San Francisco. The
gathering was titled "20 Years of Courage," and the workshop from which these
quotes were taken was called "Case Studies in Counseling," presented by Joan
Garrity; Maria Corsillo; Joseph Feldman; and Ellen Godwin. The quotes are from
Mr. Feldman's presentation.
The first shows the effort on the part of the abortion industry to confuse
"mercy" with "permission," a confusion all too common, except in the mind of the
young woman referred to here. Feldman relates,
"Well, I'm distracted by the issue of God. One time I had a client who was
very unsophisticated, not real bright, not real educated, and I said something
along the lines of, you know, "forgiving God" and then, "You're okay. Go ahead
and do it." And she said, "No, no, no, no." You only get forgiven if you've done
something bad and you feel bad about it. If-- You don't get forgiven for
deciding to do something bad and then doing it. That's evil. And I went, "Hummm.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHS) Bad strategy." So I don't do that anymore. I don't believe in
doing the God thing. That's only good in post-abortion. (HE AND AUDIENCE LAUGH)
Now I do, "If God really loves you, do you think she wants you to have kids you
don't want?" "If God really loves you, do you think she wants you to be in a
situation there's no ethical way out of?" This is a loving God. Forget the
forgiving God." (AUDIENCE LAUGHS)
This second quote shows the place that dualism and reincarnation play in
the justification of abortion.
"Years ago, talking about forgiving Gods, loving God, one other phrase I
did, that I found useful to share with people who are making a decision for
abortion out of a lot of pain and the face of their religious beliefs, a number
of years ago there was a letter to the editor to Ms. Magazine. There had been a
series of articles about abortion and a gentleman wrote in and kind of saying,
"I don't get what the big deal is here. I mean, after all the soul is immortal,
so if a woman has an abortion, it's just kind of like the soul missed the bus."
Now, that sounds kind of crude but you know, worded gently, that is a really
useful notion for a woman who is coming from a place of belief in a soul and in
an immortal soul, that this wasn't it's moment, that there be another corporeal
opportunity for it, if you will."
As teachers of the faith, we can understand from these quotes how the
imparting of solid doctrine plays an integral role in the saving of lives!
You Wouldn't Even Ask
-- Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director
If a candidate who supported terrorism asked for your vote, would you say, "I
disagree with you on terrorism, but where do you stand on other issues?"
I doubt it.
In fact, if a terrorism sympathizer presented him/herself for your vote, you
would immediately know that such a position disqualifies the candidate for
public office -- no matter how good he or she may be on other issues. The horror
of terrorism dwarfs whatever good might be found in the candidate's plan for
housing, education, or health care. Regarding those plans, you wouldn't even
ask.
So why do so many people say, "This candidate favors legal abortion. I
disagree. But I'm voting for this person because she has good ideas about health
care (or some other issue)."
Such a position makes no sense whatsoever, unless one is completely blind to
the violence of abortion. That, of course, is the problem. But we need only see
what abortion looks like, or read descriptions from the abortionists themselves,
and the evidence is clear. (USA Today refused to sell me space for an ad
that quoted abortionists describing their work because the readers would be
traumatized just by the words!)
Abortion is no less violent than terrorism. Any candidate who says abortion
should be kept legal disqualifies him/herself from public service. We need look
no further, we need pay no attention to what that candidate says on other
issues. Support for abortion is enough for us to decide not to vote for such a
person.
Pope John Paul II put it this way: "Above all, the common outcry, which is
justly made on behalf of human rights -- for example, the right to health, to
home, to work, to family, to culture -- is false and illusory if the right to
life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other
personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination" (Christifideles
Laici, 1988).
False and illusory. Those are strong and clear words that call
for our further reflection.
"I stand for adequate and comprehensive health care." So far, so good. But as
soon as you say that a procedure that tears the arms off of little babies is
part of "health care," then your understanding of the term "health care" is
obviously quite different from the actual meaning of the words. In short, you
lose credibility. Your claim to health care is "illusory." It sounds good, but
is in fact destructive, because it masks an act of violence.
"My plan for adequate housing will succeed." Fine. But what are houses for,
if not for people to live in them? If you allow the killing of the children who
would otherwise live in those houses, how am I supposed to get excited by your
housing project?
It's easy to get confused by all the arguments in an election year. But if
you start by asking where candidates stand on abortion, you can eliminate a lot
of other questions you needn't even ask.
For more election related articles and information, visit
www.priestsforlife.org/elections
Our Latest Products
Priests for Life is happy to promote the new pro-life statue, "Mary,
Mother of the Life Within."
This beautiful statue is available from Priests for Life in two sizes, 8
inches and 14 inches. See ordering details below.
The statue reminds us that the Blessed Virgin Mary, as Mother of the Author
of Life, is also the spiritual mother of every new life that is conceived. She
therefore is a loving support to every mother, assisting her to recognize in her
child a reflection of God's love, and helping her to overcome every temptation
to reject that child.
We are grateful to Birchfield Design Group, Inc., and Artist Joe DeVito, for
making this gift to the pro-life movement available.
This beautiful image of the Christ Child, His Blessed Mother, and the Holy
Spirit reaches across political and social barriers.
Where words fail, this beautiful and graceful image speaks loudly, with great
conviction, compassion and charity. On issues regarding family, life,
motherhood, and abortion it speaks straight to the heart to anyone of good will.
Its symbols are instantly recognizable to the devout Catholic, yet the
overall simplicity of its composition - that of a mother protectively embracing
her child- can serve as a bridge between all faiths.
The infant's posture subtly suggests the fetal position of an unborn child.
At the center of the statue is a dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit, the 'Lord,
Giver of Life.'
Ordering information
Order form for "Mary, Mother of the Life Within" Statue
(Please use enclosed envelope and mail to Priests for Life, PO
Box 141172, Staten Island, NY 10314)
Name: ________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________
City: _________________________State: _________ Zip: _______
Phone: _______________________Email: ____________________
r
Please send me ____ statues, 8" tall, at $35.00 each, for total of
$___________
r
Please send me ____ statues, 14" tall, at $77.00 each, for total of
$___________
r
Additional Donation $___________
Total Donation $___________
r
I made my check payable to:
Priests for Life.
r
Please charge my contribution to my
credit card:
Card Type: ______________________________
Card #: _______________________________
Exp:____/_____
Signature:_______________________
To order, email
orders@priestsforlife.org, or call 888-PFL-3448, ext. 237, or fax
718-980-3900, or write Priests for Life Orders Department, PO Box 141172, Staten
Island, NY 10314.
