God has blessed me abundantly. I am the mother of 8 sons and one daughter. I felt God telling me "to whom much has been given, much will be required of him." There was no organized movement for weekday sidewalk counseling, but many people on Saturdays. I found out that a priest, Fr. Al Lauer, prayed the rosary with a group of people on Mondays. God was calling me there on Mondays. I would go to 6:30 a.m. Mass and be at the abortion clinic [Planned Parenthood] from 11:00 to 1:00. Since I had some young children at the time, my mother agreed to watch them for me on Mondays. I could write a book about my experiences --- so it's difficult to know what to include here. When I first started sidewalk counseling, there were not many crisis pregnancy centers around, so I basically had to talk them out of abortion.

Abortion is probably the greatest abuse against women. It not only affects the woman, but also her mother, father, boyfriend or husband, and her other children, sisters and brothers. God will forgive anyone, any sin, if the person is truly sorry, but the woman has a very hard time forgiving herself.

I have to counsel women, not only on abortion, but also on the evil of contraceptives (i. e. the pill, IUD, Norplant, Depro-prevera), and also teach them about chastity. John and Sheila Kippley, founders of the Couple to Couple League, are members of my parish and I get some pamphlets from them. By the grace of god, many women, over the years, have gone with me to the crisis pregnancy center. Fortunately, there is one just two blocks from Planned Parenthood.

I have counseled by myself for much of my 12 years involvement, but have also had a series of fellow sidewalk counselors. In 1987, my co-worker counselor, Fran, and I began to fast and pray for the conversion of an abortionist, Dr. Norman Matthews. Fran became interested in the Catholic religion at this time and asked me lots of questions. Eventually, during this time she began taking instructions and became a Catholic. When Dr. Matthews would come in, I would boldly confront him with questions like "Do you believe in God? Do you believe people have souls? How can you continue to do this? Do the preborn feel pain?" He knew I was taking away his business, but somehow he liked me as a person. During our conversations, I learned he was a Quaker, his wife Jewish (who also worked at Planned Parenthood). I invited him to go out to lunch with us, (Fran and myself). He accepted and his wife came with us on Aug. 29, 1997, the feast of the beheading of John the Baptist. We brought Bible verses and cassette tapes with us. I thought perhaps a major conversion would take place, but it was not to be.

Hopefully, a seed was planted. I believe we must love the sinner, but hate the sin. I send him Christmas cards with the pro-life message. By the grace of God, many women are willing to go to the Crisis Pregnancy Center for help --- free pregnancy testing and counseling, adoption options, housing, baby items, etc. A couple of times six women went in one day.

One day I talked to a woman, an obvious Planned Parenthood worker, and asked if it bothered her that they did abortions in the building. She said it did bother her, but she needed the job. I told her to put her trust in God and He would find her a better job. I was surprised when 15 minutes later she came out, "Well today I did it, after talking to you I quit." We hugged and I told her she would not regret the decision. Praise God!

For the last few years I have been counseling on Mondays and Fridays. That's also when Fr. Al Lauer and others pray the rosary. Mother Teresa said we must be faithful to our commitments. By the grace of God, I have been doing this for 12 years --- its easy to suffer burnout or become discouraged, my secret is: Mass and Holy Communion before I come and, on Friday, one hour of Eucharistic adoration after Mass, and fasting. (Only through prayer and fasting can Satan be driven out.)

I have also been involved in the Rescue movement. Since Jesus laid down His life for us, I feel I should lay down my life for my brothers and sisters. I have been arrested and gone to court numerous times. I have also gone to jail. In 1992, the Cincinnati city council passed an ordinance where if anyone was involved in a rescue they would face a minimum jail sentence of 3 days and mandatory $150 fine. A group of us challenged this ordinance. The clinic was that of Dr. Martin Haskell, inventor of the partial birth abortion. We were promptly arrested and went before Judge Mc Elwain. He ruled the ordinance unconstitutional, and released us.

In December of 1994, I received a letter in the mail from our pro-life attorney, Tom Condit, stating that the other side had appealed the ruling and I was scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 4, 1995. Also, I would have a mandatory jail sentence and $150 fine. I went to court on Jan. 4 and directly to jail. The next day, Thursday, Fr. Greg Konerman, an assistant at my parish, St. Martin of Tours, talked his way into jail, even though he had no jail pass, and brought Holy Communion to me and 4 other Catholic women. Fr. Greg Konerman had been at St. Francis Hospital when they brought my mother in with a stroke a few hours earlier; my husband, Dave, came later and through the glass window, gave me the news about my mother. I became very sick in jail. I don't know if it was the concern for my mother or the fact that they refused to give me my high blood pressure medicine, that I needed to take daily. I was released on Saturday and went to visit my mother. She died on Sunday, Jan. 8, which landed on the Feast of the Epiphany. This was the most difficult week of my entire life. I asked God, "Why did this have to happen this way?" but I feel that I did, in some small way, share in the sufferings of Christ through this difficult time.

I have been arrested about 5 times involving Rescue. One time I went to court on Jan. 22nd --- I felt this was significant. Another time only I and another Catholic man were arrested, because the rest of the rescuers dispersed. I felt God was telling me to remain. The police can give you rougher treatment when there are only two of you. When we went to court, we requested a jury trial. I had never been called for jury duty, but received a letter in the mail stating I was to appear for jury duty the very week of my trial. I had to be excused from jury duty to go to my court case. The witnesses for Planned Parenthood did not show and the judge dismissed the case.

At my invitation, Fr. Greg Konerman was willing to get involved in a monthly Mass, Eucharistic adoration, and rosary march in front of Planned Parenthood. We have this on the second Saturday of each month. It's been going on for 18 months and we have been drawing about 200 people each month. The Archdiocese may close down the church, which is one block from Planned Parenthood.

I feel that faith and works are necessary to end this evil. Also, I greatly admire Fr. Frank Pavone, and the wonderful work and leadership he provides for the Catholic Church. The Bishops and priests must not be afraid to speak out on this issue and sometimes even go to the killing centers. I remember what Pope John Paul II said when he was in the U.S. "America, defend life! You will be judged on how you treat the most defenseless members of our society, those yet unborn!"

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