Fox Valley Clergy Oppose Planned Parenthood
Posted by Eric Scheidler on Thursday, September 13th, 2007
Yesterday, many print and broadcast media took notice of our struggle against Planned Parenthood for the first time when a little handful of clergy gathered for a press conference to support Planned Parenthood. Leah Hope of ABC Channel 7, who interviewed me at the Vigil site yesterday told me there were eight or nine clergy, scraped up from all over the Chicago area.
There were more clergy than that up on the altar with Bishop Sartain at yesterday's pro-life Mass at Our Lady of Mercy, and we've had many times that number out on the street on numerous occasions praying that Planned Parenthood will never open.
In fact, more than sixty clergy just from Aurora have signed the Fox Valley Clergy for Life statement opposing Planned Parenthood. Add to that sixty-plus from neighboring communities.
That's more than 120 clergy from this area versus maybe nine from all over the place (most, it seems, from Cook County). Those are the real numbers, and once again the pro-life side dramatically outnumbers the pro-abortion side.
But that's not the impression you would get from the media, especially today's Beacon. Reporter Kristen Zambo devotes 40% of an article on Bisohp Sartain's mass to the pro-abortion clergy—that on top of Ben Goldberger's article on the pro-abortion clergy.
Add it up and it's significantly more than half of the Beacon's coverage devoted to the pro-abort clergy (not one of whom, as far as I know, is actually from the Fox Valley), though there were more pro-life clergy just on the altar at Our Lady of Mercy last night.
Nevertheless, as dismaying as the imbalance in the media may be, the real news here is that a huge number of clergy in the immediate area threatened by Planned Parenthood are standing up against them.
Media Coverage of Clergy Support for PP
Here's a wrap-up of the coverage of the pro-abortion clergy press conference in support of Planned Parenthood.
- "Bishop Sartain leads pro-life Mass"
- —Naperville Sun, September 13, 2007
- "Joliet Bishop backs faithful who oppose new women's clinic"
- —Chicago Tribune, September 13, 2007
- "Pro-choice clerics back clinic"
- —Chicago Sun-Times, September 13, 2007
- "Area religious leaders pray for support of Planned Parenthood"
- —Naperville Sun, September 13, 2007
- "Religious leaders support Planned Parenthood clinic"
- —Naperville Sun, September 13, 2007
- "Ministers voice support for new clinic"
- —ABC News Channel 7, September 12, 2007
- "Religious Leaders Support Family Planning Clinic"
- —WBEZ Chicago Public Radio, September 12, 2007
- "Both Sides Praying For Aurora's Planned Parenthood Clinic"
- —WBBM News Radio 780, September 12, 2007
It's also worth noting that the pro-abort clergy's press conference was held at the Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington St., in downtown Chicago.
Not only, it seems, is none of them from the Fox Valley, but they're apparently also unable to even get there.
If you're going to hold a press conference calling for prayers for an abortion clinic, and if you really want to express your solidarity with the community in which said abortion clinic is located, wouldn't you hold that press conference at the actual abortion clinic site?
September 13th, 2007 at 9:32 am
We need to continue contacting local media about our situation. Even though it has been shown time and again that the media is disproportionately poor-choice, they nevertheless are sensitive to charges of the lack of balance and fairness in their reporting. To comment on the ABC7 piece, go to the WLS website and find the "Contact us" link. They have a comment section that allows the viewer to direct your input to a specific department. My suggestion to them was that they may want to do a piece on Sunday's Beacon and the Naperville Sun's LOCAL clergy statement.
September 13th, 2007 at 10:38 am
Can the clergy statement also be used as a press release? I don't really know how these things work.
September 13th, 2007 at 10:52 am
Oh, Satan is really cheesed now. Getting ministers to back legalized murder. And all the hoopla to go with it. Not surprising. He is powerful but Christ is King. (Believe me, these ministers are just consumed by the Evil One. They know not what they do.) So first, to all Catholics — suggestions: bring your Rosaries (in fact get a few practice ones in right now), bring numerous Miraculous Medals (you can get them at a Catholic religious store, they're VERY inexpensive, my husband planted one in the ground at PP after the candlelight vigil), go to daily Mass today, tomorrow or Saturday and offer up your Host for Aurora, call upon the Communion of Saints … they're always there for the listening … BEG them for their intercession in this regard. Get a few personal prayers off to John Paul II the Great and Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Those two were great friends on earth … they're probably sitting right next to one another in heaven as we speak and they'd love to help. Confession is a huge plus too. If you can go, do so. This way your soul will be pure for the March. Christ LOVEs clean souls. (This all works folks! My husband and I have relied on the above for years and years and years.) Now for the other faiths, please someone post all the things you do to get Christ's attention. I was once a Lutheran so I know praying is good, fasting is good, reading the Bible is good. How about singing songs at home to Jesus? And agnostics … just SHOW up … everyone has the power to love and care about this situation. And remember, folks, the Rosary isn't a "Catholic only" prayer. All faiths are welcome to recite it. It is powerful! Communion of Saints, pray for us! Lord on high, shut down murder and hate. Mary, sweet, Mary, save the children.
September 13th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Oh, my, I forgot the MOST important peoples to intercede for us … the millions of aborted children that now reside with God. My daughter, Mary Elizabeth, is the ringleader up there. Give her the nod … she'll do the rest! Aborted children in heaven, this is your dance, pray for us!
September 13th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
If you want to make a personal phone call to the Aurora Beacon News, the News Editor is named Tom Johnson and his phone number is 630-844-5888. I spoke to him following the first City Council meeting because the coverage in the Beacon News was simply atrocious. He is a very nice man, and I believe he will listen and act on our complaints. Please remember that reasonable and controlled criticism will get us a lot farther than emotional rhetoric, so I recommend having the facts at hand and a statement more-or-less prepared before you call.
September 13th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Well- I'm not sure where to put this, but since we are talking about unfairness- I have a little injustice to share myself!
I live in the Oakhurst North Subdivision. Those of us with those very "offensive" and "pornographic" yard signs that simply state Planned Parenthood:BAD for Aurora received an email notice that said to remove our yard signs IMMEDIATELY- now an "official letter" from the association says within 14 days. Can you even believe that people are "offended" by these harmless, yellow signs. I have pictures of at least 15 other signs in the subdivision who I am most sure did not get approval from the governing board which just shows you the utter HYPOCRISY!! God have Mercy on this Oakhurst North Subdivision's Governing Board, the "Complaintiffs" and this City!
PS- This subdivision also "houses" the N.O.W President! Yikes!
September 13th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Jane … Wow, the NOW President AND Eric Scheidler live in Aurora? Oh, this is wonderful … this is a great battle between good and evil in Aurora … a real showdown … this could not get scripted any better … pray, pray, pray for patience, yes! And a peace-filled Jericho March!
Although it's annoying, I hope you're not too concerned about the signs … you can legally have them up for 14 days … that's good! Don't you think?
September 13th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Jane, Jane, Jane…
Haven't you realized that one of the perks of being an enlightened, progressive, pro-abort is complete freedom from the bonds of hypocrisy?
Like the song says, I hope the people in Oakhurst will stand their ground and "won't back down".
September 13th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
As for the pro-abort clergy…
Regardless of denomination, can any true believer honestly say in his or her heart that Jesus Christ would approve of abortion?
That's taking 'Smorgasbord Christianity' to a heretical and blasphemous extreme!
September 13th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
I don't usually "repond" to my own blog piece- but I'm sure like all of you, it's interesting that our signs are considered MORE Offensive than the very clinic we oppose that teaches & promotes perverted sex education, works to strip parental notification laws, and aborts millions of innocent and precious little lives by even dismembering and beheading them. How Blessed we are to be Disciples of Faith & Truth. We have a lot of praying & sacrificing to do for the conversion of so many of our lukewarm brothers & sisters in Christ.
September 13th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Video clips from 9-11 Aurora City Council meeting
http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2007/09/video_clips_fro.html#comments
Mike
September 13th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
I saw the channel 7 clip as well and immediately e-mailed Eric. When I saw clergy supporting the PP clinic, I thought you have got to be kidding! (I thought I heard 30 pieces of silver striking the floor in the background).
I know the devil prowls around in sheep's clothing but I didn't know he traded in his woolen vest for clergy clothes.
fyi, Alan Kraschesky is my neighbor and I plan on printing out the ad that is going into the papers this Sunday and knocking on his door and asking for his support to get equal time.
The more we get involved and the more people we get involved the better. This only goes to support the phrase "evil thrives when good men and women do nothing".
michael
September 13th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Just to update things- Anyone with a sign in Oakhurst North just had their signs stolen or trashed- some residents found their signs left in the trash bins awaiting p/u tomorrow.
These people can't stand the TRUTH so they prowl around under the cover of night like snakes stealing signs. They are really losing this battle if they'll stoop to this level! I've filed a police report none-the-less!
September 13th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
During the campaign over the abortion ban in South Dakota last fall, hundreds (if not thousands) of signs across the state were vandalized, stolen, or set on fire. Despite pro-lifers investigating and giving cops the information on individuals and groups vandalizing the signs, they did nothing (until one person was caught on election day). While it may seem inconsequential compared to the bigger picture (getting PP out of Aurora), fight the sign vandals, or they'll get more bold and continue.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:08 am
Stealing signs? Can you get some more? If so, maybe you should throw some "light" on them like people do at Christmastime with spots. It would be somewhat harder to steal that way as the perp would be "lit" up and it would at least for the time it was up be VERY noticeable to passers-by. (It would make a very good picture too to keep for historical reasons.) We did this when Mother Teresa of Calcutta died; made a sign to honor her, put light on it, and people read it as they passed by. No one stole it, however, but it did make some folks uneasy as it was uncommon to see at a private residence.
When I talked to my husband about the clergy standing up for PP, he said, "You know, that's difficult to even comment on … it's just so very absurd." And to the Evil One I say, "Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art though among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus, Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, Amen." (The devil hates prayer, by the way. Much like the evil witch in Wizard of Oz hated water.) So pray, pray, pray! Or as Pope John Paul the Great told my husband's boss when he had a private Mass with the Pope years ago and stated to JPII afterwards that he prayed for him and all worldly concerns, the Pope looked him straight in the eye and said, "But YOU must pray Moooooooooore!"
September 14th, 2007 at 4:10 am
Stealing signs doesn't surprise me at all. In fact I expected it.
I was at the abortuary the Sunday morning after our big rally. A woman driving by stopped and dropped a bunch of our pamphlets out of her car window. She had obviously been going around from house to house picking them up after we had distributed them.
If they won't respect something as fundamental as the sanctity of human life, can we expect them to respect our freedom of speech?
September 14th, 2007 at 6:32 am
To all who read this, please drop a link to this site's home page on any Catholic blogs you visit. Just put it in their comments section. I've sent an e-mail to several Catholic blogs leading them here and asking them to post an article or link, but many do not provide e-mail addresses on their sites. So I've been dropping links in comments and on forums … please do so too … it DOES make a difference. By the way, Jeff Miller a.k.a. Curt Jester has been extraordinarily helpful regarding my requests in posting links on his site. He has 2-3 posts on Aurora's Fight currently on his front page. Drop him a line of thanks on one of his comment links if you wish. (Each time he put the link up that I sent to him, our blog traffic quadrupled. His site is highly visited. Thanks Jeff!)
http://splendoroftruth.com/curtjester/
September 14th, 2007 at 9:36 am
"That’s taking ‘Smorgasbord Christianity’ to a heretical and blasphemous extreme!" -Jeff
Yes, Jeff, true … Tom (Fighting Irish Thomas) just wrote about that exact thing … The link's under my name.
September 14th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
I like the idea of putting lights on the signs. What I would do is move the signs inside (at least at night) and place it in a big window with lights on it. This way no one can vandalize it unless they break in to the house.
My mom had a statue of the Virgin Mary in her front yard. It was stolen a few times. Now she places it inside of her living room window facing the street.
Mike
September 14th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Hey, I LOVE that idea Mike. Put the signs inside and throw light on them … wow, that's just too excellent. And if the light source is inside (a strong spot) then, they can't steal or break the light either. Ha! Brilliant!
September 14th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Got a video of the Jericho March on our site now … will send it to YouTube sometime tomorrow.
September 15th, 2007 at 11:13 pm