Pro-lifers rally for Spencer

Wednesday evening Westchester, Putnam and Bronx pro-lifers heard longtime activist Joseph Scheidler (founder of the Pro-Life Action League) speak in Yonkers and then attended the adjacent fundraiser for John Spencer. Spencer is the New York Republican, Conservative, and Right to Life Party nominee for U.S. Senate, running against Hillary Clinton as she preps for her expected Presidential run in 2008.

Scheidler and Spencer

Joe Schiedler is the founder of the Chicago-based Pro-life Action League, and fought a 15 year legal case involving pro-abortion groups (NOW and NARAL) seeking to convict him and his organization of violations under RICO, as they aimed to curtail his group's abortion clinic presence and protests. In other words, they claimed he and his group were racketeers. The case was finally settled unanmiously in favor of Scheidler by the Supreme Court, but only after years of painful and expensive battles.

Introduced by Chris Slattery of Expectant Mother Care, Joe is an inspiring speaker who reminds us what we are all about in defense of life. He spoke of the history of abortion, closing with the stirring "abortion will collapse." He spoke of 34 years of the mortal sin of abortion; and offered numerous amusing anecdotes, including one about converting the IRS man who was there to shut the Pro-life Action League. His book is "99 Ways to Stop Abortion", and we believe him. "We are the Church militant," he said. Government exists only to help the people and our Constitution speaks of our "Creator". The 1973 Supremem Court decision was tantamount to committing treason - a travesty of pre-meditated murder of our government!

He humbly told of Mgr. Reilly's miraculous clinic presence, handing out rosaries and turning around 35 out of 70 women seeking abortions. He spoke of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's position that "we are accustomed to abortion." He said moral law is connected to State law and that we need good leaders for democracy to work.

Joe asked us to teach by words and actions. He compared the Wedding of Cana to the role of pro-lifers: we supply the water - Jesus will turn it into wine. We must only "keep the faith, hope in God, and love others." "We have a call, a vocation, mission. We are not a large army, so we need to work together, go to the clinics, possess zeal and determination."

After moving to the fundraiser, and being introduced by Stan Tomkiel, the attendees listened to John Spencer talk of his vision of what he would like to accomplish. He acknowledged that the upcoming election was David v. Goliath (Tomkeil had made the same analogy, pointing out that David won!) and thanked the attendees for their steadfast support. Spencer assured the group that win or lose, he was right on the issues and would keep up the battle, without compromising his principles.

John Spencer

Dorila Misquero and Elizabeth Rex

Judy Anderson, Tom Faranda, Joe Scheidler, and Lorraine Simmons

Fr. Joseph Irwin of Most Holy Trinity Church gave the opening invocation before the Scheidler talk

Comments

[Bob DAmico]

Wake up people you are not Pro-Life you are only PRO-BIRTH. Once the child is born you offer him up to the repub party tobe sent off to die or be maimed in an illegal war that all of you totally support via the never ending Bush oil family wars.

Pray for peace.
Give diplomacy and peace a chance. I know you are all afraid but some courage is needed to stand up to Bush, the Repubs and the recently enacted torture policy.

Bob DAmico
Cleve, Oh

[Judith Anderson]

How strange to call us "only pro birth" when it is we who celebrate pre-born life - human life in the womb - and the dignity of all life after birth. The seminal human environment (the womb) is being ravaged by abortion daily. "Environmentalists" should be sensitive to this reality and be the first to champion protecting the woman and the child from the rape of the womb and the emotional ravages of abortion.
My bumper sticker reads: Peace begins in the womb... On your other heartfelt point, I see military service as a noble and voluntary choice for men and women. We all pray for peace, and acknowledge with thanks and humility that it is our lives that their service protects.The recent election results will indeed give other directions a chance. Hopefully we will remember our history. Churchill was one not surprised when the bombs started falling on London.