With the blowing of the silver trumpets, the second anti RHAPP Prayer Rally began in Yonkers! According to Wikopedia these trumpets traditionally accompanied the shofar or ram's horn. Historically they were used when Israel called assembly, signaled a sacrificial offering, or sought to panic the enemy in battle. They were an appropriate addition to the day's prayer rally as all assembled, offered prayers and fasted in sacrifice, and made voices heard to those in political power to put an end to RHAPP.
The building houses the local offices of Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the Democrat Senator who introduced former disgraced Governor Eliot Spitzer's bill - the Reproduction and Privacy Protection Act - in the Senate.
Tony Felicissimo (below) of Advocates of Life thanked everyone for attending this rally, organized after Senator Stewart-Cousins had met with opponents of this legislation and reaffirmed her view of RHAPP.
Leslie Diaz, wife of Democrat Senator Ruben Diaz, spoke forcefully against RHAPP. She and the Senator have been fighting this legislation since its presentation in early 2007. RHAPP represents an affront to numerous constituent groups including women (especially minors), people of color, faith, or conscience. It undermines parental rights and the medical profession. It seeks to make New York "Abortion USA".
When will the public and the media report this story each day as they do countless others? How many people have written their legislators? If you do not know about RHAPP, it is time. Go to www.abortionbill.org or www.nyscatholic.org for more information. View a DVD about this bill at either location.
The Rev. Michael Morrow of St. Eugene's has been a staunch ally in the fight for dignity for the unborn. He speaks here about the objections to RHAPP by people of religious faith and conscience. RHAPP's attempt to coerce participation in abortion defies the emblem "choice," as well as infringes on our rights under the Constitution. This bill attempts to make abortion a "right" like free speech and at the same time protect it from criminal code violations. Fr. Michael is sending a letter to the Journal News about RHAPP and anyone who wishes to be a co-signer can contact him: [email protected]
As is always the case when we speak for the unborn child and the protection of women, the audience is multi-faith, multi-cultural; united in the view of abortion as an affront to our civil rights as human beings and as citizens of the United States. Abortion will be fought in this century with the same sense of equality as slavery was fought against in the 19th century. The Rev. Dr. King said "...the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." We are willing to wait and to fight until justice is done.
The Bronx Hispanic Coalition was represented by this pastor who spoke of the targeting of people of color by the abortion industry. Abortion messages seek to confuse and harm women when they are most vulnerable.
Theresa Bonopartis of Lumina, a post-abortion counseling service, is well known in pro-life circles. Her own story of an abortion and how it led to her dedicating her life to this cause is inspirational. She offers post-abortive women a message of hope and healing; she offers the truth about abortion to all who are willing to listen.
The protesters line up along Tuckahoe Road with signs in peaceful witness against RHAPP. All were encouraged by the supportive honking of horns and "thumbs-up" signs. The message is getting out and the heat is being felt. Several articles have appeared about Senator Stewart-Cousins' offices being under attack, with intimations that tried to link to our peaceful protests. These were immediately refuted and the Senator's staff put on the defensive for this flagrant attempt to smear opponents of RHAPP.
Signs on display at this rally signal a long, hard battle; one from which we will not retreat. A message to all women...do not follow blindly along in support of RHAPP - it is a human, civil rights, and legislative abomination!
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