LifeNet

Chilean "Women in White for Life" demonstration

An effective approach!

 

A Wall St. Journal editorial on the 9-0 Court decision rebuffing abortion mill "buffer zones"

The editorial speculates that the decision didn't go far enough, because Chief Justice Roberts wanted a unanimous decision.

Free-Speech 'Buffer' Rebuffed. The right Supreme Court decision for the wrong legal reason.

It isn't every day a unanimous Supreme Court endorses the free-speech rights of abortion protesters, so huzzahs for that. Thursday's opinion striking down a buffer zone against abortion protesters gets to the right First Amendment result, but it does so with logic that leaves too much speech in future jeopardy.

In 2008 76-year-old Eleanor McCullen sued Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and other officials so she could offer "sidewalk counselling" outside abortion clinics. Under Massachusetts law, only patients and clinic employees were allowed on public sidewalks within a 35-foot radius of the door and faced hefty fines for incursions.

In McCullen v. Coakley, Chief Justice John Roberts writes that the law unconstitutionally restricts access to public sidewalks around abortion clinics in the name of "public safety" without "seriously addressing the problem through alternatives." By regulating public streets, the state directly foreclosed access to places that "developed as venues for the exchange of ideas." Restrictions must be based on misconduct, not directed at peaceful speakers.

Hit the link above for the complete editorial, which addresses the "contortions" in the argument.

Rally for Life in White Plains; good turnout in bitter weather

Over thirty people, plus a family of six - not pictured - who arrived at the end.

AND mostly a good response from passers-by. It's a great intersection for a pro-life demonstration and channel 12 cablevision had some afternoon coverage, including a brief quote from Judy Anderson, a co-director of HVCL. The abortion mill was not open that day.

 

 

 

 

 

Video - The Washington March for Life, in the cold

From the Catholic News Service -

 

40 Days for Life comes to central Westchester

The remarkably successful pro-life activist program. Go to the 40 Days for Life website for documentation on the success of this program, begun in 2007, with over a half a million participants in 440 cities. Documented lives saved - 5,928, and counting!

40 Days for Life in Rockland County, in 2011

And now, with a kickoff Rally set for Saturday, September 22nd at the Greenburgh Planned Parenthood - here's the info - the site is easily accessible

... on Saturday, September 22 from 2:30pm to 4pm.  The location is the DOT triangle 2 blocks east of the Planned Parenthood at 175 Tarrytown Road, White Plains (get directions from Google or Bing, not Mapquest which is incorrect). Parking is along the right side of Prospect Avenue (one-way), up the hill on Greenvale Circle, or across the street in the Greenburgh Town Court parking lot.

Come and join together with your fellow vigil volunteers to kick off this historic event!  Also pick up signs and receive valuable information about the 40-day vigil.

And then for 40 days, starting on Wednesday, Sept. 26th and through November 4th - here's the Press Release. Note that the local coordinator is Gerald Yeung, and he can be contacted at [email protected] or 914-837-7008.

40 Days for Life Campaign coming to White Plains for the first time

White Plains, NY – “The nation’s most innovative, peaceful pro-life prayer outreach is coming to White Plains,” said Gerald Yeung, who is coordinating the area’s 40 Days for Life campaign. “We are eager to join together with people of faith and conscience from cities from coast to coast – and beyond – to pray for an end to abortion.”

40 Days for Life begins September 26 and continues through November 4. “Abortion takes a tremendous toll in our city,” said Yeung, “but many people aren’t even aware of it. We will share the facts with as many people as possible during the 40-day campaign,” Yeung said.

The campaign will feature a peaceful 40-day prayer vigil in the public right-of-way outside Planned Parenthood – White Plains Center at 175 Tarrytown Road. All prayer vigil participants are asked to sign a statement of peace, pledging to conduct themselves in a Christ-like manner at all times.

40 Days for Life is a peaceful, highly-focused, non-denominational, pro-life initiative that focuses on 40 days of prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil at abortion facilities, and grassroots educational outreach. The 40-day time frame is drawn from examples throughout Biblical history.

“40 Days for Life has consistently generated proven life-saving results,” said Shawn Carney, 40 Days for Life’s national campaign director. “During ten nationally coordinated campaigns, 440 communities have taken part. The efforts of half a million people of faith have made a tremendous difference.”

Carney said numerous cities reported a significant drop in abortions. “Some 23 abortion facilities have closed following 40 Days for Life efforts,” he said. “New volunteers got active in local pro-life efforts. Churches across denominations worked together to work for an end to abortion in their cities. Many post-abortive women began programs to heal from the pain caused by previous abortion experiences. And more than 5,900 babies -- and their mothers -- have been spared from the tragedy of abortion.”

“We’ve seen what 40 Days for Life has accomplished elsewhere,” said Yeung. “We can’t wait to begin here in White Plains.”

To learn more about 40 Days for Life campaign, visit: www.40daysforlife.com. For specific information about the White Plains campaign, visit: www.40daysforlife.com/whiteplains.

For assistance or for more information, please contact Gerald Yeung at [email protected] or  (914) 837-7008.                 

                                           

                                                                          

 

 

Advocates of Life rally at Yonkers Planned Parenthood

After Mass at St. Mary's, approximately 60 people processed down the street for an hour of prayer outside the building housing PP. This was the first larger public event since the anti-free speech, anti-prolife bill was aggressively promoted by the pro-abortion members of the Westchester County legislature. The bill was vetoed by County Executive Rob Astorino, and the veto was upheld in the legislature.

Brother Youssef, CFR, did some sidewlk counseling.

Troublemakers!

More troublemakers!!

 

This Sunday, October 3rd., is National Life Chain Sunday

SPEAK OUT!

A legal, peaceful and prayerful witness to the sanctity of all human life and for an end to abortion.  The Life Chain will start at Northern Westchester Hospital and extend north to Moger Avenue.  Signs will be provided at locations along the way.  Please publicize the Life Chain in your church and community and invite your family and friends to join us!

Life Chains will be held at the following locations:

Yonkers:  St. Joseph’s Church 141 Ashburton Avenue 2:30 – 3:30 PM

Hastings:  On the corner of Broadway and Warburton Avenue - 1-2 PM

Scarsdale: Immaculate Heart of Mary Ch, Wte Plains Road (Rt. 22) - 1-2.30 PM

Tuckahoe: In front of Immaculate Conception Church, 53 Winterhill Road - 2-3:30 PM

White Plains: Mamaroneck Avenue at Maple Avenue - 2-3:30 PM

Mt. Kisco:  Main St. from North. Westchester Hospital to Moger Ave - 2-3:30 PM 

                                                                                                                              

Life chain in Yonkers, this Sunday, October 3rd.

From Advocates of Life:

RE:  NATIONAL LIFE CHAIN SUNDAY

  

     St. Joseph's Church, 141 Ashburton Avenue in Yonkers, will be sponsoring the annual Life Chain this Sunday, October 3.  The event will begin at 2:30 p.m. near the church parking lot and participants will line Ashburton Avenue with non-graphic, pro-life signs.  People of all faiths are welcome to participate in this one hour event - rain or shine!!!!  

 

Life Chain - Sunday, July 18, 2010, Port Chester - 2:00-3:30 p.m.

This notice regularly comes to us from our good friend Rosemary Tirone and the Our Lady of the Rosary Church Respect Life Ministry that has a very active pro life presence through Life Chain witness. Summertime is a great time of year to witness for life. Why not join them on July 18th?

Purpose: Respect Life Ministry seeks to educate the public by presenting a powerful, compassionate pro life message of protecting and enhancing human life from conception through natural death.

What is Life Chain: A peaceful, prayerful, legal and non-confrontational presence. Es una presencis pacifica, de oracion, legal y no confrontacion.

Where: On grass along Boston Post Road, Kohl's Plaza Shopping Center, Port Chester, New York

When & Time: Sunday, July 18, 2010 - 2:00-3:30 p.m.

Sponsored by: Auspiciado por: Holy Rosary Parish Right to Life Committee, Port Chester, NY

Information: 914-939-0547

If you cannot join them, please keep them, the unborn, and all mothers and fathers faced with a crisis pregnancy in your prayers. Thank you, Life Chain participants!

Rockland County Vigil for Life

The annual Vigil for Life at the Marian Shrine in Stony Point was held on Monday July 5th.

100 people in attendance, with the Mass con-celebrated by Fr. Bill Bucciferro (Salesian) and Fr. Nicholas Callahan from St. Catherine's.

There was coverage by the Journal News, as they ran photos in their "Daily Gallery" online feature. These photos are from Eileen Peterson.

 

What it's all about -

 
 

Advocates for Life: prayer and speaking out in Yonkers

The Advocates of Life held a pro-life public prayer witness and their annual Consecration for Life in Yonkers on Saturday, June 12.

 

After the Mass presided over by Bishop Gerald Walsh, Rector of St. Joseph's Seminary, and attended by approximately 160 persons at St. Mary's Church, pro-life leaders were invited to re-consecrate their work to th Most Holy Trinity through the sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary. Songs were sung during the procession with banners of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Planned Parenthood's abortuary at Getty Square in the shadow of Yonkers City Hall. Here legislators continue to turn a blind eye to what is being perpetrated on its citizenry.

This abortion center, and others like it located primarily in minority neighborhoods, is a tragedy lost on public officials who decry racism at the drop of a hat everywhere else! Members of the Black and Hispanic communities, many present at this public witness in Yonkers, see abortion as both a moral aberration and a cultural assault, where their most valuable gifts - their vulnerable children in the womb - are being destroyed. How can we ignore the disintegration of the family that includes an increasing rate of violence against women and more and more fatherless homes with their resulting gang activity, and not lay them at the feet of a society destroying its own progeny?

LifeNet and the Hudson Valley Coalition for Life thanks Tony Felicissimo and the Advocates of Life for their bold witnesses for life throughout the year. And we thank Fr. Christopher, SAC, of the Palatine Fathers and Parochial Vicar of Our lady of Mt Carmel Church, as well as Fr. Arthur Rojas, Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph's Church, for participating and leading prayers outside of the abortion chamber. Join them next time!

 

 

 

Pray for life.

Pray for the unborn and for all mothers and fathers to accept the responsibility of parenthood.

Pray for families.

We are raising generations of "survivors" whose sense of their own personal dignity and worth is being swallowed up by the increasing acceptance of abortion as a normal act, "health care" even. The degradation of the role of parents as protectors of children and the ensuing social implications for these lost generations and for the future of our society as a whole is more than frightening to ponder. It is a tragedy of incalculable proportions already with us. 

This Saturday, June 12: Mass, Pro-life Consecration, and Public Witness in Yonkers

Join Bishop Gerald Walsh and the Advocates of Life -

The Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

• 10AM MASS (in English and Spanish), St. Mary's Church - Yonkers, on South Broadway next to St.Joseph's Medical Center and one block south of Yonkers City Hall.
• 11AM PROCESSION to the Planned Parenthood abortion facility one block from the church at 20 S. Broadway (Getty Square). Recitation of the rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet.
• 12:15 Return to St. Mary's

RAIN OR SHINE!

PR from Order of Gethsemane re: sentencing of non-violent rescuers under FACE

The PR below points out that these two men are the first to be sentenced in New York for violating the federal FACE law. They are not the first to be tried in New York under that political crime law. The late Bishop George Lynch, and Brother (now Fr.) Fidelis Moscinki, were arrested in the early 1990's and charged under FACE. They had sat in the entrance driveway of the now-closed Dobbs Ferry abortion chamber. However the federal judge found them not guilty, saying they were following their consciences!

We ask you to pray for all four of the prisoners of conscience mentioned below.

 
Press Release from the Order of Mercy at Gethsemane


Non-violent Rescuers the first sentenced in New York under 1994 Federal
Provision on June 10




   For the first time since its inception federal prosecutors invoked the
FACE regulation illegally passed by Congress in 1994 to secure the
conviction of two non-violent protesters on April 27 before Judge
Robert Sweet.  The two are to be sentenced by Judge Sweet this Thursday,
June 10, at 4.30pm at 500 Pearl Street in Foley Square.


   On December 12, 2009 Tony Puckett and Rick Dugan sat in front of the
Planned Parenthood Extermination Camp on Bleecker Street in Manhattan
for the third rescue attempt made there last year, in order to dissuade
mothers from turning their children over to the abortionists inside. 
As the morning proceeded, the men were eventually arrested by the New
York City police department, but federal agents took charge of the case
and brought the two to trial and conviction.


   Affiliated with the Order of Mercy at Gethsemane, which denies the
legitimacy of courts to protect mass murder, both Puckett and Dugan
refused to defend themselves in court.  Puckett dismissed the
proceedings as an obvious “farce,” whereas Dugan insisted on the
court’s obligation to “dismiss the case” since Planned Parenthood is
“there to kill babies and we were stopping that,” which action is not
illegal according to international law as recognized at the Nuremberg
trials after World War II.


   The rescuers are subject to six month imprisonment and fines.  If
imprisoned, they will begin to absorb some small measure of the
injustice inflicted on the unborn, another central precept of the
Gethsemane order.  There are also two women affiliates, Mary Wagner and
Linda Gibbons, who are in jail in Canada for four rescues in Toronto in
2009 and during Holy Week this year.


   “While the four are in jail, no child will die without a born ally
willing to suffer injustice along with them,” a spokesman for the
Gethsemane Order observed.  “We thus commend them, and those for whom
they stand, to the prayers of those who pray for justice, and to those
who work for it.”

15 high school students bring pro-life message to downtown Yonkers

Great job! We have covered past student demonstrations outside of PP. For example, here High School students hold pro-life vigil at Yonkers Planned Parenthood, last May. 

Dear Friend of Life:

 

    Just a short note to let you know about the great job 15 high school students did today in Yonkers.  For 2 hours these 15 high school students held a vigil outside of the Yonkers Planned Parenthood.  They sang, chanted,  prayed,   engaged pedestrians in pro-life conversations and passed out a lot of pro-life material (12 weeks baby models, precious feet, pamphlets, bookmarks, etc).  The energy was incredible.  A young couple walked by and the students gave them the pro-life material.  The young woman was pregnant and when her boyfriend saw the material he could not believe his eyes and was amazed.  At that point his girlfriend reminded him, with a "I told you I was right in not getting an abortion" atttitude,  how he had previously been pressuring her to get an abortion before coming to accept her decision to give birth to the baby. 

 

I brought to the attention of these high school kids what they had just accomplished through God's grace:  1.  their activity today reaffirmed the pro-life decision of that mother and  2. brought light to the mind of that father and a possible conversion of heart so that he now fully accepts his child.

Street activism, part 2: Wednesday's high school student Rally outside of Yonkers Planned Parenthood

Wednesday the 14th, for two hours, over 40 high school juniors spent their free afternoon (free because the PSAT's were in the morning) standing up for life outside the offices of the Yonkers Planned Parenthood.

Here is a minute and a half excerpt from the video HVCl took of the Rally. The full video - over five and a half minutes is at the end of the post after the photeos. We decided to post the excerpt and the full video.

Great job students!!!

A few pictures -

 

Here's the complete video

Inspiring Advocates for Life Rally in Yonkers

We're a little late with this posting of the wonderful Advocates for Life Prayer Rally in Yonkers on June 20. The day began with Mass in Spanish and English, including a special blessing and recited dedication prayer by pro life leaders to the work ahead! Thanks to Tony Felicissimo and all his dedicated helpers for their constant prayers and works of mercy on behalf of the unborn. This was a prolife witness that attracted quiet interest and support by passersby.

The crowd begins to fill St. Mary's Church on South Broadway...

On the march to Planned Parenthood at 20 South Broadway for the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet....

Priests in support: Fr. George Kuhn, Fr. Michael Morrow, Fr. Carrozza, and Fr. Joseph Espiallat                                 

  

Rain cannot dampen spirits...

Young Hispanic men, women and children were front and center! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

High School students hold pro-life vigil at Yonkers Planned Parenthood

This from HVCL co-director Tony Felicissimo:

Dear Friend of Life:

 

    Today, May 22,  I had the privilege of leading 25 Cardinal Spellman High School students in a pro-life vigil outside the Yonkers Planned Parenthood at 20 South Broadway.  Their enthusiasm did not let up for the 2 hours we were there (Noon until 2 p.m.).  The students had great chants, such as "Life is Good," ( you could see more than a few people on the streets and in their cars either nodding their heads in agreement or chanting out loud in response, "Yes, life is good ").  They also chanted, " Pro-choice is a lie, babies don't choose to die," and one they made up on their own, "Abortion is a sin, babies don't belong in the bin."  Students held signs which stated:  "Women and babies deserve love, not abortion," "Abortion hurts women,"    "Pro-life:  here until no more women cry and no more babies die,"  and we had one large  sign of a baby who had been aborted.

 

     Students also distributed hundreds of pieces of pro-life literature ranging from "Celebrate Life" book marks to pictures of babies in the womb and babies who were aborted, and information on post-abortion healing (we unfortunately did not have information on pro-life pregnancy centers).  They also staffed a small table with the unborn baby models on it.  Over 200  12 week unborn baby models (the ones from Heritage House which have more of a realistic feeling to them)  were also distributed to pedestrians.  After the vigil in front of the mill we then processed through Getty Square chanting "Life is Good," while heading towards our waiting school bus on Chicken Island.  This is the second time this school year the students held this vigil...the one in October was actually shown on News12 Westchester (we did not invite them). 

 

     The Advocates of Life is fortunate to have the faithful, weekly leaders  (in heat and cold) of the vigils outside Planned Parenthood, Maria and Mike Lewis (these are actually quiet prayer vigls as opposed to the more "demonstrative" pro-life youth vigils held outside this Planned Parenthood mill a couple of times a year).  Combine this with the witness of the Bound4Life pro-life group which also quietly witnesses outside this mill and we can see how blessed we are in the City of Yonkers for those who obey God's call to be His public witnesses!  Thank you to one and all!!!!

You cna never do too much when it comes to speaking out against Planned parenthood. Here are two pictures from a vigil in October, 2007 at the Yonker Planned Parenthood. The entire posting is here: LifeNet: Yonkers Procession to Planned Parenthood Honors Mary and All Humanity

 

 

 

 

Yonkers Procession to Planned Parenthood Honors Mary and All Humanity

Last Saturday the Advocates of Life celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun (go here - LifeNet: Feast of Our Lady of Fatima - 90th Anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun. Prolife Mass, Procession and Vigil this Sa... ).

Songs and prayers, all in Spanish. A wonderful public witness in the heart of Yonkers!

The young boy in red came upon the Vigil and asked if he could join! He said "I'm so glad I wasn't aborted." and is speaking with Advocates for Life Director Tony Felicissimo, who is also a Co-director of the Hudson Valley Coalition for Life.

Scheidler - and abortion protesters - win in Supreme Court... Again.

Today Joseph Scheidler, head of the Pro-life Action League of Chicago, former seminarian and father of seven, was for the third time vindicated at the Supreme Court. High Court Rules in Favor of Abortion Protesters - Los Angeles Times

The NOW (National Organization of Women) lawsuit, dating back to 1986 has been finally put to sleep, after an agonizing 20 year struggle - certainly agonizing forthe Scheidler family.

Here is a quote from the Pro-life Action League website:

"On February 28, the Supreme Court ruled—once again—that pro-life activist Joe Scheidler is not a racketeer. The unanimous decision is being hailed as a victory not only for the pro-life movement, but for freedom of speach and the rule of law itself."

Here's their website: Pro-Life Action League