A Life Uncommon

Lend your voices only to sounds of freedom,

No longer lend your strength to that which you wish to be free from

Fill lives with love and bravery and you shall lead

A life uncommon.

JEWEL

On Tuesday, we witnessed the ultimate fruit of the Civil Rights Movement when we inaugurated the first black president in our nation's history.  Two days later, on the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, thousands of people marched on Washington to defend the civil rights of the unborn.  One would think that a man who would not have been an equal person under the law as recently as fifty years ago would be a champion for the most basic civil right- life.  But no.  Barack Obama's voting record makes him the most pro-abortion president we have elected.  Under his administration, our tax dollars will fund abortion to third world nations*, reasonable state laws requiring parental consent and waiting periods will be struck down** and attempts will be made to strong-arm religious healthcare establishments into participating in what they believe is an evil act**.  If you supported Obama, I wonder if you were aware of his extreme position on this issue.  

I  grew up in the shadow of the Pro-Life Movement.  I was two and my brother was six-months-old when the Supreme Court passed Roe v. Wade.  My mother wept because the endangered babies were as real to her as we were.  She got involved right away in protesting the decision.  She and my father opened our home to unwed mothers -- I think we had thirteen "big sisters" over the years -- and I cannot remember a time when there weren't pro-life signs and models of developing babies in our home.  (In 2002, when Chris and I miscarried our son Ethan at 13 weeks, he lay in my palm looking just like one of those models, perfectly formed.)  

The Pro-Life movement used the same strategies that the Civil Rights Movement had -- peaceful protests, marches and sit-ins.  In the 1980s, Randell Terry started Operation Rescue, a movement encouraging civil disobedience through massive sit-ins where people formed human chains blocking access to abortion clinics.

My mother was arrested over a dozen times and went to jail three times on charges of trespassing and blocking traffic.  In the spring of 1992, she and my 73-year-old grandmother were incarcerated for 24 days in Buffalo, NY awaiting trial for blocking access to a clinic.  Their 6th amendment rights were clearly violated, but because of their political position, most people didn't care.

When the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act passed, the penalties for peaceful protest skyrocketed, and my mom who still had three children at home, channeled her energies into sidewalk counseling and volunteering at places like AAA Women for Choice in Manassas, VA. Unlike the sad and lonely choice abortionists offer, AAA supports women in choosing life by providing clothing, baby equipment, food and money for medical bills.  

There's no way of knowing how many babies my mother and her friends saved over the years, but undoubtedly, there are men and women alive today because of their sacrifice, witness and real, tangible help.  

So many people talk and talk.  How many walk and walk?  Yesterday's marchers did, MLK did, my mom certainly has.  I try to.  To me, that's the measure of  "a life uncommon".

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you...I set you apart for my holy purpose. 

JEREMIAH 1:5

Ella Christine Doyle at seven months

When did her right to life begin?

Would you believe that former state senator,  Barack Hussein Obama voted four times to defeat the "Born-Alive Infants Protection Act", a bill that would have provided the same kind of care to abortion-survivors as to premature infants?  That means that we now have a Commander-in-Chief who's okay with infanticide.  I'm not sure how that fits with his words Tuesday about "the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness".***

Mary Ann Kreitzer.  No babies will die on this table today. 

Me outside the Alexandria jail in 1980.  My dad's behind me wearing the very stylish sweater.

Four generations of Pro-Life ladies at the US Capitol 

in support of pro-life legislation, summer 1997

Madeleine has already had several opportunities to defend her pro-life position to her classmates.  I admire her fiery spirit and have no doubts about where she gets it!

*The Mexico City Policy was introduced in 1984 by Ronald Reagan.  It was overturned by President Clinton and reinstated by President Bush.  It stated that the US government could not provide funding for family planning services to clinics or groups that offered abortion-related services overseas.  President Obama signed an executive order today to overturn it so, despite the fact that most voters do not agree with it, our tax dollars will go to fund abortions in foreign nations. (www.abcnews.com/Politics/International/story)

**See the Freedom of Choice Act (www.en.wikipedia.org/Freedom_of_Choice_Act)

Incidently, on November 12, 2008, Francis Cardinal George, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops stated "those who support FOCA must realize that if Catholic hospitals are ever required to perform abortions, the bishops will close every one of them; no one would be hurt more than the poor."  

***For Obama's record on abortion go to www.nrlc.org/Election 2008/obamarecord0608