One of the most visible efforts against abortion in the country are the billboards sponsored by ProLife Across America.
The billboard campaign, begun in 1989, presents a message of hope in cities and towns all across the country. Mary Ann Kuharski, President of ProLife Across America told CalCatholic: “Last year ProLife Across America sponsored over over 8750 Billboards in 46 states. In California we sponsored 96 billboards in the Los Angeles metropolitan area alone, as well as in the cities of Sacramento, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco, and Oakland, and the towns of Bishop, Napa, Sonoma, Tagus-Madera, Truman Victorville, and Whittier.”
The messages could scarcely be more inoffensive: a dad hugging his baby, captioned “Real Men Love Babies!,” a picture of a baby with Downs Syndrome, captioned “Every baby is a Blessing,” pictures of babies with captions such as “I could smile before I was born” or “I could hear Mom’s voice before I was born.” The ProLife Across America mission statement says: “We are committed to bringing positive, persuasive messages, offering information and alternatives – including adoption – and post-abortion assistance to those in need. We base our beliefs on Biblical principles and Roman Catholic teaching… Our ads create an ‘Atmosphere of Life’ in a ‘culture of death.’ So often our tender and touching ads are the only visible sign offering hope and help to someone who may be on the brink of an abortion decision.”
Almost everyone has seen them, and, despite their wholesome message, pro-abortionists been rattled to the point of vandalizing the billboards. An example occurred this past week in San Francisco. ProLife Across America placed a billboard at the corner of Polk and Green streets in San Francisco’s expensive Russian Hill neighborhood. Between Friday, April 8, and Saturday, April 9, vandals defaced the billboard, pasting a large piece of paper over the billboard with the message “Get this bulls*** out of here. Love, the neighbors”; a sheet of paper replacing the word “Life” in “ProLife Across America” with the with the word “choice”; and the number “6” over the a digit of the contact phone number so instead of reading 800-366-7773 it now read 800-666-7773.
According to a 2014 statement by Mrs. Kuharski, California is the only state in which such vandalism has taken place.
Ironically, the vandalism drew more overt attention to the billboard than had it been left alone. When the CalCatholic reporter first saw the billboard, passersby showed no noticeable response, although they could not have missed it. But after it had been defaced, many people were stopping and looking at it. The defacing was obviously forcing them, at some level, to reflect on the issue — and why some people would find such a wholesome message so repugnant.
Pro-abortionists have reason to be rattled: the billboards work. Testimonials on the Pro Life Across America website include: “’I thought you should know, your billboard saved a baby’s life! A mother came in and asked for help after seeing your ad and realizing her baby already had a beating heart!’ – Pregnancy Center Counselor, Marshall, TX”, and “’I couldn’t go through with my abortion after I saw your ad. I had no idea the baby was so developed.’ – St. Louis, MO.”
This Wednesday, April 13, ProLife Across America will host its 19th Annual Banquet “Creating a Culture of Love.” The banquet, the sole yearly fundraiser for the organization, will be held at the St. John the Baptist Church Hall in New Brighton, MN. Guest speaker will be Bishop John LeVoir of the Diocese of New Ulm, MN, and co-author of “Covenant of Love: John Paul II on Sexuality, Marriage, and Family in the Modern World.”
The organization seems to be a model of charitable transparency. “The ‘donate’ page on their website states, “…because we operate like a mission, 94 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to this life-saving outreach!” The site also provides links to its financial information and IRS form 990.
To learn more about ProLife Across America, visit https://prolifeacrossamerica.org/
GOD ALWAYS BRINGS SOMETHING GOOD OUT OF BAD!
AS A 4TH GENERATION SAN FRANCISCAN AND WHERE MY GRANDMOTHER HAD 14 CHILDREN IN THE CITY, IT SADDENS ME TO SEE ‘THE CITY’ HIJACKED!!!! AND THAT IS JUST WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE CITY OF ST. FRANCIS:(
These are positive life affirming billboards, hope to see more of them!