I looked up from my work to see a text from one of my son’s schoolmates: “Hi Mrs. Seeley, a couple of us have decided to go to the clinic and pray today just because of recent events …”
I love our little Catholic classical school for its pro-life heart. That heart manifests itself as weekly prayer in front of our local Planned Parenthood, diaper drives and fundraising for local pregnancy centers, and an annual pilgrimage that sees virtually the entire high school drive six hours to attend the West Coast Walk for Life.
Our students know that praying on the sidewalk is not merely a feel-good exercise. The mere presence of someone praying peacefully in front of an abortion facility can cause the no-show rate for abortion appointments to go as high as 75 percent, former abortion workers report.
Nonetheless, my reaction to the text was a wave of concern over its timing, coming one day after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was gunned down at Utah Valley University. Our students in their Catholic school uniforms, holding Rosaries or waving “Pray to end abortion” signs, were sure to draw more attention than usual. Would they be in harm’s way? Should I discourage them?
Despite my packed day, I knew I had to be there. I pushed back my worries with the thought that on this Thursday afternoon full of extracurriculars, there would likely be just one or two students in front of the abortion clinic with me.
But as I pulled up in front of Planned Parenthood, I forgot my fear in delight as not two, but almost two dozen students piled out of vans and cars.
For the better part of an hour, our St. Augustine Academy students prayed, waved signs, and cheerfully greeted both honks of support and raised middle fingers—both of which were more plentiful than usual. They prayed prayers for the dying. They prayed for Charlie Kirk and his family. Afterwards, there were hugs and shining eyes, and it was clear they didn’t want to leave.
Keep in mind that this was not a school function; it was entirely student-led.
Just a few months ago, I had watched these same students jubilantly wave yellow and white flags and a giant “Habemus papam” banner on a bustling street as they celebrated a new pope. Today, with the same emotional intensity, they grieved.
Like thousands of others who came together at vigils and memorials around the country, they were mourning the young dad who had begun his rise to national prominence when he himself was barely out of high school.
But this mid-afternoon gathering on the sidewalk in front of a busy abortion clinic was more than a memorial. It was a spontaneous response to the legacy of a pro-life hero who said, “I want to be remembered for courage for my faith.”
A huge part of that courageous witness was Charlie Kirk’s unwavering commitment to the unborn.
“His advocacy extended far beyond words,” Students for Life said in a tribute to Kirk. “He brought the fight for Life into the public sphere, using his platform and voice to reach millions. He stood tall in the belief that authentic freedom and justice for all begin with protecting the right to Life for every human being.”
Students for Life called Kirk’s influence “pivotal in shifting the national conversation about abortion.” The fearless reaction of these students to the news of his death speaks powerfully to that influence.
Erika Kirk, speaking publicly for the first time two days after her husband’s death, said, “All of you already know what Charlie would want you to do.” These young men and women, with full hearts, knew. And they did it, instinctively channeling their grief into standing up for the weakest among us.
A few hours earlier, at school drop-off, I had noted the look of grave sadness on our headmaster’s face. “I’m just worried about our country,” he told me.
I share his concern about the future of a nation in which such a tragedy can happen. Certainly, Kirk’s murder, following close on the shooting of Catholic grade schoolers at Mass in Minnesota and the death of a young Ukrainian girl whom bystanders left to bleed out on a train, raises urgent questions about the state of our society.
But there’s a lesson to be gained from a bunch of school kids who, learning of their hero’s death, took to the sidewalk to pray for an end to abortion.
Their actions show an understanding of a profound truth.
Mother Teresa’s oft-quoted words deserve another hearing. “If a mother can kill her own child, what is left—for me to kill you and you to kill me? There is nothing between.”
Every abortion takes our nation further down that path, and every baby saved takes it a step in the right direction.
How typical of kids to get right to the heart of things! They give me hope that, as Erika Kirk said, her husband’s voice “will remain and it will ring out louder and more clearly than ever.”
I have hope that Charlie Kirk’s death will help galvanize the pro-life movement in this country. My prayer is that his voice will be amplified by the voices of countless young people who are compelled by his death to stand up and speak out.
If that’s the Charlie Kirk effect, his death will not be in vain.
By Monica Seeley in Catholic World Report
Allowing Catholic School students to continue this brave witness will expose them to unnecessary harm as copycat shooters seeking targets and outraged Planned Parenthoodistas and others will surface in violence. Prudence needs to prevail instantly in this emergency moment. When Martin Luther King allowed young children to march in protests and face injury and death he was aware of the risk he was willing to subject them to and seems to have been willing to see them pay the price of attack for the media witness. This cannot be allowed
I understand your concern. That is a big worry. But I think these kids are used to doing regular, limited prayerful, peaceful protest stints at Planned Parenthood, with their moms’ supervision. They are too young for sidewalk counseling or arguing with adults about abortion and related issues that are immoral. Their protests are brief and simple.
Was St. Tarcisius wrong too?
Yes
Flipping off kids.
Real nice people, those.
Since they’re already comfortable with snuffing a child, cursing one holding a Rosary can’t seem too far down their lists.
As the vizier said to the wicked Caliph: the justice of God may come slowly, but it comes.
As for the question of risk: you can’t live in fear of vanishingly unlikely events. It says much good about the school community that this was student-led, but I hope a grown-up or two was close by.
In the photo, it looks like there was at least one adult chaperoning the children– holding the “Pray to End Abortion” sign. I think the school moms are supervising these Planned Parenthood protest events. Adults who are Planned Parenthood employees, earning a living off of the killing of unborn children– and adults who lead sinful lives, going into Planned Parenthood with their boyfriends, to kill their unwanted children– should all be shamed by these innocent, virtuous young Catholic school children.
The Selma March under MLK exploded into violence with whips, tear gas, cattle prods, police dogs,clubbings at the Edmund Pettus bridge . Many teens were injured, 150 taken into custody. When they were attacked the march leaders ignored police orders to disperse and instead told them to ‘go into prayer protection position’. As they kneeled praying, the police onslaught surged forward. Bloody Sunday, March 1965.
These wonderful young people give me a lot of hope for the future of the pro-life movement. It’s so good to see that Charlie Kirk was an inspiration to them. Like Kirk said, he wants to be remembered for “courage for my faith.” End Abortion Now! Adoption is the option.
It will be short lived. Why are religious people trying to ascribe a “Charlie Kirk effect” to brief upticks in their preferred sociological data points?
How long did the “George Floyd” effect last? Nobody cares anymore. Same will happen with this. People just write things up pretending that they have some keen insight into what’s going on. They don’t.
Your post drained the life out of me.
No. Kids need good Role Models to look up to, and to imitate their virtues. Never compare a sleazy criminal– George Floyd– and sleazy, anti-American violent criminal groups– like “Black Lives Matter” or “Antifa” to heroic Role Models for young people. Charlie Kirk has been a great gift to America, and to American young people. Kirk’s life–and death– will bear much fruit for a far better America, with faith in God and good family values– and much more. The LGBT and Transgender garbage– and “Gay Marriage”– also may someday end– and these abnormal and sick disorders may again be properly placed back on the medical psychiatric diagnostic books– where they belong.
Thanks for this excellent, very inspiring article!
I finished my 41-year teaching career at a Catholic elementary school, and while the parish always had a contingent at the SF March for Life, this sort of spontaneous kid-lead witness ups the game, in my opinion. I’d be proud to have taught such.
Bless you, Tom Byrne.
Yesterday, news reports stated that TPUSA has now over 60,000+ requests to start new chapters on high school and college canpuses. And the numbers of requests keep growing! A great many people also have inquired about employment to help TPUSA– and a great many also, have offered to volunteer their skills to help TPUSA for free. Not sure– but I think Charlie Kirk might have said that TPUSA had about 1500 employees.
There are only approximately 27,000 high schools and 6,000 colleges in the United States. Those numbers are inflated or they represent duplicate applications.
Turning point has about 400 employees.
People, do some independent thinking. Do some research before you post.
That’s why the trolls make fun of you: because you post without thinking. You claim wild and outlandish things that have no support, and the trolls get you on it.
I understand your desire to hope for the best and think positively, but you need to be realistic and grounded in facts.
The honest commenter truthfully stated that they were unsure of a numerical figure. And the figure of 60,000 inquiries to start TPUSA chapters was publicly stated on several news channels– including EWTN News. There may be TPUSA chapters at private schools or religious schools that are not counted in your numerical figure — and — there nay be chapters worldwide.
Today, Sept. 20th, in the TPUSA “Liberty Ledger” in the regular TPUSA emails sent to thousands of supporters (including me) — Erika Kirk noted that since Charlie’s death, 62,000 requests have been received, to start new TPUSA chapters. Erika did not say where all of the requests came from– but she noted that Charlie’s goal was 20,000 TPUSA chapters. She stated that we can watch the memorial service for Charlie on Sunday by our TPUSA and “The Charlie Kirk Show” social media sites, via livestream broadcast. I think the service starts at 11am Mountain Time. So we can watch it starting at 10am, Pacific Time.
We have just had a terrible, violent and sudden assassination of a well-known public figure, at a university event, with 3,000 students attending. It was all recorded live, and can be viewed many times on the media. I don’t think you are reading others’ comments correctly. Maybe it is because such events are too shocking.
When Russia starts WW3, nobody will care or talk about Charlie Kirk anymore.
No. The seeds have already been planted in the minds and hearts of millions of young people– and they will bravely fight for our country, for Christ, and for all that is right, before God– Who is with them! Our Lady has predicted that “in the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph.” Christ will defeat Satan.
No doubt the assassination of Charlie Kirk has woken up a sleeping tiger. Only this tiger’s stripes are Red, White, and Blue, and it’s blood is the Blood of the Lamb.
Excellent post. Charlie Kirk planted nany seeds in the minds and hearts of young people, that will grow and blossom, resulting in a better America, a better, stronger Christianity in both Catholics and Protestants– — and will have a far-reaching impact too, in other countries. Many Catholics and Protestants have also publicly stated that they have retuned to church and to the practice of their religious faith, since Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
I agree. We would get along just fine if we became friends. Charlie can bring people together, even in death.
I am here in Arizona for the service. Went to Turning Point Headquarters today. Hundreds of people coming and going, artwork, flowers, and other tributes are layers deep on the ground and sidewalk. It was a very solemn, respectful place. The man working at the car rental said the places are super busy because of this. He shared his heartbreak about the killing. In modern times I’ve never seen one person impact so many. The memorial service will be a great, unifying, patriotic testament to the life of one of the greatest MAGAs ever. Gotta go to Mass this evening somewhere around here. Any recommendations?
You’re about 45 minutes away from St. Henry’s Church in Buckeye. The pastor, Fr. William Kosco, is an unapologetic firebrand.
Wonderful that you flew to Phoenix. Wish I could have also flown there– my heart is with Charlie Kirk’s poor grieving widow and children, and with TPUSA! Perhaps you could go to a Mass at a church where Charlie Kirk has been honored with a prayer service. Or try St. Bernadette’s Church, in nearby Scottsdale, reported to be Erika Kirk’s church. May God bless you! Are you a former Californian? What city do you live in, and what Catholic church do you go to, in ID (Idaho)? Maybe this website could feature it in their “Churches” section.
Totally not worth it in my opinion. Four hours of speeches. I got up to get something to eat halfway through. I was expecting something more meaningful. Wish I hadnt wasted a weekend and a lot of money like that.
So sorry for your bad experience, at the Charlie Kirk Memorial Service. Maybe it is better to view such events on TV, not in person. It might have been a little better, to go to an overwhelmingly huge event like that– in a strange place, with millions of people, after a sudden, terriblly violent national tragedy– accompanied by your spouse, family members, or friends— to be with people you know, not to be all alone. It looked like many of the people at the stadium may have gone to the event with others– a great comfort. The sudden, horrifically violent assassination of Charlie Kirk– publicly viewed by 3,000 college students– and viewed by millions more, via the media– was terribly shocking. We all were deeply shocked and hurt, by this unspeakable national tragedy. Same thing, with similar, recent tragedies.
You know what? Even if it seemed like it didn’t turn out very well for you– you know, you did a really great and wonderful thing– sacrificing your time and money, to attend the Memorial Service for poor Charlie Kirk, a great, young American hero, senselessly assassinated. And you went to Mass at a nearby Catholic church, and prayed for poor Charlie and his family. That is just a wonderful thing. You gave so much good to poor Charlie and his family– and to our poor country, too. Wish I could have done something. Though watching the speeches on TV, you get a much better view, with better sound, too. Now that you have been to Phoenix, later, you may want to attend a big TPUSA event– and it will be a little easier. And you may want to bring along family or friends, too.
Response to Think for Yourself Intelligently:
This “troll” thinks you’re a Popinjay.
Yes, that poster was indeed an egotistical, mindless, chattering “Popinjay” Troll. And is fully supported by this corrupt website.
Not long after St. Carlo Acutis died, he appeared to his mother, Antonia, in a dream, with St. Francis of Assisi, and told her that he would soon be canonized as a Saint. And he prophesied that there would be many new Saints in the future, among the younger generation on earth. That is very wonderful! Looking forward to seeing how this prophecy might occur, of many new, young Saints!
Actually, Mrs. Antonia Acutis, St. Carlo’s mother, stated that she had two prophetic dreams in which her beloved son, Carlo, and St. Francis of Assisi appeared. She noted that it was St. Francis of Assisi who said that Carlo was in a very high place in Heaven, and that he had opened the way for many new saints to come, on earth. And Carlo told her that he would soon be made a Saint.
I’m ready for this to be out of the news. Today should be the last day because after the memorial there will be nothing more to report about Turning Point that’s newsworthy. People will move on.
Reply to Ready already: Here’s what Cardinal Dolan said about Charlie Kirk: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=cardinal+dolan+about+charlie+kirk+youtube
Reply to Ready already: This story will not be out of the news. News reports state there’s a request for 65,000 chapters of TPUSA. Currrently there’s 23,000 chapters. When you consider that New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan just said, “that Kirk was a modern day St. Paul” this story has tremendous legs and is a turning point for the youth of America and the pro-life movement. Charlie Kirk will never be forgotten nor will the movement he started at the age of 18. Be not afraid should have been Charlie Kirk’s motto!
I’ve been watching the memorial for over an hour. It’s political propaganda and hero worship.
Reply to propaganda: I completely disagree with your comment. I saw the whole memorial on Charlie Kirk. It was a wonderful and a very moving tribute to Kirk especially when Erica Kirk said she forgives the man that killed her husband. All together there close to 200,000 people in the Glendale, Arizona Stadium and outside the stadium. Read Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s statement on Charlie Kirk that I posted in one of my comments. Cardinal Dolan said Kirk was like a St. Paul. High praise indeed! Is that propaganda too?
I just finished watching it. Skimmed it, actually. I couldn’t take all the political speeches. It wasn’t a memorial as much as it was a Republican National Convention piggybacking on Charlie’s death. Speech after speech after speech. What a joke to hear some of those men talk about Jesus, given their personal lives. Never let a crisis go to waste, someone said. The RNC sure capitalized on this crisis.
Here’s a report on the Charlie Kirk Memorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I86nck2junw
Okay, here’s the simple observation that proves the memorial was fake Christianity and just a political rally: the stadium featured two American flags but no cross. If it was intended to be a Christian prayer service, there would have been a cross prominently displayed. But no. Oh, they spoke about Jesus a few times, but what was displayed was merely conservative American civil secular religion mashed potatoes with some mild Jesus gravy on top. It was a quasi-RNC convention, as one poster above put it.
Reply to where was the cross?: It was a very powerful memorial service for Charlie Kirk. Kirk was a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. There are even reports that Kirk was very close to becoming Catholic and was even learning to do the Rosary. The name of Jesus was mentioned by almost every single speaker at the Charlie Kirk Memorial. Then Kirk’s wife said she forgives her husband’s killer. Now that’s very powerful indeed! Kirk even brought President Trump and Elon Musk together at this memorial.
You don’t understand. These speakers, many of them high in our government, acknowledged their sinfulness before God, and the fact that we live in a “fallen” world, amd are in need of repentance and forgiveness– always. This is correct Biblical teaching. Their religious faith in Christ can grow much deeper, with regular church attendance, prayer, good teaching, and correct practice of the Faith given to us by Christ. Pray for them. Charlie Kirk was a very prominent, top-notch conservative Republucan political activist and leader– with a deep faith in Christ. That is why top Republican government leaders gave those speeches. Pray for our country’s leaders. Their Christian conversions — weak or strong—all are a great hope for our country’s future– and for defeating terrible sins– the chokehold of evil liberal education indoctrinators, the LGBT/”Trans” evils, pornographic schoolbooks, gay “lifestyle” and gay “marriage,” promiscuity, abortion, and the Death Culture.
Whine, whine, whine.
Bishop Robert Barron attended the beautiful Memorial Service for Charlie Kirk, and posted on “X” (formerly Twitter) that he was very impressed by it. Me, too! He was happy to see that so many were praising Christ and were His followers, and that Erika Kirk publicly forgave her husband’s assassin. I, too, loved the Memorial Service, and all the excellent speeches, and conversions to Christ! And these were mainly people in the highest levels of our government– the President, Vice President, all Cabinet members, members of Congress, etc. — because Charlie Kirk was a prominent conservative Republican political activist, wirh a deep religious faith in Christ– wonderful! I don’t think that those who criticized the Memorial Service, fully understood that. Hopefully, by Charlie Kirk’s good influence, conversions to Christianity will grow in America, and bring tremendous good to this country. Yes, as many speakers accurately stated– we are all a “fallen” and sinful people, living in a “fallen world.” And so Jesus Christ came to earth to redeem us. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stated that very well, straight from the Bible, extolling the glorious Truths of Christ, and the Christian Faith. Wonderful speeches!