The following comes from a Jan. 18 posting by Ashley Baldwin on the blogsite of Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust.
I stopped going to the March for Life.
That probably sounds shocking, coming from a young woman who has dedicated her life to abolishing abortion.
I just can’t do it.
Every year when I see the hundreds of thousands of pro-life people attending the March for Life in D.C., and the Walk for Life in San Francisco, I wonder where they are the rest of the year. Don’t get me wrong — I am thankful for the dedicated individuals who travel from all over the country, and even the world, to stand in solidarity with the billions of preborn children who have been brutally and undeservingly murdered. They march for hours, protest in front of abortion clinics, listen to women and men share testimonies, lay down on soaking wet pavement during a memorial die-in, and debate pro-abortion supporters who surround the stage at the end of the March.
But what happens after it’s over?
Where are my brothers and sisters who linked arms with me just weeks prior while marching down Market Street in San Francisco? Where are the hundreds of thousands of young people with their pro-life t-shirts and bumper stickers?
I see so many parallels between the Civil Rights Movement and the Pro-life Movement. We too dream “…that one day little black boys and girls will be holding hands with little white boys and girls.” That children won’t be discriminated against based on their location, degree of dependency, or whether they are “wanted” or not.
Unlike the Civil Rights Movement, we lack urgency.
Activists in the Civil Rights Movement fought passionately against racism. They were hosed, beaten, jailed, kicked out of school, lost their jobs, did sit-ins, whatever the cost — they risked it. Why? Because they were determined. They couldn’t wait to rid this country of racism and the very disease of hatred and ignorance that was keeping us from progressing as a nation.
Abortion has been decriminalized for over 40 years now. For 40 years, women have suffered at the hands of abortionists and dangerous rhetoric has robbed them of the gift of motherhood, leaving them empty. 40 years of children who have been ruthlessly burned alive, dissected, and tortured inside of their mother’s womb.
Don’t get me wrong: We have made progress in the Pro-life Movement. We have seen countless victories, as Personhood Amendments have passed, pro-life candidates and presidents have been voted into office, men and women have banded together to block women from entering abortion clinics, undercover investigations have exposed Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry, and now abortion clinics are being closed faster than ever before. We know we are winning this fight, but we need urgency. We need men and women like Martin Luther King Jr, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglas, Sophie Scholl, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and the great apostle Paul.
We need men and women who will fight, be willing to sacrifice it all — not just show up at the March for Life and then go home to do . . . nothing. The March for Life should not just be a family reunion, it should be the day we commemorate the families destroyed by abortion, a day to rededicate our resolve to abolishing abortion in our lifetime.
Resolve with us! Go to the March or the Walk, but don’t stop there. Resolve to dedicate yourself with passion for this fight. What can you do today, this week, this month to end abortion? Need some ideas? We’d be happy to give you some!
Hebrews 12:1-3 “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith . . . Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
May we not lose heart, but instead be filled with His passion!
The Civil Rights movement had to convince a handful of old, determined bigots to change the laws. We have to convince the American people that abortion is a big enough issue to take precedence in their voting over economic and other issues. Our problems are ennui and disengagement, not dogs and fire hoses. Abortion is increasingly seen as “bad”, but not bad enough to make it the gold standard for choosing candidates for elected office. Once it is, it will be a matter of time until an honest judiciary is in place to get rid of the thing.
Mostly, very wise post, except the last sentence. My opinion is that the judiciary is not the place to fight this fight.
Yes, I heard a big prolife leader in Chicago say he would be happy if abortion was legal but an unthinkable act in our society. We must take the fight to the conscience of our culture. Also, you can pass laws and the abortion industry will just ignore them. It’s the law that they have to report if a pregnant 13 year old shows up and they don’t do that. I know for a fact they lie about the age of the baby too. If you pass a law saying you can only do abortions up to 20 weeks for example and the woman comes in at 23 weeks, they will just lie and say she’s 19 weeks. When you kill babies for a living you’re certainly not past lying.
You’re absolute right Carol. Women have been having abortions for thousands of years and abortions certainly occurred in the U.S. when it was illegal. How long have pro-life leaders held up “overturning Roe v. Wade” as a sort of holy grail that’s going to eliminate abortion in the U.S.–when we know that’s not going to happen?
Politicians have taken up the pro-life cause not because they care that much about the unborn but because it fires up their base. Abortion is a spiritual, not a political problem. As you say, it’s making abortion unthinkable in our society that’s the goal.
Abortion and Euthanasia must be fought at every level.
Prayer,
and the public square to draw something to people’s attention and for education/teaching,
and voting for good rather than politicians who support intrinsic evils.
Unfortunately far too many people believe that because something is “legal” it is ok.
Legalization does not make everything ok. This assumption can send Souls to Hell.
YFC, you always give opinions when you object to something, but never give viable alternatives to fix society – the general public.
What is your real problem ?
Let us all remember the words of Jesus, that few will be saved.
A “handful” of old determined bigots?
Seriously?
Also, we have elected plenty of pro-life candidates. Nothing changes except a few waiting periods and sonogram laws.
We need a pro-life amendment.
Yes Anonymous, seriously. The Civil Rights struggles the 50’s and 60’s were necessary and heroic actions, but they were the vanquishing of a rear-guard of old determined bigots, not a triumph over an entrenched society. When that society WAS entrenched, all the marches and attempted marches in the world wouldn’t have resulted in the change they sought.
Just a couple of factoids to consider – Billy Graham had integrated his crusade audiences in the south by 1953, Even Bull Conner himself lost the election to mayor of Birmingham in 1963, even prior to his well-photographed viciousness that summer.
The Civil Rights movement we remember was the triumphant result of an intellectual shift in thinking which had occured in the preceeding 40 years, it did not rise out of the infertile ground of the worst of Jim Crow.
On the other hand, the pro-life movement is deep in the culture of death, heroic fighters in a time of lynching. Staying hopeful and engaged today is difficult, as this young woman’s testimony demonstrates.
It is not necessary to attend political marches to fight the evil of abortion. The power of prayer surpasses any march or public event, because in it we invite the action of God, not just our own. Marches for life are good. But they are but one means. Take heart writer…a great many are doing a great amount for the cause of life each day in their every day lives in many ways.
Jim, if you read the agenda’s for either the Washington DC March or the San Francisco March or watched EWTN you would know that there are special Masses, Rosaries being said etc., – as part of the marches.
Prayer is not excluded for Catholics.
Voting and public action is also important or they would not be in the “Catechism of the Catholic Church”.
Public witness to the murder – chemical burning and dismemberment of over a million innocent children each year in the USA must be brought to the political foreground in the public square.
Tens of thousands of young Catholics from around the country will fill both the Verizon Center and the DC Armory for the 2015 Youth Rally,
and afterward the MASS for LIFE.
Jim, you are very foolish if you believe that the public square is not important;
or that voting is not important.
Jesus and His Apostles did not stay in the synagogue, but went out to meet and teach the people.
You sure don’t know much about the DC and SF marches – both have special Masses and Rosaries immediately before the marches.
Investigate prior to posting errors.
No error. Prayer beats politics. You can investigate that too.
Jim, Prayer is already being done. This also includes Masses.
You just refuse to acknowledge it for your own pride, or perhaps your support for abortion and euthanasia.
In fact since you can use a computer, you should be praying and writing to your elected Officials against abortion and euthanasia.
Jesus and His Apostles did not sit on their hands but went forth into the public – teaching.
Dear Mac –
Never did I not acknowledge prayer was happening – I advocated it (and said that it was happening every day and every place)!
The write of this article said she was discouraged enough to to the Walk for Life. My point was, ‘Don’t worry prayer works.’
And Mac please try to respect the dignity of my life by addressing my comments intellectually and not me personally. You might disagree on the centrality of prayer but there is no need to be pejorative in saying ‘I can use a computer.’ Also remember that many disabled cannot. Jesus and his Apostles did not go around saying ‘yea yea yea prayer — now get into the parade.’
Prayer beats politics but prayer can help in the political fight. Prayer, witness, activism, politics we should be using an “all of the above” approach for many reasons. For one, everyone has their own gifts to contribute and we need all hands on deck.
Yes, it may not be necessary, but an “all of the above” approach is probably the best!
The Christopher movement has a saying: “IT IS BETTER TO LIGHT JUST ONE LITTLE CANDLE THAN TO SIT AND CURSE THE DARKNESS.” This culture of death is indeed dark and any candle lit in the effort to illuminate the good, the true, the beautiful is indeed welcome. The marches bring new people into the movement. The marches enliven our faith. It is not for us to judge the effectiveness of what God has inspired. Let us do whatever we can to curse the darkness of apathy that engulfs our land and allows abortion to be considered a right rather than a wrong. The people of God marched around the walls of Jericho. Did some, no doubt, grumble and complain as to the uselessness of such an effort? No doubt they did. Nonetheless, God can use every one of us for His glory and His purpose. I will not whine. I will not complain. I will seek to light the candle and expose the evils of abortion. Join with me? Or sit home. I will be there.+
This lady is burned out already.
And that is the biggest problem with the pro-life movement.
People burn out.
It will change. It is more likely to change from prayer and education than from political strategies.
People’s hearts and mind need to change. For that, the internet is a great tool.
This was a well written article and please click on the link to see what you can do.
More people can be reached by information getting out on the 300,000 + who march on DC, and the more than 60,000 + who march in SFO.
People notice them.
Anonymous you must be a Democrat – who wants us all to VOTE for Party of death candidates.
The first thing these evil folks do is to discourage political activism – so evil politicians will get re-elected.
Prayer is already being done. The murder of innocents must be attacked on many fronts.
I am not a democrat, nor discouraging political activism.
Well put! Burn out is so easy and that’s why we need fresh new faces all the time. I second your suggestion for people to click on the article and find a way to get involved.
I think it is important to raise awareness of the public, regarding the sin of abortion, which is: MURDER! Many people are not taught any longer, to value human life! They were all not brought up right, in a good, traditional family home, good church, good schools, and a good society! The evil 1960’s-inspired “hippie free-sex revolution,” is at the core of this problem! Since when is sex “free?” Ask your grandparents! And what abut one’s personal sense of decency and pride in oneself? Why destroy that in a girl— or in a boy, too? Why not highly respect virginity before marriage— even if you don’t go to church? Marriage is a big responsibility! That is the truth, always! Irresponsibility and selfishness, is no way to live! Nothing in life is “free,” while your wealthy American parents or some “care-takers” at the American colleges hand everything to the selfish little “playboy/playgirl” “oink-oinks,” on silver platters!! And the Church just sits on its hands, does nothing, and collapses into smithereens! Where is the RESPONSIBILITY and Moral Conscience??
I will add, to my above post. Since time began– sex is NOT “FREE!!” The proper place of sex, is as a responsibility, in Marriage! No one can see God. Yet, He exists! It takes the gift of Faith to see spiritually, and to believe, what the mortal eyes of the flesh, cannot physically see! No one can see the little child being made in “God’s workshop,” in Heaven! It takes Faith, therefore– to see what we cannot yet see, with our human eyes! Modern Science, forgetting the wonder and mystery of God’s creation– seeks to ignorantly manipulate creation as it see fit. Modern Science ignorantly calls the human embryo in the womb, a “clump of cells,” devoid of spiritual meaning, and not a “miracle of God,” originating in a Divine, not human, Source!! Modern Science is IGNORANT!! And Modern Mam seeks the phony wisdom of Science, deluded by what the physical eye can or cannot see, and the interpretation of Science— which completely denies any Divine Source!! Modern Science, devoid of God and the Natural Law, and God’s morality– is in very dangerous hands! We need to return to the Bible, and to a strong religious faith!!
The writer is absolutely correct. There is no outrage, urgency or even mild sense of conviction at the March/Walk for Life. Even if you disagree with the Ferguson protestors you could tell they were outraged and seriously upset by what was happening in their community. I’d challenge anyone to attend the Walk for Life (as I have) and see it as anything but a political rally, a PR opportunity for Catholic media, and an event devoted to “fun.”
If the prolifers were outraged, you could probably get the media to show up. They would love to have that visual to present to the world. There is tremendous conviction. I think just going to DC in January shows that. It’s not like they have the march in Florida. :) But seriously, the protest isn’t the only thing we need but it does tremendous good. First, it send the message that there are so many of us and this is a witness that our society needs. Second, it gives people who are prolife something to do to show their support for this cause and the movement. When I talk to people about getting involved in prolife activities they don’t know where to start. Having parish organize a trip to something like this helps. Being in an affirming environment like this for even one day will help some people talk more about their prolife views to friends and neighbors when maybe they wouldn’t before. Finally I’m sure there are a lot of prayers said there, and that’s an essential part of our struggle. I hope this helps. I think this woman is burned out. I was a sidewalk counselor and you can only go and see the human anguish on display in front of these clinics and be lied to, sworn at and threatened before it starts to get to you. I hope she can reenter the fight after a break for a while. I’m sure she’s earned it.
When some people get tired and burned out, it is up to the rest of us to help carry the cross.
Each of us must ask ourselves what did we do on Jan 22 to stop abortion?
What will we be doing on Saturday Jan 24, during the San Francisco march ?
Yes, everyone has something to contribute and we need all hands on deck!
The media was at Furgeson because there was violence there.
We do not want violence at the March for Life.
We are there to protest violence and murder.
Dave N., you are dishonest in your printed opinions.
What have you personally done in “outrage” to stop abortion.
since you posted outrage is the only way to stop it?
Legislation was passed in the House thanks to the prayers across the County and the marchers in Washington DC – more than 500,000 who peacefully marched.
The House legislation will prohibit any Federal government funding of abortion.
Dr. Martin Luther King used peaceful marches as a means against discrimination.
The destruction of other people’s property in Ferguson is not Christian, nor American.
The secular media today is pro-abortion and do not want to let people know that hundreds of thousands of people are against it.
You should be outraged that the secular media is CENSORING the news to further their own political goals of abortion and euthanasia.
Compare the civil rights marches of Dr. Martin Luther King to the Walk for Life and ask yourself what the differences are. You can tell the civil rights marchers are extremely serious about their cause; they are somber and focused on an issue of serious injustice. Now, what’s happening at the Walk for Life? Catered lunches, mariachi bands and a 5K. I don’t recall MLK participating in a 5K. The Walk for Life and similar events trivialize the issue of abortion. It’s about having fun.
Good point Dave.
One might expect that an event centered around the battle for life and death would be more prayerful, more serious, and less “festive.”
Even though that one was not even life-and-death I can’t imagine a “Rosa Parks 5k” (!), etc…
When a reported asked Mother Teresa why she keeps taking care of the poor, since she can only get to the small number of the needy and great masses of the poor she cannot help, so how successful does she think she is in her mission? Her answer was that she is not called to be successful, that she is called to do what she can for the people she can reach and not worry about “success”.
I understand completely the feeling of frustration we experience when a day or a week after we march with tens of thousands we are standing alone in front of an abortion mill, wondering where everyone is. But, we must not let that discourage us from neither attending the walk, as a powerful tool in witnessing for the culture of life and proclaiming the truth to the world, nor praying and confronting evil in, as Abby Johnson said a few year ago at the Walk for Life in San Francisco-making ourselves uncomfortable, putting ourselves in the midst of the culture of death and powerfully and prayerfully witness for Life.
And let us not attack each other. Let us support each other. Some of us will march, some will pray, some will give of their financial resources etc. Everyone has a role and a talent. Let’s use them wisely.
God bless us all.
Amen!
Until my own Catholic bishops enforce Canon Laws 915 & 1399 by denying communion to pro-abort “Catholic” politicians, abortion will remain legal. Yet, they themselves disobey Canon Law and instead offer their pinch of incense to Moloch and Mammon. They also ignore that contraception is metaphysical abortion and that so-called pro-life Hispanic Catholics keep electing pro-abort Democrats because they love illegal aliens more than pre-born babies. Neither will the same bishops issue an official voter guide that isn’t filled with half-truths meant to help Catholics rationalize voting for pro-abort candidates. The apparent agenda may be to end abortion, but the true agenda is simply to contain it and curtail its expansion. Hence the lack of “urgency.” Nonetheless, I will join in tomorrow’s Walk for Life, but without illusions. And during the rest of the year, I will volunteer at a maternity home and do sidewalk counseling, also without illusions. Prayer is the only potential game-changer here. So I will pray. Hard.