Joint Parish Respect Life Committee - Respect Life Blog

Prayer Vigil in Jamaica, NY, October 17, 2020

10/19/2020

On October 17, 2020 I was blessed to be a participant at the Helpers of God's Precious Infants prayer vigil originating from Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Jamaica, New York. The vigil was led by Fr. Victor Bolanos, the pastor of Presentation Church and about 50 people from the parish and other Helpers attended.

We processed praying the rosary to Choices abortion facility and we noticed immediately that there were about 7 escorts outside the clinic. Shortly after our arrival, several women who had made appointments appeared, escorted by the escorts. In fact so many came that due, I am sure, to COVID - 19 restrictions, the ladies were asked to stand outside and line up. It was one of the saddest sites I have ever seen, 7 or 8 women standing outside wanting in line to kill their children. Fr. Bolanos, after leading a decade of the rosary, handed his microphone to one of his parishioners and walked across the street to attempt to talk to the women in line. I do not think he was successful in convincing any of the woman to keep their babies, but he did make the effort.

As St. Mother Theresa has taught us, God did not call us to be successful, but to be faithful. Fr. Bolanos certainly evidenced his faith in a most moving way.

Kevin Moore

Regarding Bishop DiMarzio

7/5/2020

When I received the letter from the Brooklyn Diocese office sent by Bishop DiMarzio I was shocked, angered, and disappointed. First of all the Bishop has lead this Diocese for almost seventeen (17) years, until the so called “look back” legislation was enacted I have never heard any indication against his impeccable credentials.

While I disagree with the Bishop in some areas regarding his policy and items he should be focusing on, his character speaks for itself. When legislation was passed, it was contemplated that people looking to “ strike it rich” would come out of the woodwork, out worst fears have come to fruition. The lawyer representing both clients is seeking $40 million dollars which tells me a lot. First of all in America we are presumed innocent until proven guilty, while this sounds like a noble position it is flawed. Once accused even when innocent a person’s reputation (especially high profile people) is tarnished forever. Experts on pedophilia indicate that the recidivism rate for this crime is high, where are the other accusers?

Thomas Murawski

The Priest in the Streets

6/28/2020

See this powerful, short, video about Msgr. Philip Reilly, the founder of the Helpers of God's Precious Infants.

Boris Musich

Food for Thought

5/9/2020

We have lost over 60 million American children to abortion since it was legalized in 1973. There is no way to calculate the repercussions! Many of those who were aborted would have given life to their own children.
Over 2 million couples are waiting to adopt a child including those of any race or those born with special needs. . . but we lose 1 million children a year to abortion.
Some websites will say an embryo “becomes” a fetus at the 9th week of pregnancy...if there really is a differentiation between an “embryo” and a “fetus” (and I would argue there is not), why do our laws permit abortions throughout pregnancy? You know the answer: Abortion is a big business; well-funded lobbyists are working hard to keep abortion legal; some women want the “convenience” of abortion when contraceptives fail.
A society is judged by how it treats the weak and defenseless. At 10 weeks, the tiny developing human person in the womb feels pain.

Know, Learn & Share the FACTS about Life. Be sure you and your loved ones are making informed decisions. Education is critical, in fact 94% of women regret their decision to abort. See The Facts About Baby Development.

See also these sites:

Extracted from an article by Melinda Rabbia, Chair, St. Joseph R.C. Respect Life Committee, Oradell, NJ.

Looking at the Facts

5/9/2020

People are pro-life because they believe life begins at conception/fertilization. Let’s look at the biological facts:

─ 18 days a baby's heart begins to beat
─ 43 days brain coordinates movement
─ 7 weeks a baby can hiccup
─ 8 weeks organs can function
─ 9 weeks has permanent, individual fingerprints
─ 10 weeks can feel pain
─ 12 weeks a baby can smile, suck his thumb and make a fist

At what point do we call the embryo “a human being”? It is difficult to pick a point where the embryo suddenly becomes human, isn’t it? It would be arbitrary. Many young women on seeing an ultrasound decide not to abort the baby. Seeing the image makes it very clear - the child is human!
See: <http://prolifeacrossamerica.org/baby-developmental-facts/>

Every human is created in God’s image; as such, life is sacred and valuable whether the person is young, old, has disabilities, etc. Pro-Lifers fight for the unborn in the same way that abolitionists fought to ban slavery. . .because we see it as a grave injustice.

Both Locke and Jefferson referred to a “right to life” as part of “natural law”. Pro-lifers know the aborted baby girl or boy is not the only victim of abortion. America has lost over 60 million children to abortion since it was legalized in 1973. There is no way to calculate the repercussions! Many of those who were aborted would have given life to their own children.

Financial problems are often given as a reason to abort an unborn child. Abortionists take a life, earn income form the “procedure”, and the young woman is left with years of misery following the abortion. Women who have had abortions have higher rates of depression, suicide, drug use, etc. Pro-Lifers are called to love the mother as well as the child. <https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/abortion-leads-to-increased-risk-of-suicide-death-depression-study>

Extracted from an article by Melinda Rabbia, Chair, St. Joseph R.C. Respect Life Committee, Oradell, NJ. Bergen County Right to Life

Waiting for It

4/1/2020

Glendale: I've hard many people state and joke that since there is a stay at home order, with no sports, etc. , that we should be ready to have a baby boom around Christmas. What no one is saying is that abortion facilities such as Planned Parenthood are counting on more "unwanted pregnancies" and, of course, more abortions. I am sure Planned Parenthood and others in this business are salivating at this prospect. How sad.

Thomas Murawski
(Reprinted from the New York Daily News, March 27, 2020)

Feast of the Holy Innocents

3/26/2020

On December 28, 2019 I attended the Mass being celebrated at the Church of the Holy Innocents in Manhattan which also included a Pro Life procession to an abortion facility. I had never attended this church and did not know what to expect. The day represents not only the Feast of the Holy Innocents but would have been my maternal grandmother’s birthday.

Due to a delay on the L train I arrived at the 8:00 AM Mass a few minutes late. Upon entering the church, I was surprised at the full house that was also attending the Mass. Upon sitting down in a pew, I admired the stained-glass windows in the church. However, I noted that on the left side the lighting on the windows was mostly blocked by the adjacent building, while the windows on the right were unobstructed and the sun was able to display their brilliance.

While I am a practicing Catholic, I was not familiar with the significance of this holy day. It is celebrated to remember the male children under two years of age slaughtered at the direction of Herod the Great in the vicinity of Bethlehem at the time of Jesus‘ birth due to Herod’s jealousy of the newborn king. The homily explained the significance of the holy day.

When it came time to receive Holy Communion, I received while kneeling at the railing which was still intact in the church (most churches have the railing and accompanying keepers removed). Receiving communion in this manner brought me back to my childhood. My childhood church, St. Margaret’s in Middle Village, had the railing removed during a renovation in the 1970’s.

After Mass I participated in the procession to an abortion facility, Park Med at 42nd Street and 2nd Avenue. During the procession members utilized handheld walkie- talkies dispersed throughout the crowd so that the background noise would not impede the Rosary being prayed. The procession to and from the abortion facility went off without any incidents (there were many tourists from out of town celebrating the Christmas holiday). At the facility the crowd prayed the Rosary in remembrance of the unborn babies which were slated to be slaughtered in the name of choice.

Upon the conclusion of the procession a luncheon was held at the church.

Thomas Murawski

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

3/9/2019

The "March for Life, Washington, D.C." in its 46th year, again, demonstrated its support for Life principles. The enthusiasm and vigor of all of its participants were clearly evident.

Many key leaders and rank-and-file persons were interviewed by EWTN "regulars." This program has wonderful coverage of this event which the major media ignores routinely.

Our prayer continues, "With the Help of God, the Right to Life will be restored for all–born and unborn."

At present, we have the special opportunity to do just that with both President Trump and Vice President Pence in national office. We have a special opportunity to do it!

While we are grateful for the wonderful exhibition to support Life at the March, in New York we have to work in "opposition" to the current majority in the New York State Legislature.

The RHA has been passed into NYS law. The Physician-Assisted Suicide Bill is next on the Agenda. The RHA (now current law) and the Physician-Assisted Suicide Bill (to be voted upon) are departures from current NYS life protective laws. RHA needs to be overturned! The Physician-Assisted Suicide bill needs to be rejected by all New Yorkers!

We hope that you will become informed by attending all upcoming JPRLC meetings and that you will be in touch with your representatives–YES, what you do will affect both you and your descendants!

Florence Maloney, Editor

March for Life, January 27, 2017, Washington, D. C.

2/2/2017

The Diocese of Rockville Centre reported (www.LICatholic.org) that 38 busses totaling almost 2,000 people participated in this year’s March for Life in Washington, D.C. The Diocese of Brooklyn had many, many buses of persons who have regularly attended the March along with many, many “first-timers” participating.

Of particular note are buses organized by Ann Gilmartin (Astoria), St. Francis DeSales Church (by a parish leader, Far Rockaway), Tom Kearns (St. Matthias, Ridgewood), along with other Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, parishes. Cathy Donohoe (Holy Family) had TWO busses instead of one, and there was also a busload from St. John’s University, Jamaica. Chris Rada, Coordinator of Marriage, Family Life, and Respect Life Education, for the Diocese, coordinated the availability of three other buses—one leaving fro Brooklyn and two from Queens. The Tablet published contact telephone numbers for several weeks extending an invitation to all to attend the March.

The above efforts helped produce exceptional results. Estimated participation (including persons from many states across the United States) was about one-half million persons. Great enthusiasm and support for Respect for Life abounded. For the first time in the March’s history, a Vice President of the United States attended and spoke about the foundational principle in the U.S. Constitution of the Right to Life. Other key speakers included Representative Chris Smith; Jeanne Mancini, March for Life; Kristan Hawkins, Students for Life of America; and Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to President Donald Trump. Cardinal Wuerl, USCCB, along with many other Bishops and leaders of many faiths participated in this outstanding demonstration for the respect and preservation of all Life.

Optimism could be felt that there is hope that Roe v. Wade will be invalidated and that a Culture of Life will prevail for all. Let us pray—and participate in this special time in American history.

Two Mass Shootings, Two Media Narratives

12/7/2015

The media revealed its prejudices and bias in the way it reported the tragic shootings in Colorado Springs a week ago and in San Bernardino a few days ago. It is too long overdue for "push back" on the media. An unbiased press is essential for freedom to survive in a democracy.
http://www.register.ncregister.com, 12/4/15.