Joint Parish Respect Life Committee - Respect Life Blog

True Pro-Life Mission

9/19/2023

Dear Editor:

   Fr. Fidelis Moscinski was sentenced to 6 months in jail for a “lock & block” at the gates of Planned Parenthood early in the morning in Hempstead, Long Island last year.

   The judge acknowledged that Fr. Fidelis has no other criminal record, except he is a repeat, nonviolent offender at abortion facilities, and expresses no intention to cease such activities, despite previous lesser sentences.

   God bless Fr. Fidelis. His mission and true ministry is to try to save the unborn and their mothers. That should be the mission of all Catholics and Christians. Young people are being taught that it’s OK to break the law because if you pay the cartels money you can come into this country and you will be treated with housing, food, jobs and many other needs for free! You won’t go to jail for your mission of asylum. You will be able to vote, thanks to the Democratic Party, and you won’t be treated as a criminal because you broke the laws of our country.

   The Tablet, “The Pro-Life Newspaper,” reported many wonderful articles about the youth rally in Portugal. Unfortunately, there wasn’t an emphasis on the importance for our youth today of being taught to practice and proclaim to be “Pro Life.” We can’t be vague and just put pro-life issues under the umbrella of religious values. It must be stated openly that abortion is wrong! That being pregnant means there is a baby growing inside of a woman. Abortion ends a baby’s life.

Madeleine Santangelo Palumbo
Sea Cliff, NY

Editor's note: This letter was submitted to The Tablet in September 2023.

Statement of Fr. Fidelis Moscinski, CFR

7/8/2023

Fr. Fidelis praying outside Planned Parenthood in Downtown Manhattan,
September 5, 2020.

Statement of Fr. Fidelis Moscinski, CFR
United States District Court, Eastern District of New York
June 27, 2023

Your Honor, I offer the following comments in order to assist you in imposing the most appropriate sentence in my case.

My actions on July 7, 2022 were done because Planned Parenthood as an organization is in the business of killing. Every procured abortion that occurs on its premises constitutes the deliberate killing of an innocent human being. Furthermore, these bloody and violent acts also cause grave spiritual and psychological harm to the mother of the child. All my actions then and now are directed solely towards preventing the murder of defenseless children and the wounding of their mothers.

On that day I was also aware of the evidence compiled by the House Select Panel on Infant Lives that Planned Parenthood, contrary to federal law, profits from the harvesting and selling of the body parts of unborn children. This grisly trade in human tissues and organs is deemed by many as revolting and sickening since it reduces human beings to mere objects that can be bought and sold. But perhaps this practice of Planned Parenthood should not surprise us since its founder, Margaret Sanger, was a known racist and eugenicist who once opined that ”We do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population.”

Now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned and we have been delivered from the delusion that abortion was ever a constitutional right we are still sadly burdened with the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. This pseudo-law seeks to cloak the act of killing preborn children under the euphemistic and Orwellian language of “reproductive health care.” I am not guilty of violating this law because this law cannot be seen as anything other than null and void since it attempts to give legal protection to actions which are intrinsically evil and unjust.

I recognize that this view may not be shared by your Honor. I would like you to know that I find the pernicious error of legal positivism both logically incoherent and immensely destructive in practice. The tragic and shameful history of legalized slavery in the South and the more recent genocides of the twentieth century should be more than sufficient to show us the folly of simply accepting something as “legal” because it is the product of some legislative or judicial process. Would it not be much better to acknowledge the truth that there must be a necessary and intrinsic connection between our civil laws and the natural moral law written on the human heart, knowable by human reason, and revealed authoritatively by God Himself in the Ten Commandments?

If you are, as I suspect, unwilling to correct your earlier mistaken judgment finding me guilty then I suggest that you can still mitigate the injustice this court has perpetrated by giving me the most lenient sentence possible. Thank you.

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Editor's note: On Tuesday, June 27, 2023, Fr. Fidelis Moscinski, CFR, was sentenced to 6 months in federal prison for his attempt to rescue unborn babies at a Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Hempstead, Long Island, in the summer of 2022.

Photo: B. Musich

Queen of the Angels, Queen of May

6/2/2023

By Madeleine Santangelo-Palumbo

    Early Saturday morning on May 7, the month of Our Blessed Mother Mary, I left at 9:00 AM the abortion facility infamously known as the All Women’s Health Pavilion, located on Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens. For many years I have witnessed with a small, wonderful group of the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants outside the abortuary.

    Being an active member of this international apostolate, which was founded by Msgr. Philip Reilly, I stand and pray the mysteries of the rosary and the prayers from the God’s Precious Infants Prayer Book. In a friendly manner, sidewalk counselors try to approach those entering the abortuary handing them our palm booklets.

    In early October, eight years ago, I had a wonderful opportunity to speak with two young women who were a little reluctant to enter the abortuary after viewing our palm booklets, seeing our posters, and hearing us pray. Although these two young women visited the abortuary on two different Saturdays, the two turnarounds became unexpected miracles. Each of these young ladies were in high school: one was a sophomore and the other was a senior; both were of Spanish descent. Both of them came alone to the abortuary and both had very difficult home situations. Both were encouraged and forced to abort their babies by their family members and the fathers of the babies.

    We explained how we could help them and we offered to speak to their mothers. We made calls to the Life Center of New York, which is located in Brooklyn, and we were able to connect with the Sisters of Life, located in Manhattan. Luckily there was a Spanish-speaking sister available to talk to their mothers.

    On these two different Saturdays I was elected to be the driver. When I drove the first young mother we traveled to East New York and picked up her mother and then we were off to the Life Center of New York. There we arranged how they would be able to get help which included baby supplies, food and some temporary financial aid. We were also able to make an appointment for them to meet with the Sisters of Life the following week.

    A similar scenario occurred with the second young mother. I picked up her mother but this time we traveled to Manhattan to the Sisters of Life.

    During both rides from Brooklyn and Manhattan I was able to talk to these young women and, as a retired Catholic High School teacher, I questioned them on how they were doing in school. I learned that they were both excellent students. Both spoke to their mothers in Spanish which helped them to be included in our conversations. I experienced the joy that comes from witnessing the transforming power of God’s grace in another’s life.

    Over the course of months of these pregnancies we were able to help them with clothes, food, furniture, baby equipment and supplies. Ironically, they both had younger brothers that were very happy and pleased with all the help that was given to their families. In early February we held a baby shower in a Mexican restaurant in Woodside, Queens. In late February the first young mother gave birth to an eight pound baby boy named Oliver in Jamaica Hospital.

    The second young mother gave birth in mid-March to a five pound baby girl named Alyssa. She was born in Elmhurst Hospital. I was able to visit both of these miracle babies in the hospital and visit with their beautiful mothers.

    Over these eight years we have had the wonderful experience of attending the baptism of Baby Alyssa which was performed by our beautiful Witness Father Czok. Our great sidewalk counselor, Donald, was asked to be the godfather for both babies. We attended the church wedding of the mother of Alyssa which was also officiated by Fr. Czok. Two years ago, Fr. Czok blessed their new home.

    On May 7 of this year I attended Alyssa’s first Holy Communion Mass at a church in Long Island. Alyssa attends Catholic School and she is an ‘A’ student as told by her godfather, Donald.

    The gifts that we offered to these beautiful young women over eight year served for us as a bridge that connects all believers in God to learn to do good for those in need; not just for practical assistance, but for hope in the goodness of life that breaks down walls and renews our faith to help build a Culture of Life.

    As we approach the political primaries and, later, Election Day, please vote Pro-Life. It can make a real difference in helping pregnant women, their babies and their fathers.

    Please put the words of our beloved pope, St. John Paul II, in your heart, “Be not afraid!”

Editor's note: Some names have been changed to preserve privacy.

Walk Like A Cyrenian

3/30/2023

By Michael Shoule

If God had a sneaker company their motto might be Just Say Yes! And on the Feast of the Annunciation, Father Lawrence’s homily at St. Peter’s church in downtown Manhattan prior to the International Gift of Life Walk reflected beautifully on Mary’s fiat, her Yes!

While my ears were on the altar, my eyes were drawn to the apse and the detailed painting of Saint Peter being crucified upside down in recognition of his feeling of unworthiness to die upright as Jesus Christ did. As I stared at the semi-circular painting, I couldn’t help but associate Peter’s crucifixion with the upside-down world we live in today. A world (and state) in which efforts are made to protect nearly every group, sub-group, and sub-sub-group, yet so little is done to protect the unborn.

Many of us had said Yes! that morning to stand in the wind and rain at the corner of Centre and Reade, fittingly with the New York Supreme Court buildings just behind us, getting energized by multiple speakers in advance of our prayerful walk. Then came the moment of truth for two young teenagers, would-be Simons of Cyrene, as everyone lined up for the walk and no one was left to hold the banner.

They said Yes! and as we hurried down the sidewalk to the front of those assembling in the street, they soon witnessed the hatred that is in some people’s hearts as many protesters tried to prevent us from being Heroes for the Unborn as we walked down the Canyon of Heroes.

The same Canyon of Heroes that has been the sight of parades for our beloved NY Mets and that other NY baseball team too. It didn’t take much for tens of thousands of fans to say Yes! on those days, skipping work or school to be witnesses for their favorite baseball team. Why then it is so difficult for us to say Yes! and be witnesses for the unborn?

The media and politicians and “rights” groups want us to accept their wrongs, but we can choose not to. Instead, we can choose to be a public witness for unborn babies and hang Respect Life banners at our churches and attend Respect Life masses and participate in Rosary processions with the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants and other groups.

We can choose to stand upright in an upside-down city. The Judgment of the Nations passage is clear that “these least brothers of mine” (Matthew 25:40) deserve the most from you and me. Love Life, Choose Life.

God knew you before He formed you in the womb and He wants to change your heart. Mary said Yes! Simon said Yes!...will you say Yes!?

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Michael Shoule is Program Director and Past Grand Knight of Father John J. Murray Council 14666 of the Knights of Columbus. He is a parishioner at American Martyrs Church, Bayside, NY.

Who Will Speak for the Unborn?

2/17/2023

By Michael Shoule

Hi everyone. My name is Mike Shoule and I extend a heartfelt thank you to Father Peter and Deacon Stan and Mike Chimenti and our Rosary leaders and all of you sitting in our beautiful church tonight to pray together as a faith community. Also a special thank you to Margaret Reyes who has been leading the Respect for Life Novena after the 8:30 mass each morning. As it says in Matthew Chapter 18 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” and I know at some prayer services it does seem like only two or three are gathered.

In a similar vein, there is strength in numbers when it comes to being a public witness for the unborn. Ever been to a wedding where either the bride or the groom has a huge family and the other one does not? And you walk into the church and you see one side jam packed with people while you are a guest of the other soon-to-be spouse and it looks like they saved you a seat in the “front row” on that side of the aisle. That’s how it is sometimes when we pray outside of abortuaries. There’s a few of us standing on the sidewalk with our Rosary beads in hand and people keep walking by wondering what we are doing. But then they look around and realize our reason for praying in front of that specific building. And some actually give us a thumbs up while others choose a different finger.

My point is that there are a lot of people in our City who are against the killing of babies and the larger the prayer group the more confidence they have in knowing they are not alone in their beliefs. Heck, there are even sidewalk volunteers and security guards who when they make eye contact with us you just know that they are giving thought to their role in this horrible industry. It is also an important fact that people praying outside an abortuary can have a significant impact on women changing their minds or not even showing up for their appointment.

Most of us here tonight know where we were on the morning of September 11th, 2001, and some also know where they were on November 22, 1963 when President Kennedy was assassinated. But how many of us remember where you were on Tuesday, October 28th, 1986 right around lunchtime? I do and since my parents are in Florida right now and the fact that I am standing here in church, I can admit that I cut school that day to attend the NY Mets parade in downtown Manhattan after they had won Game 7 of the World Series the day before.

What does this have to do with respecting life or abortion? Not a ton other than on Saturday, March 25th there is the International Gift of Life Walk from Foley Square down that same Canyon of Heroes that has hosted parades for other NY sports teams (although not for quite some time) and US generals and aviators and astronauts. This walk takes place every year on the Feast of the Annunciation and this year we have the good fortune of it falling on a Saturday making it quite easy for us to attend.

As you know, yesterday was the 50th anniversary of Roe vs Wade and although that law was overturned it does not change the fact that there have been over 63 million abortions in the United States since January 22, 1973. More importantly it does not change the fact that our home state of New York continues to be an abortion leader with roughly 1 our of every 3 pregnancies ending in abortion – over 110,000 in 2020. That means live baby, live baby, dead baby . . . live baby, live baby, dead baby . . . . Those are dauntingly big numbers of course and they almost seem incomprehensible. It would be easy to say, so what if we got that number down to 109,999 abortions per year in NY. Is it such a big deal? Well, it sure would be to that one baby whose life was saved and to that baby’s family and to all of the people that that baby would meet during their life.

Legal or illegal, God is not going to one day just drop that number to 0. While I haven’t gotten any text messages from Him lately and I don’t think He has an Instagram page, I am pretty sure He wants us to pray. And to bear witness. And to advocate for unborn babies. And to do these things a lot . . . unceasingly in fact. Clearly praying and bearing witness is needed since many states are not requiring medical care be provided to babies born alive after botched abortions. And as you probably have heard, the abortion pill is becoming more and more widely available.

One last number -- medical advancements have helped increase life expectancy of people with Down syndrome from about 10 years in the 1960s to nearly over 50 years today. Yet, it is estimated that 60 to 90 percent of children diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted in the U.S. I can’t imagine that most of us would be okay with killing a baby in hopes of getting a different one the next time around, so let’s speak up.
I know this is a bit of a silly thought, but humor me for a minute. God willing, we all make it to heaven one day . . . imagine being greeted at the Pearly Gates and the first question is – Mets? Or Yankees? If you give the right answer, the gates open and you are let right in. Answer 'Yankees' on the other hand and instead there is a “warm bed” waiting for you elsewhere.

Seriously though, we as human beings are more than happy to speak up about why our team is the best baseball/football/hockey/basketball team in NY or why we think so-and-so should have won or not won on Dancing With the Stars or The Bachelorette; yet, more often than not, we are unwilling to speak up about the unborn. We wear those team jerseys with pride wherever we go and go to parades when they win championships, but God forbid we bear public witness for the cause of life.

Why is that? Maybe we are afraid that we might be seen by someone who knows us? Or even worse judged? There is only one judge and only one judgement day. When we come together at Respect Life masses and pray the Rosary with the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants or other groups outside of abortuaries, we are praying that God will change people’s hearts about abortion. There is no yelling or screaming, just peaceful prayer.

We are praying without judgement for the mother carrying the baby inside of her and the father who is equally responsible for that pregnancy regardless of the decision they make. We are praying without condemnation for the doctors and nurses and volunteers who are accomplices in the 200 plus babies that are killed each day in New York. We are praying that God will change their hearts and we are praying for ourselves that we are doing enough to be the voice for the voiceless. We are also praying that people will no longer commit the crimes of incest and rape which account for just under 2% of the abortions in the US. Ultimately the large majority of us, regardless of religion, race, gender, or age, are morally against abortion. We know that killing a baby is wrong. Advancements in science have proven to us without a doubt that it is a living baby inside a woman’s womb and not just a glob of cells.

The media and politicians and “rights” groups want us to accept their wrongs, but we can choose not to. Instead, we can choose to be a public witness for unborn babies and attend Respect Life masses and participate in Rosary processions and invite our family and friends to join us as well. We can choose to not stay quiet, but instead offer another perspective when someone who calls themselves pro-choice talks about abortion. Sometimes those people are really pro-abortion rather than pro-choice since the only choice they want the woman to make is abortion. By the same token we should still pray for them and try to find common ground so we can have a respectful conversation.

In order to have a respectful conversation and to advocate for the unborn we need to educate ourselves and educate our youth. Abortion is a difficult subject for sure, but one that is better taught by parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and religious education teachers rather than by middle school social studies or debate class teachers or, even worse, Tik Tok. Our children are hearing about abortion and seeing things online about abortion long before they should. We need to share the truth with them before they hear all of the lies.

One of the flyers has a list of resources with websites and a couple of books for you to consider. Another is a reminder that on Saturday March 25th we all have a chance to be a hero for the unborn as we walk down the Canyon of Heroes to be a witness for life. The other side of that flyer lists the upcoming monthly prayer vigils for the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants.

Matthew, Chapter 25, Verse 40 says And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Are there any in our world more least than the unborn?

So, as we head home this evening and as we pray this week and beyond, we should give thought to this . . . God forbid we are called to our heavenly home tomorrow, what will your answer be when God asks what have you done for these least brothers of mine? If you don’t think God will be fully satisfied with your answer, the good news is that there are opportunities for each of us to help save the unborn one precious baby at a time.

When I went to that Mets World Series parade I was very much pro-choice. I had 2 close friends in high school who had abortions. When I went to Boston College I stood in front of an abortion clinic to make sure women could enter the building safely. When I joined the Knights of Columbus about 10 years ago I considered myself pro-choice and now here I am.

God wants us to be a public witness for the unborn and He wants to change your heart . . . WILL YOU LET HIM?

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Michael Shoule gave this talk during a Respect Life Prayer Service, held at Americian Martyrs Church, Bayside, New York, on January 23, 2023. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus.

March for Life 2023 in Washington, DC

2/2/2023

By Thomas Murawski

Prior to the January 20, 2023 March for Life (MFL), many people were speculating as to the participation, since the June Supreme Court ruling rendered (Dobbs vs Jackson) had overturned Roe vs Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court Decision that made abortion legal in the United States. In fact I have spoken to many people who felt that the MFL scheduled since 1974 should be either canceled at the present date to remember the original decision rendered or rescheduled to June to celebrate the recent Supreme Court decision. Personally, I support keeping the current schedule to let our politicians know that the Pro Life movement is still active and that we are not going away.

Up until last year, I traveled to the event with a local parish in Queens, which had many parishes sponsoring buses. The pandemic changed that. In 2022, for the first time I traveled with the Diocesan bus leaving from the Diocesan offices in Brooklyn. This year my son and I traveled with the Diocesan bus again since many parishes still were not sponsoring buses, the aftermath of the pandemic. The Diocesan bus had just about all of its seats filled. The 2022 bus went off without any problems, 2023 however would be different. The bus was scheduled to depart at 6:30 AM. As we waited for the arrival of the bus, the bus captain Deacon John found out that the bus would be delayed since the scheduled driver had called in sick. The bus company scurried to find a replacement driver; however when it arrived over 2 hours late we knew that we would miss the Rally held prior to the MFL.

As our bus got closer to DC some riders were able to stream parts of the Rally. I heard parts of the speech given by current sports broadcaster and former NFL Coach Tony Dungy, the first black coach to win the Super Bowl. Tony and his wife Lauren have adopted eight (8) children, thus demonstrating that there is a market for so called “Unwanted Children” and that adoption is a viable option despite what the Pro Abortion forces say.

I arrived at the rally near its end. I was able to catch the closing prayer given by Franklin Graham, son of the immortal preacher Billy Graham. The attendance at the rally showed no signs of shrinking in the wake of overturning of Roe vs Wade. As I write this article, I have not been able to verify this aspect. However many reports concur that that the crowd showed no signs of shrinking. As I started to march the throng of people showed no signs of losing their enthusiasm for the Pro Life movement. Chants of "hey hey ho ho Roe v Wade has got to go" were replaced with other chants. "No no we don’t need Roe" was one of the chants that replaced that chant.

As I marched I noticed that the crowd, as in the past, was comprised mainly of high school and college aged participants, thus there are no signs that the Pro Life movement is going away anytime soon. As I marched I met participants from numerous states, people had come from Iowa, Illinois, Louisiana, Alabama, Ohio, Tennessee, even West Coast states such as Arizona and California had participants. I also noticed that the March was not only a national story but was an international story. I saw a large crowd of young people dressed in Canadian garb (the Canadian Maple Leaf which appears on the flag). I met many other marchers from our northern neighbors.

Along the route there were a few Pro Abortion demonstrators present; however they were easily shouted down. It was not just the Canadian presence. As my son and I continued a TV crew from France asked us several questions about the state of abortion in the USA. They asked us about using high tech tools such as facial recognition to prevent residents in states prohibiting abortions from seeking abortions in abortion friendly states such as New York.

This year, for some reason, the route was altered. In past years, the MFL proceeded north of the Capitol past the Capitol and to the Supreme Court where the March ended. This year the MFL passed west in front of the Capitol, then turned south of the Capitol before ending at the Supreme Court. At first my son expressed his disappointment since in past years many marchers (myself included) turned around as we marched up the hill north of the Capitol to see the huge crowd behind us. The south street gave a similar view, I turned around and saw the sea of humanity which had joined me and thousands of others to let our elected officials know that we are not going away anytime soon. Of course at the Supreme Court there were a few Pro Abortion counter protesters, however they were just a speck that was hardly noticeable.

The trip home presented no special challenges. There are already talks about what lies in store for the 2024 March. As I reminisce about 2022, I see success. Apart from the 2022 overturning of Roe vs Wade, I know that the Pro Abortion efforts to codify abortion on a national level failed. Even though it passed the House in July 2022, its support failed in the Senate. With the House under Republican control, I know that codifying abortion will not happen on a national level. However, I see battles especially here at home in New York.

When I got home my son told my wife that she is missing out by not attending the MFL. He indicated that he is inspired by the event and wouldn’t miss another one (my wife had never attended the event). My son informed my wife of the many mothers who participated in the event who pushed their strollers along the route each smiling with their precious gifts of life. Along the route we spoke to many of these mothers. I asked one of the toddlers when her birthday was, the child responded April. When I asked as to when her’s brother’s birthday was, the mother informed me it was January 26th, he was born 5 days after she participated in last years’s MFL. It is obvious to me that the Pro Life movement is producing young soldiers who will pick up the fight for years to come.

Catholic Fem Initiative

2/1/2023

By Deborah Sucich

How do we fight against the Goliath of pornography, transgender, abortion and divorce in our society? I believe the small stone we need to be wielding to bring the giant tumbling down is fertility education. Fertility education has been proven to decrease and delay sexual activity among teens, enhance self-respect, empower women’s health and lead couples to happy life-long marriages.

The heart of the pro-life movement is to prevent unplanned pregnancies. The way to do this is to educate about the power of our fertility in a way that enhances human dignity. I am excited to launch Catholic Fem, a way for teens and adults to learn about hormonal health in line with the teachings of the Catholic faith.

FEMM (Fertility Education + Medical Management) is a revolutionary approach to women's health. Women of all ages can learn about their fertility and how charting their cycles can gain each woman and couple invaluable information that will last a lifetime. Mothers and teen daughters, single, engaged, and married women of all ages are welcome and encouraged to attend these online or in-person sessions. Do you or someone you know have: irregular cycles? problems with hormonal contraceptives? not sure if they are ovulating or having "normal” cycles? or suffering from PCOS? Do you want your teen to feel empowered and more comfortable with their body and be able to track hormonal health in a way that enables positive and healthy decision making that is based on science and their Catholic values?

Email CatholicFem@gmail.com for more information or to schedule an individual appointment. Please like, share and spread the word about Catholic Fem
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089879918480

Host a group session at your parish, register for an online session, and encourage friends and relatives to learn this invaluable information!

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Deborah Sucich, a Consecrated Virgin for the Diocese of Brooklyn, is a certified FEMM Fertility Educator helping teens, women of all ages and couples to understand their hormonal health and manage their fertility. For 25 years, Deborah has been dedicated to Catholic evangelization especially through the Goretti Group which spreads the message of chastity and promotes Catholic teachings on marriage & family life. Deborah has taught students of all ages in her teaching career and has presented to various Catholic organizations on the topics of science & chastity, She recently placed in the University of Notre Dame Teaching Human Dignity Contest with her unit plan for high school students on "The Science of Hormonal Birth Control" stressing informed consent for teens.

Update from the Helpers in Ghana

11/17/2022

The 13 year old girl in the picture was journeyed on with my team till she gave birth. The work is demanding but with help, support and prayers we shall make it. We are optimistic that with the needed help and support we can gradually make a difference. Human life is to be highly upheld and respected.

I want to express my profound appreciation to Don Magnotta for his encouragement and support which he has given to the Helpers through his charitable organization, IHM Foundation (www.ihmonline.org). We definitely need more help to go the extra mile in our approach.

Keep us in your prayers and be assured of our prayers, too.

Thank you and stay blessed!

Fr. Peter Hesse
Coordinator for Helpers of God’s Precious Infants, Ghana

Helpers Vigil, October 2022

11/16/2022

By Kevin Moore

On October 29, 2022 the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants gathered in prayer at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Jamaica, New York for Mass, and a rosary procession to promote the dignity of all human life. The Helpers conduct large prayer vigils monthly, except for July, in various parishes in Brooklyn and Queens. Founded by Msgr. Philip J. Reilly in 1989, the Helpers have sought to convince all they come in contact with that life is indeed a precious gift from God and not an unwanted burden to be destroyed.

The day began with Mass offered by the assistant priest to Fr. Victor Bolanos, the pastor of this parish. I am sorry I did not catch his name. He delivered a beautiful homily in both English and Spanish on the necessity of defending life in all circumstances, especially in New York State where abortion is legal up to the moment of birth and for any, or no, reason. After Mass about 50 people, both Helpers and parishioners led, by Fr. Bolanos, processed to Choices abortion facility praying the rosary and singing hymns. The procession was peaceful and prayerful and there were no confrontations with the numerous clinic escorts at the facility when we arrived.

There were others from another pro-life group also present who were a bit more confrontational, hoping to sting the consciences of those women who entered the building. The Helpers rely on God, petitioning the Almighty with prayer to change hearts.

Following the conclusion of the prayers of the rosary we were invited to a delicious breakfast provided by the parish. It was a beautiful morning, and we noticed that fewer women entered the facility than when we had been there in the past. Praise be to God!

A Pro-Lifer's Priority

11/16/2022

Dear Editor:

To answer the question about pro-lifers not speaking about capital punishment, I offer this brief reply: People on death row do not number in the millions, and these people are not innocent. They have committed heinous crimes. Yet, they have lawyers who represent them and take them through the lengthy appeals process. There is a voice for them.

The urgency for some of us pro-lifers is for those who have no voice -- who our society claims have no rights, no human status, and where the attack on unborn life is at an all time high. We are not talking about 10, 13, or 25 individuals, we are talking about more than 63 million innocent babies who have committed no crime but to have been conceived.

Today, abortion is praised, financed, and celebrated. Many people claim it is a moral value, a woman's right to which we all must agree. Thank God, common sense and true human decency motivate pro-lifers' voices to say this is wrong.

If innocent life is not protected, whose life is safe from the whims of others?

Patricia Gregorek
Greenpoint

Reprinted from The Tablet, October 29, 2022.

Authors

Frank Drollinger
Msgr. Fernando Ferrarese
Patricia Gregorek
Alice Lemos
Florence Maloney
Frederick W. Marks
Pamela Menera
Judith Mooney
Kevin Moore
Fr. Fidelis Moscinski
Thomas Murawski
Boris Musich
Melinda Rabbia
Josephine Rose
Madeleine Santangelo Palumbo
Michael Shoule
Deborah Sucich

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