Joint Parish Respect Life Committee - Respect Life Blog

Fighting to Win the Pro-Life Struggle

1/26/2026

By Celeste Broyles

Happy New Year! Let's try to make it more pro-life!

This past fall I was interviewed by a woman taking a class at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. The class assignment was to interview someone with whom you disagreed on the topic of abortion. We spoke on the phone and in person, all told about 3 hours. It was cordial and interesting, and also educational (for both of us).

I explained in a variety of ways why there are no exceptions to killing a preborn child through induced abortion. That concept must have been so foreign to her that here and there she would look for kinks in the armor, albeit kindly. At one point, when we were discussing a difficult scenario of a pregnancy, she said to me, I feel like you’re almost thinking in that case abortion might be ok. I started my reply: No, because. But before I could continue, she interrupted to finish my sentence – I know . . . it’s still a life. Aha! It took a couple of hours of going round and round, but at least she picked up on the fundamental truth of the pro-life position – even if she didn’t agree with it.

I’ve been active in the pro-life movement for a long time; something not lost on my interviewer. So, the woman asked me, Will you quit? I told her, No, not until/unless my body or brain makes it so I can’t continue. (P.S. I’ll try very hard to stick to my statement.)

A while back, a woman stopped at the LI Coalition for Life pro-life booth I had at a street fair. She said, I met you at a fair 2 years ago. You’re STILL doing this?

YES, I’m still doing this because ‘they’re’ still killing innocent defenseless tiny people in the womb. It’s easy to get frustrated, overwhelmed and disenchanted when involved in the pro-life movement. That’s fine. Take a break, a breather. But please don’t quit. The people we are trying to protect from right-to-life assaults that treat humans as disposable are in desperate need of more people to step forward to defend the inherent dignity and value of each person from conception.

It is critical for pro-lifers to be educated and to SHOW UP.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” (Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

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Celeste Broyles is the Nassau Vice-Chairman of the Long Island Coalition for Life, Inc.

Pro-Life Witness from Both Sides

8/22/2025

Dear Editor:

Thank you for being “The Pro-Life Newspaper.” As a volunteer at Bridge to Life, in College Point, I see and hear so many untold stories that the mothers sometimes reveal while they receive support and so many necessary items for their children and for themselves. These wonderful mothers are all very grateful and they come from Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, The Bronx, and even from Long Island and Yonkers. They travel by bus, train, or Uber. Francesca Yellico is doing a fantastic job serving as the executive director along with her small staff.

As an active member of the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants, established by Monsignor Philip J. Reilly, a group of us witness to women entering the abortion facility called All Women’s Health in Kew Gardens. Unfortunately, we see the other side on Saturday mornings. We pray and try to counsel these mothers. With Jesus’s help there have been some turnarounds over the years.

Let us all believe and remember that Jesus, the Son of Man, assumed the condition of a pre-born child in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This sanctified and elevated every woman’s womb for all time and every human whose life begins at conception. Jesus could have begun his life in another manner but he took on the total human existence from conception to death.

Let us support and bless all mothers and pray that every infant in the womb receive God’s precious gift of life.

Madeleine Santangelo Palumbo

[Madeleine submitted the this letter to The Tablet but it has not been published as of August 22, 2025.]

Respecting the Laws of Our Country & Catholic Faith

3/3/2025

Dear Editor:

It’s always so hard to hear and read Bishop DiMarzio’s opinions on the views of President Trump regarding illegal immigrants.
My father came lawfully to America from Naples with his mother when he was eight year old. First his father had to provide residency with his brother and his wife and proof of work so that he could send for his wife and my father. This took two years and it was hard because my grandmother had to work in the wheat fields with my father at her side. They were very poor. My father loved being an American but unfortunately I never learned Italian because only English was spoken in our house. My father wanted to be American first.
I am very proud to say that I was a Catholic grammar and high school teacher for over 40 years. I’m so happy and proud of President Trump for issuing an executive order promoting parental choice in education. This didn’t happen with President Biden who is Catholic. Catholic schools have enriched America by offering an excellent academic education rooted in our Catholic faith.
As a teacher, wife, mother and grandmother I truly feel that it is very important to follow the laws of our country and of our Catholic faith: such as instilling the obligation of attending Mass on Sundays and holy days; and not taking marijuana because it was illegal and not good.
Being an active pro-life Catholic, I feel that President Trump needs to be respected for what he has done and what he will do for the pro-life movement and religious freedom in our country.
Mary and Joseph followed the laws of the land and left Nazareth while Mary was in the later stage of pregnancy. Joseph was ordered by the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, to be part of the census. They were required to travel to Bethlehem being it was Joseph’s father’s hometown.
Hoping all Catholics pray for President Trump even if they didn’t vote for him.

Respectfully,
Madeleine Santangelo Palumbo
Sea Cliff, NY

[A version of this letter was published in The Tablet, February 22, 2025.]

March for Life 2025: A Report

2/17/2025

By Thomas Murawski

For over twenty years now I have been attending the annual March for Life held in Washington, DC in January to commemorate and protest the Supreme Court decision rendered in 1973 for Roe vs Wade, legalizing abortion in the USA. I have missed a couple of the Marches in that time: in 2021 the MFL was cancelled due to the pandemic and one year a blizzard resulted in local buses being cancelled. Over the years I have attended the event with many different groups and buses leaving from Queens and Brooklyn. I have attended with St. Stan’s of Maspeth, St Joseph’s of Astoria, St. Sebastian’s, Holy Family and 2 years with the bus from the Brooklyn Diocesan office.

    As last year, I attended the March with a bus sponsored by Notre Dame Church in New Hyde Park since that trip was well organized. The day began with a 4:30 AM Mass celebrated by Father Stephen Rooney who was also attending the March. At about 5:20 AM the bus was loaded and ready to leave. Unlike last year, where approximately half the seats were empty mainly due a forecast which included snow, this year’s bus was filled. The trip down to Washington DC was going so well that the organizers (Father Rooney and Doctor Maryann) decided that we could schedule a stop at the National Basilica on the campus of Catholic University. It was noted that last minute speakers added to the rally included President Trump, who would speak via video conference, and newly elected Vice President JD Vance who would appear in person for his first public engagement as VP. The March for Life organizers had sent out an alert indicating that due to Vance’s presence that TSA type security measures would be instituted.

    After the visit to the National Basilica the bus arrived in Washington DC with time to spare, or so we thought. The bus was unloaded and the participants met with Bishop John Barres of the Rockville Centre Diocese. We made our way to the rally but, with the extra security due to Vice President Vance’s presence, it took a while to get in. As we entered we heard the speakers. Unfortunately, the group was broken up getting through security. The speakers included Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey, Lila Rose of Live Action along with many others. One of the messages being driven home was the desire to “Defund Planned Parenthood” which takes millions of taxpayer dollars each year. As many people have heard, this was Jeanne Mancini’s last year leading the March for Life. She took over from Nellie Gray in 2012 and now she hands the baton to Jennie Bradley Lichter who also spoke at the March.

    Of course, many people were waiting to hear President Trump speak. At his videotaped speech he announced pardons for the many pro-lifers who have been unjustly punished mainly for violating the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act as they peacefully prayed outside abortion facilities. These non-violent offenders have often been arrested by agents who drew their weapons as if they are apprehending violent criminals. We all know that this tactic is intended to intimidate pro-lifers. As such we thank President Trump for his actions. However, as he spoke, I couldn’t help but think that while we pro-lifers now have a president and supporter in the White House, that the President has a long way to go. During the campaign it was revealed through her book that First Lady Melania Trump supports the so called “right to choose.”

  The rally speeches ended with JD Vance’s speech. He noted that the participants at the rally were out there in the cold and compared it to Monday’s inauguration which was moved indoors. He talked about how his 3 children brought him and his wife, Usha, indescribable joy and how the government should be helping people and young families bring more children into the world since they are our future. He wants the government to help those who may not be ready for the financial difficulties, especially those facing unplanned pregnancies. He pointed out on how the abortion on demand policy had ruined a generation of Americans (it was probably more than one generation). He also reiterated points noted by President Trump in which the past administration had unfairly punished people for just practicing their right to free speech by praying outside of abortion facilities. Vance also pointed out that President Trump just issued a strong endorsement of the Born Alive Abortion Act which would require those babies that survive botched abortions be given the care that they need.

At the rally I noticed many large contingents as, like last year, Liberty University again stood out with their bright red hats. This year I noticed a Catholic university, the University of Mary in North Dakota, which I had never really noticed before, with a large contingent. There were also large groups from Villanova, Wheaton College and Ohio State (a public university) to name a few.

    At the conclusion of the rally the huge throng exited the rally site and off we went to the Supreme Court which is the traditional ending point of the March. However, as I noted above the presence of Vice President Vance required additional security. With not much guidance the best way to proceed was just to follow the crowd in front of you. As we walked along Constitution Avenue I noticed the thousands of marchers in front of us and behind us. At about the halfway point my son and I turned around and noticed the huge March for Life Banner, which typically leads the March. Apparently, with the last-minute security additions the March organizers did not anticipate any problems organizing the crowd as it exited the rally or were not totally prepared with the revised logistics. While this in no way took away from the atmosphere, it’s just something that happened. My son and I waited for the banner to pass and rejoined the parade. As usual the March ended in front of the Supreme Court where, like last year, counter-demonstrators were almost nonexistent.

  Our bus was scheduled to meet us and leave from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on the Hill. As usual the local Catholic churches offered refreshments and opened their doors to all. A special thanks must be given for their generosity.

    Many people ask me why I continue to attend the MFL since the Supreme Court struck down Roe vs Wade in its June 2022 decision. I emphatically tell them that we are up against a determined group of evil people who have no respect for human life whatsoever; the fact that they would advocate the killing of innocent, defenseless human beings tells the whole story. We must not let our guards down. In fact in New York State and City there is much work to be done. We must change the hearts and minds of those who are in the dark.

Signs of the Times: March for Life 2025

2/6/2025

By Michael Shoule

It is somewhat easy to understand why there were some empty seats on the Queens Deanery 5 bus that departed from the American Martyrs parking lot at 6:15AM on Friday the 24th of January headed for the March for Life in Washington DC. Usually, it is pretty cold in DC at the end of January. It is at least a 4-and-a-half hour bus ride each way not including stops which makes for a long day off from work. There can be a lot of standing around between speakers and while waiting for the March to begin. And lastly, you’re going to get your steps in that day and a lot of them at that. Oh yeah and that getting up at the crack of dawn thing. Excuses, excuses. =)

These are likely the same deterrents that prevent every Deanery in each of the five boroughs and beyond from sending a bus, but thankfully Father Marc Swartvagher, the pastor of St. Kevin’s in Flushing, put all of that aside to lead us pilgrims that morning.

As the bus crossed into Delaware and pulled into the rest area, I am sure the irony was not lost on the passengers from the dozes of busses whose drivers had the same idea as they disembarked and entered the Biden Welcome Center. Although still early in the morning, there was an energy in that building that was more than just the relief of stretching legs, cups of coffee, and bathroom breaks. Strangers by face, but unified by one cause, people greeted each other with nods and smiles as they passed each other.

Upon arriving Washington DC the bus left us in front of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on 10th Street NW just in time for part of the standing room only Mass. The oldest Catholic parish in the city of Washington, it was established in 1794 and welcomed pro-life visitors from around the country. As Mass ended, I had the good fortune to say hello to Father Fidelis Moscinski who, too, found himself standing in the same corner of the church with the rest of us.

After the Mass we walked a few blocks and waited in line to get through the metal detectors just like we would at a Mets or Rangers game. As we stood on the grassy National Mall we listened to a great line-up of speakers which included Florida Governor Rick DeSantis, Vice President JD Vance, Live Action founder Lila Rose and former abortionist Dr. Catherine Wheeler who is now an ardent pro-life activist. Perhaps the most moving stories though were those told by abortion survivor Josiah Presley and by Beverly Jacobson with her husband and daughter, Verity, by her side. Beverly founded Mama Bear Care when Verity was born with Edwards syndrome and has since defied the “incompatible with life” diagnosis the doctors had given.

As the speakers wrapped up, we joined the huge throng of people who had begun lining up earlier with their banners and signs. I saw the fantastic photographer and even better human being, Jeffrey Bruno, down the sidewalk a bit, but by the time I got there he and his telephoto lens were gone. Jeffrey’s photos from the 2025 March for Life capture the vitality and excitement of that day much better than my words can.

Being a Knight of Columbus, I was somewhat partial to the green and white "Love Life, Choose Life" signs and was very thankful for the Virginia Knights for providing leadership along the parade route. As an aside, we are trying to get more Tri-State area Knights involved in our NYC International Gift of Life Walk on March 25th.

Some of the more impactful messages were on the pink and blue "Defund Planned Parenthood" signs (slated to receive $600-$700 million in funding from the current administration), the "God Will Not Be Mocked" signs from The White Rose Resistance and the big yellow flag with "LIFE WINS" in black letters.

My favorites though were two handmade signs. One had a photo of Donald Trump from his reality TV days and read “Abortion, you’re FIRED.” The other was a simple message of "Let God Plan Parenthood."

As we processed past the US Capitol before finishing at the Supreme Court it was encouraging to see that once again the future of the Pro-Life movement: high school and college students from across the country, were out in full force as was the energizing music of the Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) band.

They and so many others said no to the devil’s deterrents that we allow into our head – too cold, too far, too long to walk, can’t miss a day of work . . . and now, in less than two months, we have the chance to mobilize locally and encourage our family, friends and neighbors to say no to those deterrents again, and to show Kathy Hochul and fellow New Yorkers that there are plenty of us who will advocate for life from conception to natural death regardless of the bills she signs into law.

With two great speakers lined up for our downtown NYC International Gift of Life walk on March 25th: Grand Marshal and Pro-Life speaker Rebecca Kiessling, who was given up for adoption after being conceived by rape, and special guest speaker and EWTN host, Very Reverend Chris Alar, it is going to be a great day. Hope to see you there. LIFE WINS!

Feast of the Holy Innocents

1/4/2025

By Thomas Murawski

On December 28, 2024, the Church of the Holy Innocents in Manhattan held its annual 8:00 AM Mass followed by a rosary procession from the Church (37th Street and Broadway) to an abortion facility located on Second Avenue and 42nd Street to commemorate the Feast of the Holy Innocents. At the abortion facility a prayer vigil was held before returning to the church.
    For those readers who are not familiar with the Feast of the Holy Innocents: when the Three Wise Men were going to pay homage to the newly born Jesus, King Herod found out and became jealous and enraged. He ultimately ordered those infant males under the age of 2 be slaughtered. As such, they are recognized by many as the first Catholic martyrs.
   The Church of the Holy Innocents started a tradition about 30 years ago to commemorate the feast which falls on December 28 with a Mass followed by the rosary vigil. I personally heard about the feast about 5 years ago. The date of December 28th happens to be the date of my grandmother’s (on my mother’s side) birthday; she would have been 121 years old this year and I figured it would be a good way of remembering her.
    This year the weather forecast called for rain. However, that did not put a damper on the event. The church was filled with participants; there were many lay people as well as nuns and clergy. There was a constant drizzle throughout the procession led by Bishop Peter Byrne of the New York Archdiocese. The procession passed many New York City landmarks including Bryant Park, the main branch of the New York Public Library, the Chrysler Building and the Daily News Building before reaching Second Avenue and 42nd Street.
    The New York City Police Department provided a well-coordinated escort throughout the procession which allowed the participants to walk unimpeded. Unlike the monthly prayer vigil at St Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Downtown Manhattan, which is met by misguided abortion advocates who attempt to drown out the peaceful prayers, the procession seemed to offer a peaceful reminder of the season to the passersby (most appeared to be tourists enjoying the City on this Saturday morning) and there were no issues.
   On the return trip, after the rosary was concluded, the procession broke out singing Christmas carols. You could see and hear many of the tourists singing along as the procession made its way back to the church. At the church the occasion was concluded with the adoration of the Eucharist and was followed by a reception in the church basement. For those readers who have never participated in the event I recommend that you put it on your calendar for 2025.

Pro-Life Champion: The Untold Story of Monsignor Philip J. Reilly and His Helpers of God's Precious Infants, by Frederick W. Marks

12/23/2024

Editor's Note: This article is reprinted from a May 18, 2021 Respect Life Blog posting in honor of Msgr. Philip J. Reilly, who died on November 30, 2024. The author, Frank Drollinger, was a faithful member of the Joint Parish Respect Life Committee. He passed away on December 2, 2024.

By Frank Drollinger

Stories, stories, stories. This is a book full of moving and delightful anecdotes as well as sober and moving thought.

If you will enter its world, you will learn new things. Dr. Marks gives here a picture of an extraordinary effort in the current culture of life. Like all good efforts, those in this book can seem to be beggars to those not open to truth, goodness and beauty—not their imitations—which are available free of charge.

The book’s many stories can draw you in. They come with keen insights into our daily life.

You will want to at least take a look at several things in the book that are worth the price paid of the time you spend reading them. I’m thinking first of all—at least for myself—of the help of Saint Anthony in getting Monsignor’s new idea for pro-life activity started (page 75)—an idea that would quite literally spread across the globe. Many of us have Saint Anthony stories. This one ranks right up there.

We are used to the false narratives and examples and conclusions put out by the pro-choice movement and its fellow travelers in media and government. We seldom see, in one place, the great refutations this book presents. We find here an encouragement and intelligence that can affect our own witness both in the movement and in daily life. Indeed, we will find things that we will want to add to our own daily conversations with family, friends and acquaintances.

A good place to see all of this is the chapter, “Marks of a Teacher” (pages 89-93). Marks (the author) tells us that “Cardinal Schönborn had it right when he told Bishop Daily that the Helpers “changed the face of Austria.”” And Marks adds, “Austria owes much of the change to a quality that I shall call “teacherliness,” for lack of a better word. It is one part communications skill, one part mastery of subject matter, and a third part appreciating the good qualities of one’s students. Monsignor qualifies on all counts.”

Monsignor gives us a compelling overview of how abortion took hold in the first place. The book also gives us a look at what Monsignor is trying to do to improve the quality of homilies. In his program, called “We Want To Teach, We Want To Be Taught,” he wants to replace the scripture review approach with a catechetical method.

The pro-choice movement is a compound of falsehoods, and it introduces these into its arguments, always substituting a different lie for the one that is being exposed. The ground keeps shifting. A good teacher—Monsignor Reilly—can keep the matter on track.

The book is, I think, a conscience-forming event. If you are an active pro-life person, I think this will encourage and improve what you do. And even if you have been a regular with Monsignor at vigils, I think you will find it a new benefit to have so much of Monsignor’s history in one place and in a continuous, memorable presentation. Whether you are a bishop or a beggar, I believe you will find yourself somewhere in the story.

This is a book we can go back to:

We can get a look at some of the history of New York that we may never have heard.
We learn who make the best shock troops in the movement.
The number of “turnarounds” at an abortion clinic is directly proportional to the number of persons in the praying group.
The three things that a woman will never learn from an abortionist.
Monsignor Reilly, who at one time was principal of Cathedral High School, became an unwelcome person there, because of the strong pro-life message he continually advanced.
How Monsignor was able to invigorate the pro-life movement after Operation Rescue began to run down.
Bishop Daily’s help in separating, as greatly more important, the pro-life movement from other issues, such as was being done by some of the clergy.
How Monsignor was able to successfully prevent the New York City Council in its attempts to deprive The Helpers of God’s Precious Infants of its First Amendment Rights.

As you read, you begin to see that because of the approach Monsignor takes, the stories frequently lead to what J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of The Lord of the Rings, called eucatastrophe—“the sudden happy turn in a story which pierces you with a joy that brings tears…”

For myself, this is something that can occur at a vigil in the presence of evil at an abortion clinic— the silent and powerful way goodness can seep into your soul—and into the souls of your fellow pray-ers and counselors. I think that if you would experience the wellsprings of hope, you may find them at Calvary, which is what Monsignor calls the abortion clinic.

The Second "Gentleman"?

8/26/2024

By Kevin Moore

Recently I noticed a news item concerning the “Second Gentleman”, Douglas Emhoff, the husband of current Vice President and Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris. The item mentioned that Ms. Harris is Mr. Emhoff’s second wife. The British newspaper, The Daily Mail, reported that there was a bit more to the story than two people falling out of love.

Mr. Emhoff was first married to one Kerstin Mackin Emhoff, a Hollywood movie producer. The couple married in 1992 and had two children together. Everything was fine until Mr. Emhoff had an affair with one of his children’s schoolteachers. The affair led to the conception of Mr. Emhoff’s third child, although neither party wanted this child. So, as so often happens, the schoolteacher aborted her child, with Mr. Emhoff’s consent. This turn of events became known to the first Mrs. Emhoff, and she initiated divorce proceedings. The Emhoffs were divorced in 2008 after 16 years of marriage. After some years Mr. Emhoff met and later wed Ms. Harris.

If a British newspaper had not unearthed this story, it would likely never been known. No American news publication published this story until after it was acknowledged by Mr. Emhoff. I am quite sure that the American news media wanted this story buried. Why bring up sad stories from the past that are hardly relevant to today’s pressing issues?

I wonder if this is the way a “gentleman” should act. Having an affair with your child’s teacher is bad enough, but then to destroy the child that the affair produced is callous to the extreme. A true gentleman would had admitted his mistake to his wife and begged for forgiveness. He would have supported his illegitimate child and his mother and sought to help them in any way he could.

Unfortunately in today’s world Mr. Emhoff’s actions are the norm and very few think there is anything wrong with them. It was just “one of those things” that happen in life. There is zero consideration for the unborn child. It is no wonder that Ms. Harris is an extremely vocal supporter of abortion on demand and became the first Vice President to visit an abortion facility.

Helpers Witness a Miracle on Queens Boulevard

8/2/2024

By Madeleine Santangelo-Palumbo

Early Saturday morning a Hispanic couple was sent by Jamaica Hospital to the abortion facility, All Women's Health Pavilion, located on Queens Boulevard. The pregnant mother was given a test that failed to show a fetal heartbeat. Members of the Helpers of God's Precious Infants, which was founded by Msgr. Philip J. Reilly, were able to talk to the couple with the help of Fr. Robert Czok, who speaks Spanish.

We were able to give the couple helpful information and arranged a quick meeting with them and the Sisters of Life. A few days later we all were informed that the baby's heartbeat was heard and the baby was healthy. I was able to give the couple information for them to go to The Bridge to Life in College Point to get supplies for their 3-year-old.

God bless all the active pro-lifers who pray and witness each week outside abortion facilities. They aren't afraid to try to protect the unborn babies and their parents. It is very hard.

The Democratic Party is the Party of Abortion

7/14/2024

By Patricia Tabone

    The Democratic Party IS the Party of Abortion. The party platform enthusiastically and consistently supports abortion. They really want unlimited abortion. A summary of the Democratic Party’s position on abortion can be found on the NRLC website, The Democratic Party and Its Support for Unlimited Abortion.

    Total contributions for the year 2021-2022 from Planned Parenthood PAC to federal candidates was $676,765; 100% was donated to Democrats and 0% to Republicans. See: Planned Parenthood PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates.

    Planned Parenthood is the organization that performs the most abortions throughout the world. Planned Parenthood does more than abort, it provides transgender surgeries and hides them under “Other Procedures.” The organization is proud to contribute huge amounts of money to pro-choice politicians who vote accordingly.

    Is anyone at Planned Parenthood ashamed of making money from the sorrows of poor women? Many suffer with sorrow and guilt for the rest of their lives. I know of one woman who got off the operating table in an abortion clinic when she realized she was going to allow a “doctor” to kill her own unborn baby.

    The founder of Planned Parenthood, the eugenicist, Margaret Sanger, was a proponent of forced eugenics, segregation, abortion, birth control, and sexual immorality. See some of Sanger’s quotes below.

“The most successful educational approach to the Negro is through a religious appeal. We don’t want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population. and the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members.”
“Birth control must lead ultimately to a cleaner race.”
“Eugenics is . . . the most adequate and thorough avenue to the solution of racial, political, and social problems.”
“Eugenic sterilization is an urgent need . . . . We must prevent multiplication of this . . . bad stock.”
“The most merciful thing that a large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it.”

From: 21 Quotes by Margaret Sanger.

    Planned Parenthood Federation is designated a 501(c)(3) organization. Category: Health - General and Rehabilitative / Family Planning Centers. Donations to this organization are tax deductible.

    Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood Federation, received a salary of $583,798 in 2023 She lives in New York City, is married to Robert Johnson, the president of the institute for New Economic Thinking, and they have two daughters.

    Please do your own research. Ask someone who does not believe in the sanctity of human life, you will find that the person is enrolled as a Democrat. That person will give you many reasons why they “could never vote for a Republican.” Remember . . . the Democrats supported slavery, too.

The Candidates for President of the United States

7/14/2024

Editor's note: This article was submitted before the tragic events of July 13, with the shooting of former President Donald Trump.

By Patricia Tabone

It is no wonder the recent presidential debate got off to a flying start on the issue of abortion because the election of the next president of the U.S. is about abortion, the killing of the innocent unborn. Everyone who votes should check the facts about the two candidates on this most important subject. It is a matter of life or death.

President Biden’s record leaves no doubt that he is a man who believes in unlimited abortion.

Biden pledged to sign the “Women’s Health Protection Act,” a bill that would legalize unlimited abortion until birth in federal law. It would eliminate virtually all existing protections for unborn children and their mothers on the federal and state levels including parental involvement laws.
Biden said, “I’ll sign a law codifying Roe . . . ,” October 18, 2022.
Biden supports the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortions, and has called for the elimination of the Hyde Amendment, which prevents federal funds from being used to pay for abortions in many federal programs.
Biden chose Kamala Harris to be his VP. “I will always fight for a woman’s right to make a decision about her own body . . . ,” Kamala Harris, October 7, 2020. Harris visited an abortion clinic, an extraordinary visit meant to signal the importance the Biden campaign is placing on reproductive rights in the 2024 presidential race (reported on March 14, 2024).
President Biden, during the debate, tried to minimize the effects of Roe v. Wade. How do you minimize the death of 65 million unborn babies?

The Biden administration has persecuted pro-lifers, including pro-life charities, that support pregnant mothers in need. Indeed, they have been firebombed, attacked and terrorized.
President Trump, himself, has been attacked by the Biden Administration. No other past president of the United States was put on trial, pursued, and accused and bullied. This is to prevent his reelection.
Fr. Fidelis Moscinski, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal, was incarcerated for six months for blocking the entrance to an abortion clinic.
A group of nine pro-lifers were arrested and eight were incarcerated; and a woman of 75 years of age who has a serious medical condition was put under house arrest. The nine participated in a rescue on October 22, 2020, at the Washington Surgi-Center where abortionist Cesare Santangelo kills pre-born children through the 9th month of gestation. Those who did not accept any kind of offer were kept in prison until May of 2023 awaiting trial. What happened to the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing a speedy trial? Like Fr. Moscinski, they blocked the entrance to an abortion mill, but why were they not just charged with FACE as Fr. Moscinski was? They face an 11 year prison sentence and a hefty fine! This was unprecedented. More on this in a future article.
Why has Biden or his attorney general not investigated the FBI for entering the homes of law-abiding people in the middle of the night? What was to be gained by arresting them in front of their children? These people were not criminals.

We do not hear much about these extraordinary persecutions in the United States of America! The few I mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg.

President Trump’s record leaves no doubt that he is a man who wants to limit abortion.

Trump is blamed by progressives and pro-aborts for his part in nominating the Supreme Court justices who have helped make legal abortion illegal through the Dobbs v. Jackson decision. Most pro-lifers applaud his pro-life actions because the lives of innocent unborn children continue to be saved. Some put the number at 89,000 lives saved this far. A Forbes article mentions 32,000, “About 32,000 More Babies Being Born Annually In U.S. Since Roe V. Wade Overturned, New Analysis Suggests” (November 22, 2023).
Trump commended the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson which overturned Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992).
At least 65 million innocent unborn babies’ lives were violently ended. In truth all living people have suffered because the atmosphere in the U.S. has changed. This country’s founders were God-fearing men. Abortion may be legal in some countries, but it can never be morally unobjectionable. According to Dobbs v. Jackson, the Constitution of the United States does not confer a right to abortion, and the states have the power to regulate any aspect of abortion not protected by federal statutory law as they did before Roe. Many pro-lifers want a federal ban to make abortion illegal in the U.S., but we know we succeed one step at a time.
Trump is given credit by some and hated by others because, while he was the president, he nominated Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh who concurred with Justice Samuel A. Alito, the author of the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, who was nominated by President George W. Bush. Remember him? Bush was also hated by those who call themselves pro-choice.
Trump also nominated Justice Neil M. Gorsuch and Justice Amy Coney Barrett who voted with the majority in the Dobbs decision that supports life. The three justices who were nominated by Democrats wrote the dissent supporting abortion.
Trump has been attacked because he wants some exceptions. He said that a woman who has been a victim of incest or rape should be able to have an abortion as well as a woman who is in danger of losing her life. This is vastly different from Biden’s support for unlimited abortion.
Trump ran as a pro-lifer in 2016 when it was reported that most Americans identified as pro-choice. Candidate Trump now says he will leave the issue to the states, perhaps to avoid Biden’s rallying voters around abortion rights.
Trump has been accused of not being pro-life when he was younger. How I wish that more people would change their stance. Remember, too, that in the days of old Trump was not in a position to affect the law of the land.
The status quo after the Dobbs decision is better than the status quo before it, to say nothing of the lives that have already been saved!

Debate Post-Mortem on Abortion

7/2/2024

By Gerald Yeung

A considerable amount of time was spent on the topic of abortion (aka feticide) by Presidents Biden and Trump during the CNN Presidential Debate on June 27, 2024.  From the moment the sparks started flying, many commenters have “fact checked” what was said and alleged regarding abortion.  In this brief article, I will add my personal take and evaluate whether and to what extent abortion policy differs between the two candidates.

The Abortion Pill

Early on, Trump revealed his position on chemical abortions, an announcement that he had teased for weeks prior to the debate.  He said that "the Supreme Court just approved the abortion pill,” that he agreed with the decision and would not block abortion medication.  This statement was disappointing but not surprising, given Trump’s recent role in restoring first trimester abortion in Arizona and his past criticism of the Heartbeat Protection Act in Florida.  Abortion medication is approved for use by the FDA through ten weeks of gestation, and now accounts for the majority of abortions in the US.

Returning Abortion to the States

Trump took credit for the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, saying that “everybody, without exception,” wanted to return the issue to the states. If that were true, why has there been so much contention over Roe v. Wade in the first instance?  Yes it is true that even the late liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has offered a scathing critique of Roe.  However, Trump's assertion that everyone wanted its demise is seriously disconnected from reality, and Biden called him out on it.

It is debatable whether the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade actually did return the issue of abortion to the states.  Wrote Justice Samuel Alito in the majority opinion, “It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.” This does not preclude representatives elected to the fed-eral government.

After all, a fundamental human right, like freedom from slavery, should be respected in all states, not just some.  As Biden put it, "The idea that states are able to do this is a little like saying, we’re going to turn civil rights back to the states, let each state have a different rule.”  But to be fair, there are potentially serious impediments to enacting abortion legislation at the federal level.  Any future federal abortion law would certainly face substantial scrutiny under the Tenth Amendment, which delegates certain enumerated powers to the federal government and leaves the rest to the states.

There are some who point to pre-emption of state law by the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees that no person shall be deprived of life without due process of law, nor denied equal protection under the law.  However, it is far from clear whether the Supreme Court will recognize the personhood of the unborn, and thus application of the Fourteenth Amendment, any time soon.  Indeed, shortly after Roe v. Wade was overturned, the Supreme Court declined to hear a case out of Rhode Island that was designed to evoke a ruling on the issue of personhood.

Nevertheless, subsequent commentary from some of the Justices during oral arguments on abortion-related cases suggests that they may be positioning themselves to eventually take up personhood.  Further, recent rulings from State Supreme Courts like Alabama’s may provide anti-abortion advocates the ammunition to force the issue at the US Supreme Court.

With all the above being said, Trump appears to have washed his hands of advocating for life protections at the federal level in a potential second term by returning to the issue to the states.

Exceptions

Trump reiterated his support of the “exceptions" - rape, incest, and life of the mother.  From a pro-life perspective, this is deeply problematic.  As a matter of principle, there are no exceptions to the unborn child’s right to life. The innocent child conceived in rape or incest is not the one who should be punished.  Abortion is never medically necessary to save the life of the mother.  Preterm deliveries and treatment of medical conditions like ectopic pregnancies, while they may result in the loss of the child, are not abortions.

A human life, no matter how short, should be cherished as a gift.  As a practical matter, a pro-life law that has exceptions is better than no law at all.  However, Trump embraces the exceptions up front, and that is morally unacceptable.

Late-Term Abortion

Despite Biden’s efforts to deny it, Trump rightly pointed out that the Democrats support late-term abortion.  Biden and the Democrats support Roe v. Wade, whose broad health exception, confirmed in Doe v. Bolton, allowed abortion up until the moment of birth for virtually any reason.

Trump also mentioned Virginia Governor Northam’s dismissal of concerns about babies born alive after attempted abortions.  Indeed, Democrats have consistently opposed the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, despite ample evidence of babies born alive being killed or left to die.

Conclusion

Biden supports abortion, for virtually any reason, up until the moment of birth.  His Party’s obsession with abortion on demand prevents him from supporting even basic protections for infants who survive failed abortion attempts.

Trump would allow some restrictions on abortion, but they would only save a small percentage of babies from being killed before birth.

Both candidates fully support the morally problematic IVF procedure, which was not mentioned at all during the debate.

Despite rhetoric on both sides that signals stark policy differences on abortion, the truth is that there is not much practical daylight between Trump and Biden on this fundamental issue.

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Gerald Yeung is the former chairman of Westchester-Putnam Right to Life Political Action Committee. Reprinted with permission.

Bridge to Life Receives Sanctity of Life Award

3/30/2024

On March 3, 20204, Bridge to Life received the Sanctity of Life Award from the Queens Village Republican Club at their annual Lincoln Dinner.

By Catherine Donohoe

Good afternoon and thank you for the bestowing the Sanctity of Life award on the Bridge To Life women’s support center. My name is Catherine Donohoe and I am Bridge’s board president. With me is our vice president, Julia Chitos, our treasurer, Don Cavanaugh, and a faithful volunteer and sidewalk counsler, Madeleine Santangelo Palumbo.

“I have come to serve and not to be served.” The Bridge To Life lives this message each and every day.

We opened our doors over 32 years ago in a modest building over the half-price card store on Bell Boulevard. We are the dream of our founder, Eleanor Ruder, may she rest in peace, who was a single mom. In her retirement, she started Bridge. (Please see the rest of her story in this year‘s journal).

Bridge has flourished over our 32 years. Most recently we moved from a 2,500 square-foot building in Flushing to an 8,000 square-foot, four level building. We redesigned the 100 year old convent next-door to Saint Fidelis Church in College Point. The design and work were primarily done by a past member of Queens Village Republican Club's Board of Directors, Delvis Estrada. Bridge owes a debt of gratitude to both Delvis and his family for their generosity and talent.

Our largest obstacle today is the culture we live in; the culture we call a "culture of death," a throwaway culture. Bridge is a safe haven for young women. We assist them in making life affirming choices They find hope, compassion and hospitality behind our red door.

We continue to be the largest distributor of material assistance in the Tri-State area. This past week alone we assisted 50 women and their families. We provided them with whatever was needed for themselves and their families.   We continue to provide them with free referrals for safe and affordable housing, affordable daycare, educational opportunities, food insecurities, parenting classes, free sonograms and free prenatal care. This is all done at no cost to them.

We are indebted to the Republican Party because we stand behind their platform of protecting human life from conception to natural death.

With the few minutes I have left, I just want to tell you a quick story. I know people remember stories.

In the bustling city of New York a young woman faced the daunting challenges of an unplanned pregnancy. Finding herself alone and frightened, a friend stepped forward to offer her help and a place to rest. In her small living room, a simple blowup mattress became a haven, a safe place to sleep. This friend, also a mother and client of The Bridge To Life, understood the difficulties, but also celebrated the beauty of motherhood.   Aware of the empathy and care offered by Bridge where judgment finds no place, she hoped, and knew that her friend's fears would be replaced by strength. Confusion would give way to clarity.

  Recognizing the gravity of the decision her friend faced, she spoke about Bridge, the house with the red door. You’re not alone once you cross the red door. Enter, and let the blessings come to you. You have reached the safest place, full of support for you and your baby. They were warmly welcomed, embraced by the men and women from the moment the door opened. Beyond the red door, the young lady found not just listeners, but compassionate hearts, and an environment so magical that fear transformed into hope.

Baby Zoe was born and we celebrated the precious gift of motherhood. This young woman once frightened and confused, now stands as a testament to the transformative power of love support, and the open doors of Bridge.

Please visit our website to see how you can assist us to be a bridge to life to our moms.

Our gala is coming up in May. Please consider attending or sponsoring us. There are some flyers on the tables.

   Thank you.

Great Woman Warrior for the Pro-Life Movement

3/19/2024

By Madeleine Santangelo Palumbo

Dr. Florence C. Maloney made me proud to be part of a visible force in the ongoing debate that still surrounds the abortion issue. Although I was an educator for over 44 years I was inspired, motivated and invigorated by being a member of the Joint Parish Respect Life Committee, founded by Florence.. She was truly a great woman warrior for the Pro-Life Movement and a true Catholic who practiced real conservative values. Florence was most generous in so many ways: helping some members and she always provided coffee and goodies at our monthly meetings.

   Because of Florence’s leadership I established the Celebrate Life Club at Bishop Kearney High School in Brooklyn. We participated in the March for Life in Washington, D. C. for years. Because of her we entered the nationwide Culture of Life Speech & Art Contest. With her help and support we won first, second and third prize awards. These young women, many of color, were able to be a voice for the unborn and other end of life issues. They experienced signing petitions against the Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection (RHAPP) bill and the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), and other proposed legislation. Florence managed to have my students participate in 2009 in the “Youth and the Future of the Pro-Life Movement” conference held at Nassau Community College.

    Each month Florence notified and distributed pro-life information to every committee member. She created the Pro-Life Speakers Series. Pro-life politicians and candidates were encouraged to attend our conference programs and prayer vigils. We held a debate with Michael Conigliaro and Joseph Addabbo, Jr., two Catholics who were running for office.

    Florence appointed me to the Board of the New York State Right to Life Committee based in Albany. She had been on the same board for many years.

   Florence supported, financially and otherwise, The Bridge to Life, a non-profit organization that helps and supports women and their children who are in need. Pamela Menera is on the board of Bridge to Life and she and I volunteer there every Wednesday.

    Florence established the quarterly publication, Respect Life News, which has been replaced by the email newsletter, Respect Life News, thanks to our editor, Boris Musich. Our monthly committee meetings are now being run by our current chairman, Thomas Murawski.

    Florence helped me to arrange to have Msgr. Philip Reilly to be a guest speaker at my high school. He is the founder of the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants. I’m still an active member who prays and tries to counsel in front of an abortion facility in Queens, together with some other pro-life warriors. There are many members of the Helpers all over the world. Kevin and Susan Moore now represent their uncle, Msgr. Reilly, and they are carrying out his great work and mission.

    Florence and Msgr. Reilly had the insight to create the program, Rachel’s Helpers -- Forgiven and Set Free, which supports post-aborted women through Bible study, prayer, reflection and guided discussions. It has helped many women to be free from the bondage of guilt and grief that follows an abortion. These courageous women have chosen to face the hurts of their past. I have been one of the facilitators of this outreach program together with Judy Mooney, Pamela Menera and Julia Chitos. Confidentiality and trust are the goods which enable these women to begin their journey toward healing of mind and spirit.

    May all of Florence’s friends and relatives be blessed to have known this pioneer, educator, and Catholic and to know how much she was respected and loved. May she rest in Heaven!

Editor's Note: Dr. Florence C. Maloney died on January 28, 2024 . See the obituary.

March for Life 2024: The Struggle Continues

2/7/2024

Bishop John Barres, at center, with fellow marchers.

By Thomas Murawski

For over twenty years now I have been attending the annual March for Life held in Washington, DC in January to commemorate and protest the Supreme Court decision rendered in 1973 for Roe v. Wade legalizing abortion in the USA. I have missed a couple of the Marches in that time: in 2021 the MFL was cancelled due to the pandemic and one year a blizzard resulted in local buses being cancelled.

    Over the years I have attended the event with many different groups/buses leaving from Queens or Brooklyn. I have attended with St. Stan’s of Maspeth, St Joseph’s of Astoria, St. Sebastian’s, Holy Family, and the last 2 years with the bus from the Brooklyn Diocesan office. After last year’s experience, when the bus left extremely late which resulted in me missing the rally, I sought to find a bus leaving at an early, reliable time. I was informed of a bus sponsored by Notre Dame Church in New Hyde Park, scheduled to leave at 5:00 AM with a 4:30 Mass before leaving. The night before the MFL I received a call from the bus captain confirming my and my son’s attendance, apparently with the upcoming forecast for snow some people had backed out.

    The bus left on time and was about half full. Among the attendees were Rev. Stephan Rooney of NDC and a seminarian from the Rockville Centre Diocese. We arrived early in Washington, DC and had pictures taken with Bishop John Barres of that diocese. While it was snowing, there was not much of an accumulation and spirits were high. When I first started attending the March, I thought that the original organizer Nellie Gray did a great job. Nellie stepped down over 10 years ago and turned it over to Jeanne Mancini. Jeanne not only upheld the spirit of the MFL, but she has also implemented improvements to the rally and the March.

    Every year now there is a theme; this year’s was “Pro-Life: With Every Women, for Every Child.” The rally included many speakers consistent with this theme. There were speeches from people who run Emergency Pregnancy Centers (EPCs), women who benefitted from them, and people who owe their lives to EPCs. Jeanne indicated that nationwide private donations account for approximately $358 million a year for EPCs. While this seems like a lot of money to most people, I know that our politicians in New York provide over $100 million a year of our taxpayer money in trying to make New York the national destination for abortions -- sad and evil. She also indicated that while the MFL in Washington, DC goes on, state marches are growing and that’s good news for the Pro-Life movement. There were eight state marches held in 2023 and sixteen are scheduled for 2024. While New Jersey will have a state march, New York is not as fortunate.

    As usual, the MFL continues to draw many young people, which is promising for the Pro-Life movement. My son spoke with some students from Liberty University who stood out with their bright red hats. He was informed that LU had approximately 1,000 students in attendance.

   Among the many speakers at the rally were Ben Watson, a former NFL tight end with the Patriots and the Ravens, who proudly proclaims his Pro-Life position and support. Newly elected Speaker of the House Mike Johnson spoke at the event and shared the fact that he was the result of an “unplanned pregnancy.” The Speaker also brought some good news, the house had just passed two pieces of legislation: one would provide support for students who become pregnant and the other would put an end to President Biden’s attempt to defund Emergency Pregnancy Centers. The sad part of this good news is that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York will probably let both pieces of legislation die by not acting on them.

    Another special guest speaker was Jim Harbaugh, a former NFL football player and football coach at the college and professional level whose University of Michigan squad had recently won the college national championship. Personally, I was shocked at his appearance. I did not know that he had Pro-Life values. I guess this subject was never brought up in the many years that he spent coaching in California for University of San Diego, Stanford University and the San Francisco 49ers.

    Upon completion of the rally the March started on time. The March route was altered last year to include marching in front of the US Capitol. After passing the front of the Capitol, marchers pass the Cannon House Office Building across the street from the Capitol. At the Cannon Building many staffers and, I assume, Congressmen were waiving and cheering on the balconies as we passed by in show of support for the cause. Along the March I was interviewed by a journalist from Texas who inquired as to why I was attending, and a host of other questions. As usual the March ended in front of the Supreme Court where counter demonstrators were almost nonexistent. Our bus was scheduled to meet us and leave from St Joseph’s Catholic Church on the Hill. As in other years the local Catholic churches offered refreshments and opened their doors to all.

    Many people ask me why I continue to attend the MFL since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in its June 2022 decision. I emphatically tell them that we are up against an evil and determined group of people who have no respect for human life whatsoever. The fact that they would advocate the killing of innocent, defenseless human beings tells the whole story. We must not let our guards down. In fact in New York State and City there is much work to be done. We must change the hearts and minds of those who are in the dark.

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Thomas Murawski is the chairman of the Joint Parish Respect Life Committee.

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.