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Bridge to Life Receives Sanctity of Life Award

3/30/2024

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​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.
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Great Woman Warrior for the Pro-Life Movement

3/19/2024

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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. 
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March for Life 2024: The Struggle Continues

2/7/2024

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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.
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    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.
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True Pro-Life Mission

9/19/2023

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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.

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Statement of Fr. Fidelis Moscinski, CFR

7/8/2023

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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
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Queen of the Angels, Queen of May

6/2/2023

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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.
 
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Walk Like A Cyrenian

3/30/2023

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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. 
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    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. 
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Who Will Speak for the Unborn?

2/17/2023

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​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.
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    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.
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March for Life 2023 in Washington, DC

2/2/2023

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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.
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Catholic Fem Initiative

2/1/2023

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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 [email protected] 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.
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    Josephine Rose
    Madeleine Santangelo     Palumbo
    ​Michael Shoule
    ​Deborah Sucich
    ​Patricia Tabone

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