www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Pro-life rallies

We frequently participate in Pro-Life events. We've rallied in downtown Chicago and have protested near Abortion palaces. We've held signs. I have personally attended rallies even outside our area. I think this is a form of evangelization.

What has your experiences been in this area?

Having acquired a minor criminal history on account of my participation in such events I am qualified to speak to your question.

They most certainly can be forms of evangelization. They can also be fora on which people show off or cut di-does or get the attention they crave. It ain't necessarily always about the babies, or the mothers or even Jesus. The sticking point is, however, that the intended target audience seldom perceives it as proclamation of good news but rather as aggravating and downright infuriating. If you choose to get involved in this kinda stuff be prepared to have your car vandalised, or a brick or human excrement thrown at you from a passing car. Or have the local police called on you.

I used to get involved in pro-life, Operation Rescue rallies and they'd always have an unintentional ecumenical aspect. We Catholics found ourselves side-to-side with the fundoids and the anti-Catholic evangelical Protestants. We'd pray the rosary or the Divine mercy chaplet and they'd sing hymns from their traditions; and sometimes their clergy would attempt to exorcise an abortuary. Which always gave me the heebie-jeebies.

Once, during an organizational meeting for the next Operation Rescue "strike", one of the fundoid ministers asked the Catholic organizer if it couldn't be arranged that the Catholics abstain from praying the rosary during the event, as this practice offended the sensibilities of the fundies and the evangelicals.

To which the Catholic man replied, "I see your point. Our praying the rosary makes you folks feel the same way we Catholics feel when you interrogate us about "getting saved" or if we've "accepted Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour."

That observation put the kabosh on THAT.

On another occasion, when an Operation Rescue rally was held at a local RC parish, yours truly offered to show the same evangelical minister the interior of the church. He accepted the invitation so I escorted him into the church and as he gazed (no doubt in horror) at the large crucifix and the devotional statuary with vigil lamps burning in front of them, I told him, "This is what they're talkin' about when they sing that song about "Gimme That Old-Time Religion."

I don't think he got it, but who knows? Maybe on down the line he'll remember that and it'll get him to thinkin'.

What also struck me was the complete absence of any identifiable Orthodox Christians at such events. However, today they are more visible and present, thanks be to God.

"This is what they're talkin' about when they sing that song about "Gimme That Old-Time Religion."

Love it!!!!

John 9:49-50 - John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us." But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”

Romans 15:7 - Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

I commend your pro-life work and stand with you.

I reject your mistreatment of brothers in Christ, and even your references to them. Though they do not possess the fullness of the Gospel, they are still one with us. Treat each as if he was Christ Himself. That wins more hearts then making fun of them.

I believe that getting involved with these events does more for those involved than for the hoped for audience. Surely, some babies are saved and perhaps the hard-hearted government will change. But giving people a way to express the truth builds their faith. At least that is how I see it.

That is how I have come to view these events. We attend the West Coast Walk for Life every year. It is beautiful and edifying to see the numbers of families and young people involved and makes us feel less isolated. I like to think that it shows a personal face to the world, but unfortunately only to the few tourists in San Francisco who are there to see it. Last year, the walk got almost no press coverage. It reinvigorates us and helps protect against apathy. I think it might also help the silent, non-activist person who simply doesn't think abortion is a good thing, but has started to view him or herself as extremist because that's the way pro-lifers have been painted.

Elizabeth

Well, I reckon we're even. I reject your fancy that I mistreated any of those Protestants in the manner I wrote of my interactions with them.

Pax tecum. Let's blow it off and move on.

I've chaired or was heavily involved in a dozen life chains, about 20 Marches and Masses for Life, student essays, diaper drives, been an officer of a local prolife chapter and Archeparchial Pro-Life coordinator.

When I started about 25 years ago the youth weren't much interested...even worse were the apathetic baby boomers. Pro-life people were considered threats, crazy and lawbreakers. We've come a long way. They young people have heard our messages....they realize that many of their generations never got a chance for even their first breath. The Jack Kevorkians of the country have lost their influence. A focus is being given to the 35 million women who have had abortions and the mental and physical damage with has been inflicted by the "benefits" of abortion.

The pro-abortion baby boomers are pre-occupied by keeping their houses and money and aren't politically active, except for the pro-abortion feminists and their homosexual allies.

There is a long way to go, but the pro-life efforts ARE influencing people in spite of the unfavorable media coverage.

May God bless the pro-lifers and may His merciful love envelope those who have not yet recovered the respect for human life from the womb to the tomb.

Referring to a brother in Christ as a "fundoid minister" is indeed uncharitable. It's sad that you are unable to see that name calling is wrong. It's even sadder that you would equate someone else's pointing out your mistake as equal to your mistake. When you do such things you cheapen the witness of the good things you have done.

Esu kaltas. My bad.
Whatever.

Like I said (I'm beginning to sound like a trained parrot here): Pax tecum. Let's blow it off and move on.

Your "whatever" speaks loudly that you simply don't care about your offensive treatment towards others. Perhaps you need to find a forum that welcomes such speech?

Regarding the issue of Pro-life rallies: I'm of the opinion from visiting several BC Churches in preparation of our retirement move that most seem afraid to get involved in anything outside their parishes and hence are shrinking. Involvement in pro-life work is just one way to get involved. It seems to be the most important issue but certainly not the only one. Here's my theory, to the degree that we become ever more insular is to the degree that we shrivel up and die. Public efforts don't always bear enormous fruit but without them we have no future.

I agree, "walk the talk."

I've attended the last two Freedom of Religion rallies. While I agree that Freedom of Religion is not the ultimate goal for any God fearing person it is about the best we can hope for in a secular society. In these rallies the one freedom we are demanding is the freedom not to pay for contraceptives and abortions through Obamacare so in a way it is a pro-life movement.

I'm reflecting on this because of what Sil mentioned about the Fundamentalists protest of the use of the rosary. I think we should all be using either the Chotki or the Rosary all of the time. I wish I were more faithful in my use of the chotki. Pray for me in that regard. We should point out to our Fundamentalist Protestant friends that both the Chotki and the Rosary have been around much longer than the WWJD beads that many protestants wear and for that matter both have been prayed much longer than have carried Bibles been used. We should use the chotki and the rosary for teaching moments.

You should have seen the giant rosaries at least 7 stories tall that St. John Cantius brought to the Chicago rallies. Your hearts would have been glad. It should also be noted that St. John Cantius is growing and they are as public a Church as any could ask for.

Many Orthodox don't believe abortion is an issue they should concern themselves with. It is something that happens, "in the bedroom." (Yes, I have heard an Orthodox priest say this) One of the many reasons why I am not Orthodox.

BTW, I have tried for years to get the local Coptic Church to at the very least hold a prayer service in their Church for the unborn. Never have gotten even a response!

A patriarch who ‘generally speaking, respects human life’ [aoiusa.org]