Stand Up For Religious Freedom Rally

We arrived early to the Rally

Yesterday, March 23, Dave and I packed up the grandsons and headed downtown to participate in the Stand Up For Religious Freedom Rally.  We arrived early to the Rally and were given a sign to hold and we stood and watched as people continued to gather, small groups, individuals, larger groups, I would say there were at least five hundred people present on a cool, rainy, Friday afternoon, however our local news channel stated that dozens showed up (a sort of implication that it was poorly attended??). At noon the rally officially started with prayer, followed by many speakers, all gave good, inspiring speeches about the protection of our religious freedom.  Some speakers were local elected officials, others were priests, a pastor from a baptist church, some came from Concordia Theological Seminary, and a Lutheran minister.  All speakers expressed concern that religious freedom is being attacked, that it will be limited to only inside the church on Sunday morning and that public expression of religion will be suppressed, maybe ultimately banned. 

 This not only affects Christians, but all faith traditions, and it is something that we should all be concerned about.  It was a peaceful gathering, starting and ending with prayer, I was glad to have had the opportunity to attend.  I am sure we have not heard the end of this and I look forward to participating in future events.  If you have not had an opportunity to sign an online petition against the HHS Mandate, you can do so here, https://www.stophhs.com/sign-the-petition/
Here is a link to read more about the Stand Up For Religious Freedom Rallies that took place yesterday in over 140 cities! http://standupforreligiousfreedom.com/

The following is quoted from a flyer promoting the rally:

On March 23, thousands of faithful citizens will gather in prayer and public witness in cities and towns all across the United States to oppose the HHS Mandate.



What is the HHS Mandate?
In January, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a mandate requiring all employer health plans to include free contraceptives, sterilizations and abortion-inducing drugs, regardless of any moral or religious objections. Catholic universities and hospitals will be forced by the federal government to provide services that directly contradict Church teaching.
The HHS Mandate is an unprecedented assault on religious freedom and must be opposed!
The Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom is a joint project of the Pro-Life Action League and Citizens for a Pro-Life Society.

HORRIFIC ARTICLE

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9113394/Killing-babies-no-different-from-abortion-experts-say.html

I was sent a link to this article this morning, I will warn you it made me feel ill reading it, the content is shocking.  The argument made by a few Oxford scientists is that it is okay to kill a newborn. Only they call it after-birth abortion rather than infanticide. Apparently a baby is not yet a person so if it is disabled, or simply an unwanted healthy infant, they justify the right to end the life of the child! Read that last sentence again and really let it soak in.

It is truly frightening that this argument has now entered the public arena, just as people fought for the right for abortion, will those same people now fight for the right for after-birth abortion?? And, we already know that the euthanasia fight is in full gear.  Where will this end? Your two year old has a tantrum and you are fed up, so you can simply end their life?  Your seven year old won't clean up their room and you are fed up, so you can simply end their life?  Your teenager is moody and challenging you and you are fed up, so you can simply end their life. And if you child manages to survive childhood the tables will turn on you, you get ill and need your adult child they take care of you for a bit and get fed up, so they can simply end your life. We heading in the direction of  the Brave New World. (a book by Aldous Huxley http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brave_New_World).

Prayer for Respect for all Human Life

Heavenly Father, your cosmic gaze focused on dust and you fashioned in your image and likeness every man and women:

give us, we beg you, a keen eye to recognize that image so that respect for all human life becomes our way of life.

Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Committee for Pro-Life Activities National Conference of Catholic Bishops

Local newspaper does not report pro life march!

It amazes me that our local newpaper did not report upon the annual march for life rally in Fort Wayne. I guess people who are Christian and believe in the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, are a really scary bunch and must not be reported upon by the local paper.
It makes me wonder just how many things are not reported to us because the newspaper doesn't agree with the objectives of specific groups. It is a form of censorship, and it is wrong!

Annual March for Life

Today was the Annual March for Life in Fort Wayne. The featured speaker was Abby Johnson, a former Director for a Planned Parenthood facility in Bryan, TX. Abby worked for PP for 8 years and then resigned after witnessing an ultrasound of an abortion taking place, and seeing the 13 week old baby fighting for it's life as it was killed. It became apparent to Abby that the babies do feel pain and abortion really does end a human life; she resigned from Planned Parenthood and has become a PRO LIFE advocate, traveling the country giving speeches, and working for 40 Days for Life. The forty days pray and fast begins at the start of Lent, February 17, 2010. Visit the website http://www.fortydaysforlife.com/ for more information.
The Allen County Right for Life Rally was very good. About a 1000 people attended, many city, state, and federal elected officials spoke, and it was wonderful to see just how many are PRO LIFE and do NOT want to see taxpayer dollars support abortion. Many Priests and Pastors were present and opened and closed the event with prayer. After the rally we Marched For Life through downtown Fort Wayne, it was wonderful to see so many people involved, particularily as it was so cold, 13 degrees with a brisk wind!
Everyone speaking at the rally challenged us to get involved in the Right to Life Movement in some way, whether giving a financial donation, volunteering time, praying and holding vigil outside of the abortion clinic, or voting PRO LIFE - we can all do something.
Whether it is the unborn child, the chronically ill, the elderly, or those deemed to have a low quality of life, we MUST respect life at all ages and stages.

"It is a poverty that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.." Mother Theresa.