Margaret Sanger: A Champion of Reproductive Freedom?

Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, is often revered by advocates for the advancements she made in reproductive freedom. Many see her as a hero and a fearless leader for the advancement of women. Planned Parenthood’s website proclaims that: “Women's progress in recent decades — in education, in the workplace, in political and economic power — can be directly linked to Sanger's crusade and women's ability to control their own fertility.”¹

The highest award that Planned Parenthood gives is the Margaret Sanger Award. This year, when Nancy Pelosi accepted the Margaret Sanger Award, she spoke of Sanger saying, “Margaret Sanger understood that women should never be silent – not when their fundamental rights are at stake.  She knew that positive change seldom came to those who waited; it came to those who worked and struggled, who acted, agitated, and fought for equality.  She recognized, as your theme declares this evening, that women are ‘stronger together.’”²

But Margaret Sanger’s legacy is a little more complicated than it would initially seem. For example, Margaret Sanger refused to condemn the “female hygiene” products that were starting to be marketed in the 1930s. These products were marked as a way of preventing pregnancy, but in reality, the majority of these products did nothing to prevent pregnancies. The manufacturers were taking advantage of women’s fears of pregnancy to sell their products to gain higher profits. Not only were the products ineffective, but they could also be quite dangerous, risking permanent damage to a woman’s body, and even death. Margaret Sanger refused to take a stance against these manufactures, despite the fact that they were contributing to the injury and death of women. She was quoted as saying that the reason she would not condemn them was “they have not lagged behind like the medical profession but have gone ahead and answered [a] growing and urgent need.” ³ But by  not speaking out against these manufacturers, it appears that Margaret Sanger  seemed more interested in promoting her ideology than she did in ensuring the safety and well-being of the women affected by it; she had forsaken the women that she claimed to desire to help.

Lysol produced one of these "feminine hygiene products"

Margaret Sanger even spoke out against maternity centers where “Such women are to be visited by nurses and to receive instruction in the hygiene of pregnancy, to be guided in making arrangements for confinements to be invited to come to the doctor s clinics for examination and supervision. They are we [sic] are informed, to receive adequate care during pregnancy at confinement and for one month afterward.”⁴ These maternity centers that were sponsored by private charities existed to help poor women with their pregnancies by providing them with proper health care and education. Margaret Sanger believed that these centers did women a disservice, saying the programs were “not merely superficial and near sighted. It conceals a stupid cruelty, because it is not courageous enough to face unpleasant facts. Aside from the question of the unfitness of many women to become mothers, aside from the very definite deterioration in the human stock that such programs would inevitably hasten, we may question its value even to the normal though unfortunate mother. For it is never the intention of such philanthropy to give the poor over burdened and often undernourished mother of the slum the opportunity to make the choice herself to decide whether she wishes time after to time to bring children into the world.”⁴ She saw these programs not only as useless, but cruel because they did not provide birth control for these women. Instead of recognizing the merits of these centers and the obvious need for them, she harshly criticizes them for not conforming to her ideology. It is interesting to parallel this view with the relationship between Planned Parenthood and pregnancy resource centers today. Planned Parenthood has often criticized pregnancy resource centers because they are not in line with their ideology, because they refuse to refer for abortions or provide birth control. There seems to be a refusal to admit the value of these centers or acknowledge any good that they might be doing because the centers refuse to embrace the same ideology that Planned Parenthood advocates.

Finally, and possibly most disturbing, is the eugenic agenda to which Margaret Sanger adhered. Margaret Sanger pushed the use of birth control to contribute to the eugenic ends she idealized. In Sanger’s autobiography, she writes about a lecture she gave on the seven circumstances in which birth control should be practiced. The third circumstance was “when parents, though normal, had subnormal children,” the fourth was “when husband and wife were adolescent,” and the fifth was “when the earning capacity of the father was inadequate.”⁵ She found that these circumstances produced less desirable children, or that the parents were not fit to be parents.

Margaret Sanger is seen as one of the biggest proponents of ‘reproductive freedom.’ Yet it seems that she doesn't truly desire reproductive freedom for all - only for those she saw as able parents (meaning the middle or upper, white class). In her autobiography she elaborates saying “anyone, no matter how ignorant, how diseased mentally or physically, how lacking in all knowledge of children, seemed to consider he or she had a right to parent.”⁵ Sanger seems to believe that only certain people have the right to parent. So she promotes birth control for those who she does not see as able to parent according to her standards. She does not advocate parenting classes, or attempt to help those “lacking in all knowledge of children,” but instead believes that they simply should not be parents, which is where birth control comes in.

The quotes above indicate that Margaret Sanger was not, in fact, a true advocate of reproductive freedom. Margaret Sanger was a diehard eugenicist, believing the reproduction should be limited to those who she saw as able parents. This eugenic mindset is evident throughout her writings and work.

The legacy that Margaret Sanger left was not one of dedicated care for all women. Instead, she pushed her ideology at all costs. Planned Parenthood continues to follow in the footsteps of their beloved founder,  as shown in  Live Action’s latest videos [warning-explicit] exposing the danger in which Planned Parenthood puts children. 

And what about those maternity centers that Margaret Sanger saw as useless and even cruel? These are the groups and organizations that promote true women’s freedom. Groups that strive to empower women to take charge of their own lives, by helping to give them the tools to do so. Groups like the Women’s Care Center, the Guiding Star Project, Hannah’s House, Seton Home, and so many more. There is a better way to help moms and babies. We should be supporting these organizations in their view of authentic women’s freedom through whatever way we can, be that volunteering, donating, writing letters, or praying. Because being pro-life is being pro-woman. I believe in women’s freedom. Do you?

1. http://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/who-we-are/history-successes#early
2. http://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/press-releases/pelosi-remarks-accepting-margaret-sanger-award-planned-parenthood-annual-gala/
3. Tone, Andrea. Controlling Reproduction: An American History. Wilmington, DE: SR, 1997. 228-29. Print.
4. Sanger, Margaret. The Pivot of Civilization. Elmsford, NY: Maxwell Reprint, 1969. 114-16. Print.
5. DuPont, Kathryn. Margaret Sanger an Autobiography. Lanham: Cooper Square Press, 1999. 193-195. Print.

Why the Hobby Lobby Decision is Good for Women (Part 2)

Almost immediately after the Hobby Lobby decision, there was a huge uproar. People were dismayed to find that corporations could deny women the fundamental right to healthcare. How could a corporation impose its beliefs on women in a way that affected their health?

By some of the tweets and the comments, you would think that Hobby Lobby had declared that they do not believe women should have access to health care at all. But this is not the case. Hobby Lobby, and corporations like it, object to the HHS mandate, the mandate that ensures coverage of contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs and devices. It is worth noting that many of the organization objecting to the mandate already cover contraception when it is being used for non-contraceptive reasons.

But here is the problem. When did all of women’s health become dependent on access to birth control? By giving into that definition, aren’t we letting ourselves be defined solely by our reproductive capacities?

Then there is the fact that “women’s health” professionals, gynecologists, have become lazy diagnosticians. If a woman walks into a gynecologist’s office, no matter what the issue, she will be offered a prescription for birth control. I saw three different ob-gyns about gynecological issues. None of them really listened to me, but were very eager to get me on birth control. When I asked why I was being prescribed this, none of them really had an answer. They did not know what was wrong with me. But they figured, whatever it was, the pill would fix it.

Except, the pill doesn’t really fix anything.  All it does is coveriup the symptoms of an underlying condition. Fortunately for me, I was able to see a Napro ob-gyn who diagnosed me with endometriosis. [Learn more about Naprotechnology here]. I was able to have surgery to remove the endometriosis, and hopefully, preserve my fertility. None of the other doctors I had seen considered that I might have endometriosis. Actually, when I had raised the concern to one doctor, he told me it was not possible for me to have it.

When did women’s health advocates become so lazy? When did doctors stop caring about diagnosing a patient’s problems and just started covering them up? Shouldn’t women’s health be about actually understanding a woman’s body and what is going on inside of her, rather than just tossing her a “band-aid” pill with tons of side effects, that just allows the problem inside to fester?

There is a better way. As I stated above, I found a doctor who specialized in NaPro technology. NaPro technology is a women's health science that monitors and maintains a woman's reproductive and gynecological health. It provides medical and surgical treatments that cooperate completely with the reproductive system. Instead of rejecting a woman’s fertility, this system cherishes it and does all that is possible to preserve it. The doctors I have found who practice this system actually listened to my concerns and responded to them, instead of just throwing a generic medicine at me and hoping it would make me feel better.

We need to be promoting real women’s health. Women’s health that understand women as whole persons. Women’s health that is not boiled down to whether or not a business pays for a woman to suppress her fertility. Fertility is not a disease and it should not be treated as such.  We need to promote women’s health  that does not see the way a women’s body normally functions as in need of fixing. We need health care professional who listen to our concerns and respect our beliefs. That is true care for women's health.

Why the Hobby Lobby Decision is Good for Women (Part 1)

If you were down at the Supreme Court yesterday awaiting the Hobby Lobby decision, you might have noticed something interesting. The overwhelming majority of Hobby Lobby supporters were women.

Huh.

I thought Hobby Lobby was trying to oppress women.

They were trying to ban birth control.

They were trying to bring us back to the 1950s.

They were enforcing a patriarchal society where men make all the decisions about women’s reproductive choices.

Oh, there's me, looking very oppressed by the decision

But, then, why were most of the Hobby Lobby supporters women? I mean, even the mainstream media had to use pictures of women celebrating the decision when it came out. 

However, if you wandered over the pro-choice side, you saw something interesting. At least half of the supporters were men. The person leading their chants was a man. At one point, before he started to lead a chant, he leaned over to the women in front of him and said “do you want to be referred to as women or girls?” I had more than one pro-choice man get two inches from my face and scream about access to birth control.

But please, do tell us how Hobby Lobby is trying to oppress women.

Oh look, the all-female legal team! 

Despite what the media, or Planned Parenthood may lead you to believe, this decision was a good decision for women.  Despite one’s personal beliefs on contraception, our First Amendment guarantees the right to exercise our religious beliefs. To claim that women care more about their employer paying for their birth control than our own religious freedom is demeaning to all women. Over a third of the plaintiffs who have filed suit against the HHS mandate are women. The mandate hurts women business owners who were being forced to choose between their religious convictions and their own business. Thankfully, the Supreme Court recognized that this was an unfair burden to place on business owners.

It is also problematic to refer the HHS mandate as a huge advancement for women’s equality, as supporters of the mandate often do. The subtext is that if a woman wants to be successful or equal in the workforce, she must suppress her fertility, which is viewed as a hindrance to her goals and her fulfillment. Women are sent the message –  that there is something wrong with their bodies that needs correcting if they are to be equal. To be equal to men, they must become like men.

This view is demeaning to women. We are being told that if we even want to have the opportunity to achieve equality, we should be contracepting. We are told that if we do become pregnant, whether planned or unplanned, somehow we are unsuccessful, in effect we have failed.  If we choose to pursue motherhood, we are clearly not pursuing success – at least not as the government defines it.

If the government truly saw the choices for and against motherhood as equal, there would be more support for women who become pregnant. Contraception and abortion-inducing drugs and devices are offered for free through the HHS mandate, but not all pregnancy-related costs are covered. By only offering full coverage of options promoting the prevention or interruption of pregnancy, the government is sending a subtle but clear message about what it means to be a woman and what a woman's success looks like – and it doesn’t include her fertility.

So who declared the real war on women?

Stay tuned for the next blog post, where we will discuss what true women's healthcare should look like.

Liberals are people too.

Spending the summer in DC, it can be hard not to get sucked in the hyper-politicization of the atmosphere. It seems that everywhere I go, someone is bashing the opposite political party. I find this to be very unsettling. 

Perhaps it is because I do not feel that I fit squarely into any political party. Perhaps it is because I think that energy is better spent on focusing on real solutions, instead of blaming the opposite political party for the lack of progress. Perhaps it is because I just really do not like confrontation.

But one of the most unsettling things to me is hearing the way in which pro-life conservatives talk about liberals. I want to make it clear, that this bashing occurs on both sides of the aisle. But I believe that those who call themselves pro-life should hold themselves to a higher standard.

Being pro-life is about respecting the inherent dignity of each individual. Recognizing the good and redeeming qualities in each other. Being pro-life means that you respect the person, even if you do not agree with their views. 

This is what I am talking about. This is bad.

Making wide-sweeping comments about "liberals" is not only generalizing and labeling people, but oftentimes, these comments are untrue. Making statements like “liberals don’t care about people,” not only does not help our cause, but hurts us. The fact is, that they do care about other people. Everyone cares about other people. People care deeply. Some just have misguided vision of what it means to empower people, specifically women.

This is also ignoring the fact that not all pro-lifers fit into the neat box of "conservative" and not all "liberals" are pro-choice. This kind of inflammatory language is what alienates those non-traditional pro-lifers. (Check out Secular Pro-Life and Life Matters Journal -- both awesome groups doing awesome things.) What we need to realize is that being pro-life is not solely a conservative issue. It's not just a political issue. Being pro-life is a human issue, one that transcends party lines. 

Still bad.

So next time you think about making a blanket statement like “liberals hate babies,” stop for a moment and think. We are called to stand against injustice and to call out this injustice. But this does not mean demeaning and degrading people. Criticize the policy, not the people.  If you call yourself pro-life, be truly pro-life. This means respecting others, even when you vehemently disagree with them. 

Inequality Begins Before Birth

I recently went to a conference hosted by the Century Foundation’s Bernard Schwartz Rediscovering Government Initiative, the Roosevelt Institute, and the Academic Pediatric Association. The conference was entitled “Inequality Begins At Birth: Child Poverty in America.” There were a number of speakers with diverse opinions on how to solve the child poverty crisis that we have in America. Everyone agreed that this was one of the top social problems in America, and that we need to fix it. Different policies were suggested that could better aid the children of our country. Ultimately, it was agreed that education was one crucial way to do this. Many statistics were presented on how poverty affects people of color in a disproportionate manner, and how we as a society have a responsibility to fix this.

I attended this conference, because I believe that this is an issue that is at the very heart of the pro-life issue. To be truly pro-life, we cannot just seek to outlaw abortion. We can, and we should, have this as a goal, but we must also do what we can to support policies and legislation that will aid abortion vulnerable women. Policies that value the inherent dignity of the individual and seek to empower those in poverty to be able to better their lives. Through support of policies such as paid family leave, subsidized child care, and the Pregnant Workers Safety Act, we are saying yes to life through saying yes to the flourishing of families. These types of policies are important. A politician cannot call himself pro-life and then refuse to consider these types of policies that would help women, children, and families. This is an area in which bipartisanship should be easy.

BUT.

Something I saw as glaringly missing from the conference was any discussion of how inequality truly begins before birth. One commentator made a comment to that effect, but it was quickly brushed aside without extrapolation because it was clearly something that they did not want to talk about. Senator Cory Booker, who gave an impassioned speech about inequality and his deep passion for helping children in poverty, also made comments about the need to support ‘family planning organizations’ such as Planned Parenthood. Perhaps Senator Booker is unaware that the most dangerous place for an African American child is in the womb. Perhaps he is unaware that 80% of Planned Parenthood clinics are located in minority neighborhoods. Perhaps he is unaware that the number of abortions that are performed on African Americans is disproportionally high. Perhaps he is unaware of the racist sentiments of Planned Parenthood’s founder, Margaret Sanger. Maybe he never learned about Planned Parenthood’s “Negro Project.”  Because it seems to me that this is something that is worth talking about. Because the conference title was wrong. Inequality does not begin at birth. Inequality begins before birth. Abortion statistics show this inequality. They show that African American babies are aborted at rates of up to five times that of white babies. They show that today, abortion kills more African-Americans, per year, than heart disease, cancer, respiratory disease, accidents, homicides, suicide and cancer- combined.

Check out this short video from the Radiance Foundation to learn more!

Senator Booker quoted a civil rights activist during his speech saying, “We who believe in freedom cannot rest.”  This rings true for us. We must continue to fight for freedom and equality throughout all stages of life- including the stage before birth. 

Event Idea: Sunshine Kits for Finals Week

Is there a more stressful time for college students than finals week? Students cope in different ways. Some literally sleeping in the library for days on end, so they don’t lose their coveted spot. Some sleep in their bed all day, trying to ignore the reality that finals are approaching. Some color-code their schedules, budgeting out every hour of the day to maximize studying potential.

The fact is that finals are stressful for everyone. So consider having your club bring a little bit of ‘sunshine’ to people during this stressful time. Building a culture of life means building a culture of love. So this a great opportunity to show a love of life during a hectic time!  Create “Sunshine Kits” that will brighten the recipient’s day, even if just for a little bit.

Get a bright colored bag and put in whatever you want! Candy is always appreciated by college students, as is an extra pen or pencil. Think about putting in small snacks, like peanut butter cookies. We included a prayer for finals inside as well. Then tie it all together with some ribbon and a message from your club! Then go hand them out in a high traffic area: I suggest the library. Then all you need to do is watch the smiles appear on stressed students’ faces. Now, go spread some sunshine! :)

 

Event Idea: Rose Garden

For a number of years, our pro-life club put up a ‘Cemetery of the Innocents’ on our campus. The Cemetery, comprised of simple white crosses, sought to raise awareness, commemorate the lives that have been lost to abortion and promote life-encouraging resources for women who may have experienced or are considering an abortion.

This year we did something a little different. We chose to display a garden of roses in place of the cemetery.  Each white rose represents lives lost due to abortion. The other roses represent those who have suffered emotionally, spiritually and physically because of abortion, including mothers, fathers, families and friends. The garden is centered around a cross, the source of hope and healing for all.

With these roses, we sought to raise the same awareness and commemoration, while simultaneously extending a deeper invitation to love. The flowers demonstrate the fragility, beauty and value of every human life. We acknowledge there are many students on college campuses who have been affected by abortion, both directly and indirectly. The display is a loving way of reaching out to acknowledge those wounds and offer hope for healing. It is an invitation to the entire community to join together in promoting a greater respect for the dignity of all life.

I believe the unique difference in this type of display is that it commemorates all those who have been affected by abortion. The day the garden went up, I got an email from a senior student on campus. She wrote to me saying as she biked past the signs she read, “For all those affected by abortion. I was now apart of this memorial; my affair had been commemorated. The pain flooded back, along with a peculiar anger.” This woman had not had an abortion, but she had been personally affected by it, just as we all have been affected by abortion, whether we know it or not. When she saw the garden, she recognized this. Although initially her reaction was one of anger and grief, through reaching out via email, she was able to engage in further conversation which allowed her to more fully confront what had happened. This is what we sought to do with this garden. Although the wide reaching impact of abortion is not a comfortable fact, this is a reality. It is only through confronting this uncomfortable reality that we are able to take steps forward.

 On college campuses, it is important to remember that many women and men are suffering from the wounds of abortion. Although we do not want to keep silent on this issue, it is important to keep these people in mind when doing pro-life activism. Truth needs to be spread with love, not merely facts or statistics. The roses commemorate the pain of these individuals while providing an opportunity for discussion for the rest of campus.

How to make the garden:

Supplies:

-Silk flowers

-Bamboo sticks
-Green tape
-Wooden cross

1. Cut the bamboo sticks to about 18 inches.
2. Cut the flowers so there is only one flower and one stem.
3. Take a red and white flower and tape them to the bamboo stake.
4. Choose a formation for the garden and stake the flowers in the ground.

 

Be sure to have signs explaining the display. Our club sent a letter to our school newspaper explaining the new display.

On Being an Older Brother of a Pro-Life Sister

***Guest post by Brian Stoyell-Mulholland***

I thought I was pro-life, because I voted for pro-life politicians.  I thought I was pro-life because I agreed with their views on life.  I thought I was pro-life.  My little sister made me realize how little I was doing.  She is an advocate for women and the pro-life movement, and I could not be more proud of her.  She was interning in high school for a pro-life center in Philly, she has interned at a crisis pregnancy center in Florida, she is a voice for the unborn and women on her college campus, and recently was in Texas supporting the bill that was recently passed.  I wonder to myself, "what am I doing?  How can I actually be pro-life?"

I reflect on my sister’s time in Texas.  While the bill was being passed in Texas, my sister and other pro-life young adults were taken to a safe room, because those who are pro-abortion were rioting and threatening.  My sister told me stories about people demeaning her and screaming vulgarities at her.  As an older brother, this frightened me.  As a citizen, I was angry with how little the media reported this.  If pro-lifers were being so violent, the media would have been all over it.  My sister texted my family when she was taken to the safe room.  Many thoughts were going through my head.  How dare someone put my sister in such a dangerous situation?  If my sister had gotten hurt, I do not know how I would have reacted.  This is my sister, we are talking about.  My little sister; she has been with me her entire life.  I protect her and defend her.  That is my calling as an older brother.  For those of you who are older brothers, I am sure you understand this feeling.  One of my best friends is being attacked and there is nothing I can do about it.  My sister may be in pain or in fear.  I must do something.

This experience firmly answered my question for how can I be pro-life.  I will never be my sister.  I will never be a leader in the pro-life movement like her.  What I can do and what all men can do is be a support for those who are in this fight.  I can be by my sister helping her with whatever she needs.  I can be someone to hug when others insult her.  I can be a physical barrier if others seek to harm her.  I can pray for her.  And this is not for just my sister, but all women in my life.  I recently read an article about being “Bro-Choice,” which, quick summary, was about men should be pro-choice so they can continue to objectify women and use them as sex objects.  I was horrified by the author’s view of a relationship.  We should be treating women with respect and dignity.  I know if any guy dates my sister and does not treat her as well as she deserves, then I am in pain.  My realization is that the pro-choice culture takes power away from women.  Pro-choice beliefs degrade women.  I do not want my sister living in a culture where a man thinks that her sole purpose is to please him.  A culture where he thinks he can heap deeply emotional and permanent decisions on her and then leave with her with no consequences for himself.  I can support women, by realizing my role in creating life.  If a woman does get pregnant, yes, it is her body, but the child is also your child.  Your child’s mother needs your support.  Creating life takes two people, but so does nurturing life.

As much as the pro-life movement is focused on women, I find men are intimately connected to the pro-life movement.  Above, I spoke about how being pro-choice is degrading to woman, but in the same capacity, being pro-choice is degrading to men.  Yes, men do not have to go through a pregnancy in the biological sense, but they do go through pregnancy in a spiritual and emotional way.  The “pro-choice” movement takes away my choice as a man to choose to have a child.  A man is necessary for a woman to carry a child.  Why do I not get a choice in the care of my child?  “Pro-choice” culture says to men you are here to supply the sperm and nothing else.  How degrading?  A dear friend of mine, his girlfriend had an abortion, and the girlfriend did not even tell him that she did this until post-abortion.   My friend still struggles with the fact that his child was killed.  He prays for his unborn child and carries the child in his heart to this day.  He knew his role in the creation of life and his role as a father was taken from him.  He did not have a choice.  A culture where men can casually dismiss an abortion is offensive to the dignity of fatherhood.  This is just another reason, men; you need to be adamantly pro-life.

My sister is pro-life and I am trying to be every day.  I will do the best I can to support her and the other women I can in my life.  I will uphold their dignity as well as my own.  Men, you have a call to action.  Be a support.  Be a father.  Don’t let society tell you that you are unimportant.  Do not let your sister, daughter, wife, or friend be in this fight alone.  Men have a responsibility to stand up.  As Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

5 (Pro-Life) Ways to Support Women Right Now

1. Research your school's student health plan and see what it covers (or doesn't cover).

Girls who become pregnant in college don't have a real choice to carry their pregnancies to term if their schools don't facilitate their needs during pregnancy. For example, Yale University's student health plan covers abortions, but their basic student health plan offers NO coverage for students who would like to parent or place their child for adoption. Contrastingly, Notre Dame ensures that women who become pregnant as students will receive the full support of the university community, including housing, tuition assistance, and more.

If your school does not provide adequate support for pregnant women, contact student services and advocate that a change be made. Preventing discrimination against pregnant students is an important way we can support and empower women. This is a main initiative of Feminists for Life. Students for Life of America also has a "Pregnant on Campus" Initiative.

2. Instead of buying a frappuccino, support a mom in need by buying baby wipes to donate to a pregnancy center.

Many women who choose life for their babies still need support in providing for them.  If you're willing to spend a few dollars on coffee, next time spend that $4 on something new moms really need. Diapers for newborns are always in high demand. You can locate your local pregnancy center and donate directly, or check your local parish and see if they have a donation bin at the church. Supplying resources is a significant and immediate way to support women.

 3. Learn about the symptoms  of post-abortion syndrome so you can be an ally for women around you that may be suffering.

As many as 1 in 3 women have had an abortion, so we all need to be prepared to support the women around us who may be suffering from that decision, no matter how long ago it was made.

Places to start:

Silent No More

Rachel's Vineyard

After Abortion - The Elliot Institute

Post Abortion Healing and Treatment [PATH]

Remember to always discuss the issues with compassion; you never know who may decide to approach you about their past experience. Also research post-abortive help in your community, so that you have referral information ready should a woman share her story with you. Many dioceses and Crisis Pregnancy Centers offer post-abortive counseling and retreats. Providing opportunities for healing is an essential way to support women in a culture of life.

4. Post contact information for your local Crisis Pregnancy Center on the "local businesses" billboard in a nearby coffee shop or grocery store.

You never know where someone may stumble across that information when they need it. Promoting the your local Pregnancy Center could also increase their volunteer base and donations. Consider contacting them directly and asking if they have pre-made fliers that you could post. Advertising the availability of assistance is crucial for supporting women in crisis pregnancies.

Find your local pregnancy center at www.optionline.org

5. Pray for women in situations and relationships that put them at risk for undesired pregnancy.

As many as 64% ofwomen get abortions because they feel pressured by others. Many have become pregnant by a man who will not support the child or does not want to child to be born.

Even if the woman may want to carry the child to term, she may be living an unhealthy lifestyle herself, and not want to bring a child into that situation. Women deserve better relationships and better lifestyles, for their children but also for themselves. Pray specifically for these women - that they will receive the support they need to pursue safe and healthy relationships and lifestyles. Women need our support not only financially and emotionally, but also through the power of prayer.

Pro-life is pro-woman. :)

Love Thy Enemy

 So this past week while in Texas in support of the pro-life bill, I interacted with and saw many pro-choicers. Their actions and behavior were unbelievable and mostly indescribable. I have never quite experienced the vitriol and hate that I saw this past week.

18 jars of feces and urine, a brick, and ‘glitter bomb’ tampons were all confiscated from prochoicers.

A prochoicer shoved a guy in our group, hard enough that the batteries came flying out of his camera and he fell back into someone else who fell into me.

Prochoicers chanted “Hail Satan” and “Pro-life, your name’s a lie, you don’t care if women die.”

A prochoice woman told me that obviously the only reason that I was pro-life was because a man had told me to be pro-life and that my entire life was controlled by men.

Prochoicers poured red paint on themselves and chained themselves to the Senate gallery.

A prochoicer had her young daughter hold up a sign that said “If I wanted the government in my uterus, I’d f*** a senator.”

I cannot even count the number of times that I was flipped off or had vulgarities screamed at me.

A prochoice man held up a sign that said “No rape babies” while the girl right next to him had a sign that said “Jesus isn’t a dick so keep him out of my vagina.”

The prochoicers called themselves “The Unruly Mob” and when even NARAL and Planned Parenthood told them to leave the Capitol, they chanted “hell no, we won’t go.”

Allegedly, a prochoicer was found outside the Capitol with a semi-automatic rifle.

You know what these people are working so hard for? The right to kill their child. They can veil their intentions by saying they want the right to women’s health care or the right to choose or they are fighting for women’s reproductive health. But ultimately, they are fighting for the right to end the lives of the most defenseless and vulnerable.

I feel bad for these people. I looked at them, and past the screaming and vulgarities, I saw women and men who were deeply hurting. The old woman screaming “bastards” to all the legislators. The young teenage girl who had tears rolling down her face. The man who angrily told me that I had no right to be here.

I did not and do not harbor any resentment or hatred towards these people. I made a point of smiling at each person in an orange shirt when they walked by. Because these people are not going to be persuaded by a set of logical arguments. They were not here for rational debate. The only way to reach these people is through their hearts. Because I could tell that they felt hopeless. They felt trapped. They were fighting so bitterly. 

These people need love. My heart ached to reach out to them. To be able to offer them the comfort and healing that they need. But I know that was not my role at that time. So I prayed. I prayed that God touch each and every one of their hearts that they might be converted. That they might be able to recognize the love and forgiveness of the Almighty.

What we as prolifers need to do is have faith. I may not have witnessed a conversion while I was at the Texas Capitol, but I believe that many of those orange shirts will one day turn blue. We need to be open and accepting to all people so that when people are converted, they are welcomed with open arms. Because they will need love, not condemnation. Imagine realizing that for 5, 10, or even 50 years, you advocated for the deaths of millions. The guilt could be enough to destroy anyone, so we need to be there, waiting, with a loving embrace. Think of the amazing conversion story of Abby Johnson. What if the Coalition for Life had not been welcoming and loving? We need to follow the example set before us and love all, but especially love our enemies, even when it seems hardest. 

Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk

So this past week, I was down at the Texas Capitol, there with Students for Life of America. We were there in support of the Texas bill that protects women’s health by requiring that abortion clinics adhere to ambulatory surgical center regulations, that the abortionist have hospital admitting privileges within 30 miles, and that all medical abortions adhere to FDA regulations. It also bans abortions past 20 weeks, the point at which science says that the fetus can feel pain.  The bill thankfully passed on Friday, and Gov Perry is going to sign it into law. You can read a good summary of it here.

One of the things that has really impressed me this trip is the number of pro-lifers here in Texas who not only talk the talk, but walk the walk. People who understand what it means to be truly pro-life. This people recognize that it is not just about being a political activist, or the way you vote. These people are helping to build a culture of life that will ultimately lead to victory.

I just wanted to give  a couple shout-outs to some examples of the people that I am talking about:

Thanks to the Austin Baptist Association and Hope Chapel for opening their churches to us and providing us a place to sleep as well as all the other host families who opened their homes to students.

Thank you to the Knights of Columbus for gathering air mattresses for us to sleep on as well as cooking and providing lunch for us on Friday. Standing behind a grill in 100 degree weather is an impressive feat, and we are truly grateful.

Big thanks to Representative Hughes, Representative Toth, along with many other of the Texas House representatives. When the YMCA kicked us out (here), Rep Hughes and Rep Toth took up a collection to pay for hotel rooms so that we could shower. They had also offered their own personal hotel rooms for showers. Rep Hughes and Rep Toth also took time out of their day to speak to us young people and pray over the SFLA staff. They truly are men of God. Rep Hughes also offered us protection during the riots at the Capitol by housing all of us, over 50 people, in his locked office.

Thanks to the Students for Life leaders who did so much to organize this trip and keep all of us safe during the journey. I am sure it was not easy, but the staff remained flexible, with cheerful attitudes, despite the difficult circumstances. Thanks to Brendan O’Morchoe, who even if he could not figure out his way inside the Capitol, lead our group with a certainty and confidence that put many people’s fears at ease. Thank you to Beth O’Malley, for writing everything down in her notebook, keeping track of million logistics at once, and remaining sane, with a smile on her face, even when the plan changed for the third time in ten minutes. Thanks to Missy Martinez, for being the voice for our group, both in media interviews and on stage at the pro-life rally, and representing our group with conviction and dignity. Thank you to Alexa Coombs for reminding us of the importance of social media, making sure that we were always in contact with the rest of the world and utilizing social media to promote our group’s activities. I am sure there are many other people behind the scenes at SFLA, including Kristan Hawkins, the president of SFLA, who made this trip a possibility and for that I am very grateful.

Thank you to all the donors who made this trip possible for over 50 college students. These donors helped give us the opportunity of a lifetime and made it possible for us to be a part of history being made.

Thanks to Brendan the bus driver, as well as all the other bus drivers, for being patient with us and getting us to and from where we needed to be safely.

Thank you to the people of Texas, in particular, Jason, Paul, and Thomas, for inviting us to join this fight for life with them, and for all the tireless work that they do in Texas. This was a huge victory for Texas and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

Last, but definitely not least, thank you to my fellow students who took a week out of their summer to come and fight for life in Texas. You provided an incredible, peaceful witness for life at the Texas Capitol. Your dedication and perseverance is truly inspiring and it is seeing my fellow students stand for life that gives me hope. We are the pro-life generation and I believe that we will abolish abortion in our lifetime.

These people, along with many many more, all provided a witness of life through not only their words, but their actions. Standing for life is much more than just saying that you are pro-life. Words are not enough. We must demonstrate this culture of life through how we act, and the way we treat others. Consistently treating others with the respect and dignity that all people deserve helps our cause just as much as taking a trip down to Texas to support a pro-life bill. Thank you to everyone who remembers that, and pushes me to hold myself to that standard. Now go out and remember if you talk the talk, you must walk the walk.

Event Idea: "I'm Prolife Because..." Cookout

"Why are you, prolife?"

Sometimes one of the hardest events to do is a social event that still has an aspect of promoting the pro-life mission. These events, if done successful, can be some of the most effective at teaching people about what it means to be pro-life. This event idea stemmed from our original LifeFest event (here) , but we wanted to have an even stronger push to get people to think about what it truly means to be pro-life. 

So what we decided to do was have a huge cookout on the quad. The idea was to draw as many people in who were just walking by. We offered free burgers and soon, a huge line had lined up to get a burger. While people were in line, we handed them a white board that said “I’m Prolife Because…” and that asked them if they would be willing to fill in the blank. Most people did and it got them to stop and actually think about why they are prolife while having a great time celebrating life. 

So how do you do this?

Activities

Free burgers and food- Nothing gets people to stop by an event like free food. Especially when you are out on the quad on a sunny day. We had cupcakes that people could decorate as well. 

Inflatables/other fun visible activities- You want something big that signifies FUN! When people see a bounce house, or an inflatable obstacle course, they want to stop and see what is going on. This will also draw parents to bring their children. You can also publicize this for professors and their children to come to. We also hired a balloon animal artist to come and make balloon animals which were a huge hit. 

Free tshirts- One of the things we did was give away free club tshirts. This is obviously a major expense, but it was worth it to see the number of red club tshirts that were worn in the upcoming school days. Make sure the shirts are obviously pro-life and send the message that your club wants to send. Encourage your club members to wear these shirts the day of the festival so a unified group can be seen. Giving out these tshirts also gives participants something tangible to take with them. We also gave out pro-life buttons. 

Event Idea: Girl Talk

Communication is a two-way street: one part speaking, one part listening. Without the second part - listening - communication  breaks down.

This past election season, politicians, news reporters, and other "authorities" spoke loudly and frequently about "women's issues," including abortion and contraception. But were they listening? Were they hearing what women were actually saying? Do we hear what the women around us are actually saying, on all sides of these issues?

The Pro-life movement proclaims the values of individual dignity, life, and family, but these ideologies have practical and very real, day to day ramifications for all people, and in a particular way, for women. Too often, people on both sides of these issues think they know what others think, and why. But do they?  Pro-lifers have a responsibility not only to act and speak on behalf of life, but to listen. Through listening, we affirm the dignity of others. Helen Alvare has challenged the Federal Government to do just that with her campaign Women Speak for Themselves. We can do the same in our own communities.

The Event

Pro-lifers have a duty to listen to the very real, very personal concerns and experiences of women in their communities. An open discussion series like Girl Talk can help get real conversation going on "women's issues," promote respect for women's individual feelings, thought and experiences, and provide a foundation for real progress to be made.

Pre-planning

Time: An hour is usually a good amount of time for this series. Choose a time and decide how frequently your series will run (weekly, bi-weekly, etc).  Also decide how many sessions you will have.

Location: Choose a cozy location that is inviting and easy to find, but private enough for participants to speak openly. Set up tables and chairs in small groups of about 5 or 6. Hold the series in the same location each time to build familiarity and comfort.

Topics: Choose which topics you will discuss each meeting, and find a video, article, or other prompt for discussion. Make sure to find prompts from a variety of perspectives; sometimes the best discussions spring from those disagreeing with or challenging a prompt.

Food and Drink: Sharing a meal or light snack will help create a more comfortable atmosphere for participants. Afternoon coffee and fruit, or evening dessert may work well.

Advertising: Spread the word through both personal invitations and mass marketing like posters. Convey the tone of an open discussion by emphasizing that in your advertising, such as by putting different phrases on a poster [example above].

Outline of the Event

10 min: Welcome guests as they arrive and introduce yourself. Direct them to take refreshments, take a seat, and begin reading the discussion article or talking to others at their table.

5 min: Speak to the group as a whole, introduce yourself again, and explain the goal of the event. Emphasize that each person has individual feelings, thoughts, and experiences that shape her views on issues, and encourage participants to explore and share those underlying reasons for their opinions. Ask that each table do introductions, and read and discuss the prompt at their tables.

20 min: Discussions at tables.

20 min: Have each table share ideas from their discussions with the whole group, and discuss as a group if relevant.

5 min: Have each participant share an insight or thought with the large group. Thank everyone for coming, and invite them to attend the next session.

Other Recommendations

• Have signs directing participants to the event
• Assign "table captains" to each table to help facilitate discussion and make all feel welcome
• Have cards or table tents at each table with values for the discussion such as the Virtues of Discourse.
• Have name tags
• Encourage participants to bring other friends in the future

Discussion Topic Ideas

• Views of feminism
• Relationships between men and women
• What women really want
• Beauty, attraction, and what it means to be sexy
• Contraception and other fertility technology like NaPro
• Abortion: how it affects women and what it offers women
• Women in the workplace
• Women and higher education
• The role of faith in women's lives

From Our Experience:
We had a 3-part series with the topics of feminism, birth control, and beauty/self-image. For our second session, we invited local NaPro Fertility Care Practitioner Suzy Younger to attend and answer questions about female fertility at the end of the discussion. Her attendance was the highlight of that session!

Girl Talk has been featured in:

University of Notre Dame Observer "Girl Talk Creates Conversation"

University of Notre Dame Rover "Girl Talk: Catholicism, contraception, and beauty"

HerCampus.com Notre Dame Chapter "'Girl Talk' Discussion Series Reaches out to Women at ND"

MY body, MY choice.

MY body, MY choice.

Recently, a video has been circulating the Internet of a group of feminists proclaiming “MY body, MY choice.” When a friend of mine posted this to her Facebook, I clicked to listen to the entirety of it and came away feeling sad and dejected. The idea had so much potential, but the direction they took it in, just undermined the entire idea of the project. I could see glimmers of what they truly yearned for in the video, but they instead turned to what society told them it meant to be women as opposed to standing for what it means to truly be a woman.

I have pulled some quotes of what they say throughout this short video to highlight my points.

“I decide when and how I become a mother.”

Absolutely, women can decide when and how they become mothers. But this becomes a possibility every time a woman decides to have sex. By making this decision, a woman could become a mother. Women control when they have sex therefore they can control when they become mothers.

“These decisions have nothing to do with you.”

This statement is just blatantly wrong. All of our actions affect other people, whether we realize it or not. In the case of abortion, that decision can deeply affect the father of the child, the grandparents, the other future children, and most importantly the woman involved. This decision affects your neighbors, your classmates, your doctors. Society, as a whole, is deeply affected by the tragedy of abortion. Every single life is valuable and adds something to society. So every single abortion has affected the outcome of society. Who knows what those children who were aborted might have offered to society?

“I have the right to be screened for this killer of women./ Whether I go to my doctor or I rely on the services of clinics like those run by Planned Parenthood. And your desire to stop the fundings of abortions has nothing to do with my right to defend myself against cancer.”

Breast cancer screenings are very important and it is important to get mammograms. However, Planned Parenthood does not provide mammograms. All they can do to screen you for breast cancer is a breast exam, the same that you could and should be doing in your own home. Also Planned Parenthood’s main client base is young adults and it is not necessary to start getting mammograms until the age of 40. 

(http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/13271-fda-contradicts-obama-planned-parenthood-not-licensed-to-do-mammograms)

“If I choose to have sex, I have the right to birth control.”

Birth control has never been a right. It’s not in the Constitution; it’s not a part of natural law. So where does this ‘right’ stem from? This notion has developed that people are entitled to the right to have sex without any consequences. Sex has been separated from its procreative purpose. If you choose to have sex, you choose to put yourself in the situation where you can get preganant, whether or not you are on birth control.

“I have the right to an abortion without facing intimidation, harassment, burdensome parental consent laws, or prejudicial taxes. If I decide to have an abortion, I will not undergo unnecessary invasive medical procedures for the purposes of your moralizing and personal edification.”

This statement is just ironic because many women who have abortions do it because of intimidation and harassment. The number of coerced abortions in this country is unbelievably high. Women’s boyfriends or husbands are threatening to leave them if they do not get an abortion. Some are physically abused into getting an abortion, some are emotionally abused. Calling parental consent laws ‘burdensome’ is ridiculous. Young women under the age of 18 years old are not allowed to pierce their ears without getting consent from their parents. If young women are not even able to legally make the decision to pierce their ears, a decision that can easily be reversed, why should they be able to undergo an invasive medical procedure that can have both medical and emotional side effects without the consent of their parents?  

“I am entitled to all health information from my doctor. And allowing myself to be penetrated once does not assume your right to do it again for your own purposes and your own reasons.”

Women are entitled to all health information from their doctor. Unfortunately abortion clinics are not providing all of this information. They gloss over the side effects of abortions, saying that they merely are required to provide this information by law. The emotional side effects that many women experience are never spoken of. The ultrasound bills that this woman is objecting to are an effort to provide women with all of the information necessary to make such a medical decision.

Then the women in this video went on to make some absolutely correct statements. These women know that they deserve to be respected, valued, and honored. They yearn for this. It is completely evident throughout this video. 

“I am not defined by my need of a man or a partner. Though I have the right to be made happy by one in a safe and supportive relationship”

“I am not here to be your sexual toy.”

 “I’m not defined by my hair, my weight, my eye color, my makeup, my bra size, my skin color.”

“I’m beautiful despite what you think. With or without your approval.”

“I have the right…to equal pay; to health care; to education; to divorce; to safety; to protection under the law; to respect and dignity; to complete equality.”

“Do not be afraid of a world in which women know themselves, their voice, and their power. That world has arrived.”

Unfortunately this world has not arrived. Women, such as the women in this video, have been duped by the world and society. They have become convinced that equality is the same as complete sexual freedom. This is because of the double standard that is so present in our society. They define being a woman as having access to birth control and abortion. When did the definition of a woman become so tied up in her sexuality? Women are so much more than their sexual desires. This is, and always will, a crucial part of what it means to be a woman. But it is not the whole picture.

So what does it mean when these women say “MY body. MY choice.”?

Men agree. They say. Your body. Your choice. Your problem.

When men are not supportive of women when they get pregnant, this is because of this mentality that has developed. They have been consistently told that it’s the woman’s body, therefore it’s the woman’s choice. This means that it must her problem. He is not allowed to have any input, so why are we surprised when so many men abandon their children?

 (As a side note, this video was co-created by a man. Interesting.)