MADISON — On February 26, Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed a lawsuit in federal court against the City of Madison on behalf of Vigil for Life, Madison (a Pro-Life Wisconsin affiliate) and 10 other “free-speakers” who engage in a variety of leafleting, education, and sign display activities on campus and around Madison.
The suit seeks an emergency injunction against the new law, sponsored by NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin and passed unanimously by the Madison Common Council on February 25.
Last fall, a couple leaving the Planned Parenthood Clinic in Madison stopped at the driveway to tell the sidewalk counselor with Vigil for Life that they were going to keep their baby.
Vigil for Life volunteers didn’t know if this couple had come to the clinic for a pregnancy test or for an appointment for an abortion. In any case, these parents chose life for their baby.
In an email named “Baby Saved,” sent to volunteers after that incident, Bette Weisshaar, then director of Vigil for Life-Madison, said, “That’s why we’re out there — to pray for a change of heart, for God’s graces to show them a way other than abortion. Our prayers on the sidewalk are offered for parents, that they will choose life for their babies . . . and that’s exactly what happened today! Praise God!”
MADISON — The volunteer meeting for Madison’s 40 Days for Life vigil was highlighted with the news of an abortion clinic ceasing operations in Green Bay. That development is serving as motivation to help the same thing happen here.
The next 40 Days for Life is scheduled to take place Wednesday, Sept. 25 through Sunday, Nov. 3. The effort calls for people to come out and pray near abortion clinics to help end abortion.
MADISON — Madison-based Vigil for Life has reported a dramatic increase in the number of babies saved from abortion at the local Planned Parenthood over the last few months.
The organization has held a public vigil to end abortion in front of Planned Parenthood every business day since January of 2011.
To the editor:
Please accept my thanks for the Catholic Herald coverage of the Capitol Rosary Rally marking the 40th sorrowful anniversary of Roe v. Wade on January 12, 2013.
We estimate almost 150 people praying at the Capitol and St. Patrick’s and with us on their own that day.
As the speakers stated, this is a spiritual battle.
In the 40 years since the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion, many people in the Catholic Church have been in the forefront of the pro-life movement to counteract the court’s decision.
Over the years, however, it’s been obvious that people of many different faith traditions have also been involved in defending the right to life. I can remember Lutherans, Baptists, evangelical Christians, and others who attended the annual Respect Life march at our state Capitol in January in past years, followed by an ecumenical prayer service at St. Raphael Cathedral in Madison.
This might have been the first time some people of other faiths had entered a Catholic church! We Catholics also had the opportunity to see how other denominations prayed and sang.
People of many different faiths have also been active in pro-life outreach efforts such as CareNet Pregnancy Center, Elizabeth House, Pregnancy Helpline, the Women’s Care Center, and Vigil for Life in the Madison area. I have been impressed by the commitment of so many people to these efforts to assist parents in choosing life for their unborn babies and to help those in need after the babies are born.
The name on the adjoining office door read “Planned Parenthood.” We were coming out of an appointment in an office which shared a small lobby. Their innocent, helpful sounding name was successful. I thought to myself, “Maybe they could help me!”
I had never heard of that organization, nor Natural Family Planning. We were married three years and were blessed with two beautiful children. THANKS BE TO GOD I never went back there!
The name on the adjoining office door read “Planned Parenthood.” We were coming out of an appointment in an office which shared a small lobby. Their innocent, helpful sounding name was successful. I thought to myself, “Maybe they could help me!”
I had never heard of that organization, nor Natural Family Planning. We were married three years and were blessed with two beautiful children. THANKS BE TO GOD I never went back there!
The Catholic bishops of the United States have called on all Catholics to unite in opposition to various threats to religious freedom in our country.
At a meeting of the bishops’ leaders in Washington, D.C., the bishops issued a statement on March 14 called “United for Religious Freedom.” The bishops said they are concerned not only with protecting the Church’s own institutions, but also with the care of individuals and the common good.
We all know that firefighters save lives by battling fires in our homes, offices, schools, and even our churches.
There is one retired firefighter in Wisconsin, however, who is saving lives on the streets. He is not putting out fires. Instead, he is a sidewalk counselor in Milwaukee, saving lives outside of an abortion clinic.
