Recently I read through Ronald Reagan’s essay entitled Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation. Here is a part of that great work that he wrote: “Abortion concerns not just the unborn child, it concerns every one of us. The English poet, John Donne, wrote: “… any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”
We cannot diminish the value of one category of human life—the unborn—without diminishing the value of all human life. We saw tragic proof of this truism last year when the Indiana courts allowed the starvation death of “Baby Doe” in Bloomington because the child had Down’s Syndrome.
Many of our fellow citizens grieve over the loss of life that has followed Roe v. Wade. Margaret Heckler, soon after being nominated to head the largest department of our government, Health and Human Services, told an audience that she believed abortion to be the greatest moral crisis facing our country today. And the revered Mother Teresa, who works in the streets of Calcutta ministering to dying people in her world-famous mission of mercy, has said that “the greatest misery of our time is the generalized abortion of children.”
Over the first two years of my Administration I have closely followed and assisted efforts in Congress to reverse the tide of abortion-efforts of Congressmen, Senators and citizens responding to an urgent moral crisis. Regrettably, I have also seen the massive efforts of those who, under the banner of “freedom of choice,” have so far blocked every effort to reverse nationwide abortion-on-demand.
Despite the formidable obstacles before us, we must not lose heart. This is not the first time our country has been divided by a Supreme Court decision that denied the value of certain human lives. The Dred Scott decision of 1857 was not overturned in a day, or a year, or even a decade. At first, only a minority of Americans recognized and deplored the moral crisis brought about by denying the full humanity of our black brothers and sisters; but that minority persisted in their vision and finally prevailed. They did it by appealing to the hearts and minds of their countrymen, to the truth of human dignity under God. From their example, we know that respect for the sacred value of human life is too deeply engrained in the hearts of our people to remain forever suppressed. But the great majority of the American people have not yet made their voices heard, and we cannot expect them to—any more than the public voice arose against slavery—until the issue is clearly framed and presented.” If you have time and have not read it, I recommend reading this essay by Ronald Reagan. Here is the link: www.humanlifereview.com/abortion-and-the-conscience-of-the-nation-ronald-reagan-the-10th-anniversary-of-the-supreme-court-decision-in-roe-v-wade-is-a-good-time-for-us-to-pause-and-reflect-our-nationwide-policy-of-abortion-o/
We need your prayers on the sidewalk this week!
OPEN HOURS
Tuesday, 12/8 – 1 needed at 11a; 1 needed at 12p; 1 needed at 1p; 1 needed at 2p; 2 needed at 3p and 2 needed at 4p.
Wednesday, 12/9 – 1 needed at 9a; 2 needed at 10a; 2 needed at 11a; 2 needed at 1p and 1 needed at 4p.
Thursday, 12/10 – 1 needed at 9a and 1 needed at 4p.
Friday, 12/11 – 1 needed at 1p and 1 needed at 2p.
To sign up for hours go to: vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview or e-mail info@vigilforlife.org or call Gwen at (608)393-8545.
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Join us for Empty Manger Caroling on Tuesday, December 15 at 1:30p outside of Planned Parenthood, 3706 Orin Rd. in Madison.
Bring the Joy and Hope of Christmas to the darkness of the Culture of Death with our “Empty Manger” Christmas caroling. When mothers have heard carols being sung as they entered an abortion facility they have changed their minds and chose life for their baby.
Song sheets will be provided along with a song leader.
Please remember to dress warm.
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If you can’t make it to the Washington, DC March for Life – consider joining Pro-Life Wisconsin on one of their many busses to the Chicago March for Life!
We have busses leaving from La Crosse, Madison, Wausau, Green Bay & Milwaukee. $25 per person – $85 for families of 4 or more!
Can’t go – but would like to help? Spread the word far and wide! Help us fill the busses UP!
Can’t go, but would like to be a sponsor? Any amount would help! The total cost for the busses is $8,620. We have room for 336 people in total – so it is NOT a fund-raiser by any stretch of the imagination!
Sponsor our signage for the CM4L! We are printing 336 signs with an awesome Pro-Life Wisconsin message on it! Estimated cost is: $2,688.
If you’d like to sponsor the trip in any way – please contact Dan Miller at 262-993-6262 or Pro-Life Wisconsin’s Development Director – Matt Von Rueden at 414-238-3083.
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RESPECT LIFE RETREAT
On Friday, December 18 through Saturday afternoon December 19th, the Servants of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Vigil for Life will be hosting the Eighth Annual Respect Life Retreat.
This special Advent retreat will be held once again in the beautiful retreat center of Durward’s Glen near Baraboo, WI.
Our Retreat Master will be Fr. Gregory Ihm, Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Madison. This event will offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the Liturgy of the Hours, silent prayer and time for personal reflection. Those who are involved in work to build a culture of life are invited to attend, but the retreat is open to everyone.
Spaces for the Respect Life Retreat are limited, so please call now to reserve your room. The cost per person is $65. (Financial assistance may be made available for those in need). Please call Jen Dunnett at 715-340-2779 or email her at vitapretiosa@gmail.com to reserve your place.
Take time apart from your efforts to defend life in order to be strengthened by Jesus Christ, Who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (John 14:6)
+Servants of Our Lady of Guadalupe
More details will be provided when participants are signed up.
RSVP to Jen Dunnett at vitapretiosa@gmail.com or 715-340-2779
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ADVENT PRAYER FOR LIFE
By: Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
God of Life,
We rejoice in the promise of your coming.
You have sent your Son, born in Bethlehem.
He is the Prince of Peace, and
The one in whose name all oppression shall cease.
May we welcome his coming each day
And prepare for his coming at the end of time.
May we build a culture that welcomes him
By welcoming every child, born and unborn.
We pray through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
