Planned Parenthood lies about parenthood

Below is the text from Planned Parenthood's website in a section titled "How Can I Know If Parenting Is the Right Option for Me?" Since people who consider themselves pro-choice rarely, if ever, say they are pro-abortion, they often use this page on Planned Parenthood's website as evidence that  planned parenthood supports people in choosing parenthood. Apart from the obvious fallacy there (if a person has sex, they morally should have accepted the choice of parenthood at that time, because sex can make a baby, regardless of whether contraception is used or not) and apart from the fact that their page promotes so many different "alternative lifestyle choices" in the context of parenthood ("Should I parent with a partner?" etc.)  it is important to point out the manipulations used by Planned Parenthood to make actual parenthood sound like the plague. My comments will be in italics.

We all have many important decisions to make in life. What to do about an unplanned pregnancy is an important and common decision faced by women. In fact, about half of all women in the U.S. have an unplanned pregnancy at some point in their lives. About 6 out of 10 women with unplanned pregnancies decide to continue their pregnancies. (Nearly half of pregnancies among American women are unintended, and about four in 10 of these are terminated by abortion.[1] Twenty-two percent of all pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion.[2] Live Action has reported that over 35% of PP’s income comes from abortion and that PP lies about the famous 3%.)

Every woman's situation is different, and only you can decide what is best in your case. If you're trying to decide if parenting is the right option for you, you may find it helpful to list the advantages and disadvantages of having a child. Think about what advantages or disadvantages are most important to you. (Notice they immediately begin to implant the idea that this concerns only one person-- the woman. What about the father? More importantly, what about the human being growing in her womb?) Consider your feelings and values about raising a child, and what you want for your life and for your family or future family.

Some Things to Ask Yourself If You Are Thinking About Raising a Child

Am I ready to help a child feel wanted and loved?
(NO parent is ready to do that all the time. We learn to do it over time as we develop a relationship with our children and remain committed to them.)
Am I ready to cope with a tighter budget, less time for myself, and more stress?
(Gee, where do I sign up?)
Do I have the support of family and friends?
(Do I NEED the support of family and friends? If I don't have it, seems to me I might need new friends and some space from my family.)
Am I ready to accept responsibility for all my child's needs?
(Don't know a single parent who is without kicking and screaming.)
Would I prefer to have a child at another time?
(Anyone with 3+ kids will tell you-- there is NEVER a convenient time to have a baby. Only a panic attack. And yet.... it always works out exactly as it should.)
Is anyone pressuring me to continue or end the pregnancy?
(me, me, me, me, me blah blah blah blah blah)
How do I feel about other women who have children from unplanned pregnancies?
(Let's try this instead: "Does it matter how I feel, or should I change my attitude?")
Can I afford to have a child?
(No one can. And yet we all find what we need to do it.)
What would it mean for my future and my family's future if I had a child now?
(You already have a child. In your womb. Which they would like you to exterminate.)
How important is it to me what other people will think about my decision?
(Again, does it matter?)
Can I handle the experience of pregnancy and raising a child?
(I dare you to find me a mother who retrospectively couldn't. Each of these questions is so subtle but so manipulative.)

If you are already a parent, ask yourself how bringing another child into your family will affect your other children.
(Again with the big lies. Other children are ALWAYS happy to have a new addition. Unless we make them hate the idea by spazzing over whether they are jealous or not. Children are naturally overjoyed to have more children around, that's just how they operate.)

Think about what your answers mean to you. You may (MAY??? I MAY??) want to discuss your answers with your partner, someone in your family, a friend, a trusted religious adviser, or a counselor.

What Are Some of the Advantages and Disadvantages of Parenting?

Though parenting is hard work, it brings many rewards. Being a parent can be exciting and deeply rewarding. It can help you grow, understand yourself better, and enhance your life. (More of the me-me-mes. How about parenting helps other people grow, understand THEMSELVES better, and enhances THEIR lives?? Who are these insanely selfish women they are writing to??) Parents can feel delight at their child's accomplishments and the love and bond they share. (Are all parents associated with planned parenthood having babies to feel good and experience love??) Many people say that parenting brings great happiness and a deeper understanding of themselves.

But (here it comes!) parents often give up a lot for their children. Meeting a child's needs can be very challenging. Parents deal with less sleep and less time to do the things they need and want to do. Having a baby is expensive, (pure fabrication. Having a baby is practically free... they don't need all the junk people go crazy for in babies-R-us. Just a place to lay their heads.... like Jesus.) and many people find it hard to support their children. (well, yeah. Since they are raising kids who want EVERYTHING, just like mom.) Having children can also put a parent's school plans or career on hold. (But doesn't have to!)

Many people find that having a child can test even the strongest relationship. And if you are single parenting, you may find it more difficult to find and keep a relationship. (Well, who wants an untested, untried relationship???)

If you already have children, you know firsthand both the joys and challenges parenting can bring. A child will change your life, whether it is your first child or not. If you don't have any children, talking with other parents about their daily lives with their children may help give you an idea about what you could expect.

Who Can Help Me Decide?

Most women look to their husbands, partners, families, health care providers, clergy, or someone else they trust for support as they make their decision about an unplanned pregnancy. Even though the decision about what to do about your pregnancy is up to you, most women find they'd also like to talk with trusted people in their lives to help them make up their minds.

If you need help deciding, specially trained educators at women's health clinics — like your Planned Parenthood health center — (there's the bait!) can talk it through with you. They can talk with you in private or you may bring someone with you if you wish. When looking for someone to talk with about your options, beware of so-called "crisis pregnancy centers." They are run by people who are against abortion, and who will not give you information about all of your options. (in other words--- look out for the people who will try to convince you that abortion isn't a good choice. o.O)

Whether you choose adoption or to become a parent, if there is a chance that you will continue the pregnancy, you should begin prenatal care as soon as possible. You should have a medical exam early in your pregnancy — and regularly throughout your pregnancy — to make sure that you are healthy and the pregnancy is normal. (planned parenthood can't help you there, right?)

Even though most women have safe and healthy pregnancies, there are certain risks of pregnancy for a woman. They range from discomforts, such as nausea, fatigue, and aches and pains, to more serious risks, such as blood clots, high blood pressure, and diabetes. In extremely rare cases, complications can be fatal. That's why early and regular prenatal care is very important. (Sure, let's go ahead and scare them off with the idea of imminent death and disease)

It may be important to take your time and think carefully about your decision. But you may not want to wait too long. If you are considering abortion, you should know that abortion is very safe, but the risks increase the longer a pregnancy goes on. (Lets hurry up and abort this baby! I've got a long line here. Pressure, pressure, pressure. The abortion pill, given in the EARLY stages, can be fatal. But they don't want to tell you that.)


Can I Meet a Child's Needs?

Children have many needs. Your child will depend on you — for food, shelter, safety, affection, and guidance.

Parenting requires lots of love, energy, and patience. It is often complicated and frustrating. Your child's needs will constantly change and so will your ability to meet those needs. There will be times when you may feel that you are not doing a good job at parenting. To feel good about being a parent, it must be what you want to do — for a long time.
(Really? Because every mother-of-many I know who has embraced her vocation as wife and mother will be the first to tell you that they wake up daily wondering how in the world they are going to do it all and how long it would take the family to notice if they sneak out the window....  And then they get up and do it all. Because they are heroes. And who doesn't want to be a hero?)

If you are thinking about becoming a parent, you may wonder if you are prepared. Do you have what you might need to take care of a child?

Time — children can put your school plans or career on hold. (negative)
Energy and care — children need parents who are loving, patient, and flexible. (and honest-- because no one is loving, patient and flexible all the time)
Planning — having children takes daily planning, as well as long-term planning for the next stages of the child's life. (Uh, no. It takes creativity and a good survival instinct. Which gets developped over time and with practice. The planners are the moms who take years to adjust to motherhood. Wrong again, PP.)
Material things and money — children need clothes, diapers, food, and health care, and they often need day care. (No they don't!! This is one of the biggest lies I hear all the time. Children need a place to lay their heads. Cloth diapers cost practically nothing. God made us to be able to breastfeed-- food costs practically nothing. Good hygiene, safety and nutrition will reduce the need for medical care and a day care? Are you kidding me? No one NEEDS a daycare. They just want one.)

Parenting is hard work — (way to stay positive!) whether you are single and parenting or parenting with a partner, and whether it is your first child or another child in the family. A child requires nonstop care, and having a partner or other family member to share the work of parenting can make the job much easier. (isolation technique for moms with no significant other or support. PP is NOT your friend. )

New parents, whether they are single or in a couple, need support from lots of places. Worries about money and time are common for parents, and every family needs support now and then. Sometimes that might be grocery shopping, hand-me-down clothes, babysitting time, or just someone to talk with.

Single Parenting

Many people find themselves single parenting, or choose to become single parents. (??!) Single parenting can be very challenging, but it's certainly not impossible.

If you're thinking of single parenting, talk with family and friends about the help you will need. Find out how much time, energy, and money the people in your life are willing to give to you and your baby. If you will need money, be realistic about how much your friends and family can give. Some people will be able to help a lot, while others will be only able to help a little. If you need government support, keep in mind that it will only cover part of what you will need. (again with the positives!)

But being a single parent has its advantages, too. Because you will not have to make compromises with a partner, you can raise the child as you wish — with your values, principles, and beliefs. (unebelievably sneaky way to implant into women the idea that their partner gets in their way and is a burden. Like we women need help in this department.)


Parenting With a Partner

A partnership can provide parents with much-needed support. Many couples find great satisfaction in sharing the responsibility of raising a child. They find their love and commitment to each other is made deeper by their shared love for their child.

However, parenting can also put stress on relationships. Parents may disagree about what is best for a child. If you have a baby, your relationship with your partner will change. Joint parenting takes good communication and a solid commitment in hard times. (Hard times which can be overcome.)

When Extra Support Is Needed

Women often have a wide range of emotions after giving birth. The joy of a new baby can be mixed with feelings of sadness and anxiety, and feelings of being overwhelmed. Childbirth causes sudden shifts in hormones that can cause these feelings. You may need some extra support if you suffer from the "baby blues"during your baby's first few days or weeks.

Long-term depression is more common if a woman has a history of emotional problems or if she does not have supportive people in her life. Women should seek help from a health care provider or counselor if depression lasts more than two weeks or keeps them from doing what they need to do each day. (Here we go with the mental illness angle. Mothering creates mental illness. Mhmmmmm. Ok then.)

Overall, having lots of support from other people will be a big help to you if you decide to become a parent. Thinking about how much support you can expect from other people can be very important as you decide what to do about an unplanned pregnancy. (as you can see.... Planned Parenthood doesn't want people to choose parenthood.)


Another website, the National Abortion Federation, has a similar page.  Even more appalling, here is how it's overview of parenting opens:
"Parenthood means that you are choosing to carry the pregnancy to term and to raise your child. It is important that you fully consider all of your options when making this decision. Becoming a parent means that you are financially, legally, physically, and emotionally responsible for the upbringing of your child until adulthood. When you decide to become a parent you are choosing to embark on an experience that many find enriching and life-affirming but also difficult in many ways (...) " The website goes on to recommend a visit to Planned Parenthood for safe, honest, and accurate information about parenthood. REALLY?


Are you starting to get a picture here?? These people don't want you to become parents. They want you to FEAR parenthood, and to fail at it if you attempt it. Free your minds..... fight the propaganda. The bottom line is that parenting is the HARDEST thing you will do in your life. But it's also the most rewarding. No parent is ever "ready" for what lies ahead. You become ready by asking for the grace you need each day to overcome whatever difficulties life hands your way. No parent has the resources, patience, strength, abilities, and knowledge they need starting out in the journey to parenthood. These things come as you hope, pray, dream, beg for help, and learn to cope.
That mom you see piling 12 kids into her bus at Target is not made of different material than you. She is not a mutant, a martian, or an anomaly. She is fully alive... accepting that suffering and living for others is part of the human experience-- and often the most rewarding part because it brings so much purity, joy, and clarity.
Parenthood is about learning to overcome. About driving on. About doing it all for the sake of the future and the good of society. These same people who are advocating abortion are the ones out there promoting parenting ideas that reject notions of right and wrong, traditional values, and all of the things which are designed to help us along the way. Planned Parenthood wants us to kill our children and utterly destroy them if we don't kill them.


Make no mistake: a new child always brings a hope for the future with him when he arrives. He brings with him the resources his parents need to raise him, whatever the situation.


In my OB office, there is a sign above the ultrasound machine that reads: "a child is God's way of saying that life will go on." 
Choose Life.

Random Rant- Motherhood is bad for you. Really.

The Duggar Family

Motherhood is bad for you.
That's the message so many of my triumphant progressive acquaintances have gleaned and celebrated from a new study which recently surfaced in the New England Journal of Medicine.


A new study financed by the pro-abortion Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, might I add.
*false autism / vax connection crisis anyone?*
But I digress....


This article has been gleefully reposted on facebook over and over by the progressive crowds, pro-aborts, and feminists as being somehow proof that all mothers who persist in having legions of kids must, in some sense, be slightly ... "off." That those sneaking suspicions these people had that Michelle Duggar, for example, couldn't possibly be as sane and happy as she claims to be were now "proven accurate." On my own facebook page, I've had it posted and emailed to me at least seven times in the last week as a sort of "aha!" towards me, proof positive that all my pro-motherhood and pro-life posting is obsolete and possibly even.... dangerous.

To which I say:

And who wouldn't find childbirth and motherhood traumatic instead of glorious in this sick society?? We are weak, and the message being spread is so strong!
This society values women who kill their children and choose careers over parenthood. The persistent message is that children are an unnecessary, and even an unnatural burden.

I use public health. In order to recieve medical care for my pregnancy, I must first see a doctor who will give me a pink slip that says I am pregnant, which I can then bring to social services. I go to the public health department, stand in line with all the teenage girls, pee in a cup and hand it over. The way it looks is like this:

When it is announced to me that I am to bring a child in the world, I am put in a room with a nurse on one side and a social worker on the other. They introduce themselves. Then, the nurse, on my right, announces the pregnancy by saying: "Your test is positive."
They pause to allow me to respond however I am going to respond.
The Social Worker then asks me: "Are you going to terminate?" If I respond in the negative (in my case, emphatically in the negative!) they tell me that there is a program available for those who decide to keep the baby which supports the woman through the pregnancy. (Having been through this program during my second pregnancy, I will say here that this "support" includes bi-monthly visits from a social worker who assesses your situation by making judgements about your income, ability to cope, parenting skills with any other child you might have, and asking at almost every encounter which birth control method you will use once you are no longer pregnant.) They also give you a brochure that helps you to procure an abortion should you change your mind.
 Next, they begin their line of questioning:
"Were you planning this pregnancy?"
"No."
"So you are surprised."
"Not entirely. I understand that a by-product of having sex is that I might get pregnant."
"What type of birth control were you using?"
"I do not use birth control."
"Oh, well then you can't be surprised that you are pregnant!"
"I practice NFP."
"What's that?"
"It's a method of determining when ovulation occurs and abstaining from sex during the fertile periods."
"Oh, rhythm."
"no, it's not the rhythm method. It is far more scientific."
"OK. What type of birth control methods will you use when this pregnancy is over?"
(note how they never say things like... "after the Baby is born?" Rather, they constantly refer to the condition as "the pregnancy" so that the patient won't feel traumatized about ending it should she decide to.)
"None. I don't believe in using contraceptives."
"You realize that you may get pregnant again if you choose not to use birth control."
"I realize that."

And just like that, it begins. This is how I begin to be conditioned to believe that by saying "yes" to motherhood, I'm somehow saying "no" to normal life.

The message of our society is that new life is a burden. Unbelievably, pregnancy and parenting magazines are FILLED to the brim with this message.... going on and on and on about how much pampering we should be getting and how difficult it is. They always finish with "but it's all worth it." And it is!
But why the negative attention pregnancy receives? Satan is smart, and he knows what the result of all the focus on the challenges of pregnancy will do:
It dcreates momzillas in those who actually choose to embrace the child growing inside of them-- the pregnant version of the bridezilla-- selfish, obnoxious, and difficult. Clammoring for a comfortable chair, a favorite restaurant, an open window.
Everything about our society is backwards. The men are encouraged to lay everything side to wait hand and foot on the women, who literally are encouraged to do nothing but get backrubs and eat ice cream while getting their toes painted and think about "me, me, ME!"
No wonder the transition into motherhood is so hard for women today--- once the baby is born and the mother begins having to be self-less, the difficulties arise. Why do so many women experience postpartum depression, even REJECTING their newborn child?? Could it be that the transition from self-focus to focus on another is almost impossible to overcome without help these days?

You see, in this society, we tell women all the time that while dedication to motherhood is important, CHOOSING motherhood over other pursuits is equivalent to mental suicide. If we can't convince women NOT to have kids (and more and more of them are "childfree by choice,")  then we convince them to kill the children when they are conceived. If we can't convince them to kill the children, we convince them to become so utterly selfish and self-centered that when the baby is born, they hate it... utterly rejecting it as a source of joy and growth. Nevertheless, truth prevails, and the message-- which is that giving is more important than receiving and that openness to life is the ultimate measure of personal growth-- comes through because somewhere inside each woman we instinctively understand these things... that we are better people for the children we are raising.

Because of the state of society, most women take an entire lifetime with only one or two children to actually grasp the fullness of this lesson... that they are not in control of  their own lives, that giving is more blessed than receiving, that the very purpose of marriage is co-operation with the Creator God and nothing less than union, with one another, with Our Lord. They fight this knowledge every step of the way, even though I suspect that many of them know it somewhere inside of them and struggle with it.

Other women realize the great gift they have been given and welcome life. They yearn for it! These women have many children , as many as they are given and prayerfully, responsibly, able to care for, and they lose themselves in their families, building up a culture of life. And oh, how they suffer for it at the hands of the world!
They are hidden, when the world demands that to find happiness, you be "known."
They are contemplative, prayerful, and self-controlled, when the world demands that to have worth you be loud, reactive, and heard.
These women are busy, when the world says the value of your life is determined by your ability to be entertained and enjoy the experience of liesure.
They are living saints walking among us, for they know the key to happiness and fulfillment is to lose oneself in whatever God puts in your life to care for and give to.

So let's examine some of the messages that women with more than two children receive on a regular basis when out in public. (And this, daily.)
"Are those ALL yours?"
"I remember those days, bless your heart. You couldn't pay me to do that again."
"Do you run a daycare?"
"When do you have time for you?"
"You poor thing."
"You'll be in my prayers."
"How do you keep track of them all?"
"Aren't you tired?"
"What are you going to do once they grow up?"
"I'm glad I'm not you!"
and on and on it goes.

Then there are the whispers people think we don't hear, completely unfounded fears that people eat up and spit out at mothers of more than two children as if the mothers were inhumane:

"That's so irresponsible."
"Don't they care about the planet?"
"How can they take care of the needs of each those kids?? It's selfish."
"She's like a zombie."
"She's like a slave."
"She's a baby machine."

Even worse, in today's society, a mother who actually cares for her children enough to discipline them and train them up is looked at as archaic and "off." I can rattle off COUNTLESS  personal experiences when I have been scorned for actually saying "no," to my children or refusing to indulge them in some terribly selfish pursuit. So once again... if the woman actually makes it to the place where she accepts parenthood, she is then vilified not only for bearing children but for actually raising them instead of letting them run wild. It's amazing how crafty the devil is.

Michelle Duggar, one of the few "famous" American women to have had 18 children (so far) has been vilified constantly in the public eye. I once heard an entire group chant over and over about her:

"A Vagina is not a clown car."

How could a mother, especially a devoted mother who welcomes life as it comes, recognizing what a blessing she has been given, NOT have a difficult time coping in the world she sees outside the happy walls of her home? If we let even one whisper, one magazine headline, one disapproving glance get to us, we allow doubt to seep in because the flesh is weak.

The flesh is weak, but the Spirit is willing, and by the Spirit of God, motherhood has been deemed noble. It is our society, our culture of death, which aims to destroy the spirit of motherhood, the spirit of self-sacrifice, the spirit of giving and the spirit of joy that comes from these things, all the while using the same language to lie, lie, lie. Satan the liar. Satan the deceiver. The prince of this world.

It takes a strong spirit to overcome the lies we are fed. It takes grace, for we cannot do it alone.
 This article is the result of a study funded by a pro- abortionist group. This group wants to fund studies like this so that abortion will continue and life will cease. And meanwhile, those of us who see past the lies and deceit will continue to pray:


"Lord, you are God. I submit my LIFE to you and pray that you would use me to transmit your life to the world. Be thou king, O God, over all the world, including my reproductive system and my desires. Make me to know your will and to say YES to life, as Mary did, for through her came the savior of the World. Amen."

Choose Life- the tale of a march and rally

I've been sitting on this blog for a while because I didn't know how I wanted to convey it. I want to do justice to the organizers of the event I am about to describe and to acknowledge the important progress that was made that day for the cause of life. I want to encourage people who actively promote the cause of life. At the same time, I have to be honest about what I saw and experienced. In other words, I don't want to denigrate anyone, but I do want to express a deep frustration and sense of urgency I have about this particular cause.

Let me start by saying that there is no cause more noble than to take up the cause of the protection of the Unborn. The pro-life movement encompasses much more than abortion, of course, as it has for a goal the protection of human life from conception until natural death, as we say in the Catholic Church. But I think the most important facet of the movement is the protection of the unborn, because these days there is a flat out WAR declared against them and they have NO voice. Satan has had a field day with our society in particular since the sixties and the normalization of birth control, and through it people are literally dying. There's no doubt about it: Abortion hurts everyone.

The kids and I (well, my two daughters.... I left my son at home because I didn't feel that I was operating on enough sleep to keep THREE toddlers in line and safe at a busy, possibly dangerous event like this one) went to a Pro-Life March on Saturday. It was a statewide event designed to push the pro-life cause in the State capital before the Country-wide rally held in Washington DC every year (Which happens to be tomorrow, as a matter of fact.)
I had never been to a pro-life march and rally and had no idea what to expect.

We left early enough in the morning so that it felt like we were going on an adventure. Lumped into a big bus with a friend's family, the kids talked in hushed excited voices and we sipped coffee and water and worked on waking up. We started the day with Mass at a Parish I really love in Raleigh. I was very excited since the Bishop was saying mass-- and was not disappointed.
Their day began with a 7 am rosary, followed by what was called the "Reading of the Names." I didn't know what this was, but I knew when everyone stood up and looked solemnly over at the shrine of Our Lady where the Cantor was preparing to chant the names that it was going to be intense. And it was.... the Reading of the Names was an almost half hour straight chanting of the "given" names of babies that had been killed in abortion through Project Rachel. In essence, we were hearing the names of each child that had died that year because of abortion. Not cool.

Like the saddest funeral in the world, the cantor's melodic rhythm continued as he called out a seemingly unending list of names. It took exactly three names for me to start crying. By about twelve I was a near wreck. I watched the incense rise towards heaven and asked the souls of these beautiful babies who weren't even given a chance to pray for us all.

This event set the tone for the Mass, which was beautiful. And at one point I realized that I was standing right next to a gigantic, gorgeous statue of St Gerard Majella. I prayed for my sisters who are trying to conceive and asked him to intercede for them. It didn't seem like an accident that I was standing there holding my beautiful little "mistake," the snoodle, and periodically glancing over at my gorgeous "surprise," who was behaving herself relatively well for this mass, excited as she was to "go to Raleigh to save babies."

Shortly after a quick break at a favorite Catholic bookstore, where unbelievably my dear St Brighid made herself known to me AGAIN, we found ourselves standing in a big public square looking at a huge stage where a young girl was belting out praise songs. She raised up enthusiasm with a souled-up chorus of "God is in control" followed by "It's a new day." And in that I found that I was getting excited. More and more people were showing up and it seemed to be the perfect family event-- kids and parents in solidarity holding signs and gathering around to hear the speakers.

There was hushed excitement in the air, and everyone seemed to be polite and thoughtful. There was a tremendous sense of unity that reminded me of why I had enjoyed political manifestations as a teenager and college student. Hope floated over the crowd and touched down in each heart. The speakers began.

First, our Bishop opened us up in prayer. He chose NOT to make the sign of the cross, a concession to the protestants there, I assume, and while it irked me, I understood what his reasoning behind it might be. United in prayer, protestants, Catholics and even secular atheists/agnostics acknowledged that this cause was the most important one we could address if we were going to change the world one step at a time.
Next, we heard what seemed like an endless, droning list of reasons why our senators and congressmen who "cared deeply" about the issue of Life couldn't be with us at the rally. It felt silly to me-- like a reminder that they didn't care enough to be there. But they had each written a letter, so listen we must.

Next came the testimony of a woman who was a pro-life advocate and adoption advocate. She seemed very genuine and real, and acknowledged that while she had been asked to keep her comments secular and focused on politics, she felt compelled to share her testimony instead, which she did in a very heartfelt, careful manner. You could tell this woman's heart was set on fire by the Holy Spirit and that she just wanted to share in that with everyone. I hadn't heard anyone talk like that in quite a while, so it made me reminisce about my protestant days and that sense of URGENCY we had in sharing "Jesus as our Lord and Savior" with everyone within earshot as loudly as we possibly could.

Right after that came the flood for me, a dense rain of bizarre experiences that culminated in giving me the creepy crawlies. And this is where it got very, very strange. A woman, who was introduced as Angela something-or-other with a pHD, began to speak. And her speech was disturbing. She was a feminist, it was clear, and a hardlined one. She spoke of the injuries to women over abortion-- and gave grim, grisly and utterly disgusting descriptions of nightmare scenarios like rape, molestation, abuse, etc. We were furious that the teenaged girls in the crowd were hearing what she was saying.
She spoke about these things with such vehemence that I could imagine the shower of spittle coming down from her mouth and into the crowd. Honestly, it reminded me of riot grrrl rallies and the like that I used to attend as a sullen teen. This was not the culture of life. This was the culture of death, of fear, of destruction. This was about women trying to survive. All the sense of comraderie and "family togetherness" I had had from the rally evaporated within minutes of this woman taking the microphone, and a sudden, noticeable chill began to work its' way up my back. I couldn't put my finger on it at first, but I just knew that SOMETHING wasn't right. The sense of heaviness and darkness that had begun to weigh on me was so intense I actually walked away from the crowds and took out my rosary. As the kids played in circles around me my fingers ran circles around the beads as I tried desperately to lift the sense of impending .... ickiness... that had settled over me.
I was not surprised to find that the friend I had come with was trying to catch her breath also. Like me, she clutched at her rosary and began to pray. It became very clear to me that an entire "other" faction had taken over the rally and that the message was ever so slightly-- and ever so ominously-- different.

The rally suddenly went from being about FAITH, to being about FEAR. And darkness settled in.
I noticed other Catholics in the crowd had begun a rosary as well. I tried to shake off the creepy feeling and find unity in that, but it was too late.

Shortly thereafter the march began, and we headed down into the street. Up until that time there had been dozens of cars driving by and honking, people making comments out the windows. But as we began to march, I got the most bizarre feeling of "aloneness." The downtown buildings loomed overhead like menacing giants and I noticed that there was no "common chant" in the crowd. For the most part, people were silent or conversing with neighboring sign holders around them. At no point did someone start up a rallying cry or begin to shout or sing. I kept praying my rosary, and so did, I noticed, lots of Catholics around me. Suddenly, it dawned on me that there was an absolutely miserable lack of clergy and religious present. I think I saw maybe ten priests ,one brother, and one sister the whole march, which, quite honestly, is a terrible shame. Did Catholics have something better to do that day than promote the culture of life?

So quietly we marched, holding loud signs, up the streets of Raleigh and NO WHERE, and I mean NOWHERE did I see another person-- a passerby, an accidental encounter, a vehicle waiting for us to pass. Nowhere. The handful of people at stoplights watching were older pro lifers who couldn't march but wanted to participate. It seemed to me as though the streets of downtown Raleigh, the Capital of North Carolina, just happened to be empty that day. And yet the MINUTE that the march was over, I noticed, the streets were busy and normal again-- all of a sudden people in suits with coffee were walking around talking on cell phones. So bizarre.

But we marched...we held our signs high and we prayed. My three year old shouted to everyone she saw: "The badguys are killing babies! We're marching to save them! Save the babies!"

On the way out, we stopped to get some refreshements and to change the babies and use the bathroom. I was downstairs in the bathroom, alone, when my darling newest child decided to just EXPLODE. She pooped so much (and if you breastfeed, baby poop is basically just liquid) that she wrecked her clothes, the changing table, the floor-- even the insides of the buckles on the changing table. Of course, this was after we had been using baby wipes like they were going out of style on tables, chairs ,etc where the babies were sitting. So I had ONE baby wipe left. And the changing table was out of reach of the paper towels. And my diaper bag was in the car. And it was freezing outside.

Looking back, I think God gave me this little incident to remind me that children ARE an inconvenience. Everything about that scenario was a nightmare, and it sucked, and it was embarrassing, and messy, and a huge nuissance. But it was COMMON. As I sat there with one hand on my baby and the other elbow deep in poop, waiting for someone to happen into the bathroom, not run, and to hand me a wad of paper towels, I realized that I was experienced now enough at motherhood to understand that not only do these things happen, but they need to happen. They need to happen because we need to lose ourselves and our ridiculous sense of self-importance and instead to pour ourselves into others-- what better way to do that than to put us in charge of a being who cannot care for himself? I was also impressed with the grace which God gave me to handle that situation. Instead of allowing the situation to frustrate me, I just laughed and giggled with the baby, cooing at her and tsk tsking her for saving all that up for the ONE day I was hours from home. I think I'm getting used to being a mom, three babies later. :)

In the end, I think the march was a bittersweet event. I do NOT believe, (unlike most pro-life activists, it seems) that I will ever see abortion abolished in my time. I believe that this great evil will continue to exist, and that it will continue to be accepted. I'm not a pro-life activist because I think I'm going to change legislation or change the world. Instead, I think I do it so I can teach my kids to do it-- so I can create in my own family a CULTURE of life which is communicable to the outside world, and which will be shared with those who have ears to hear the message of Christ, that every person matters. I think that what God wanted to allow me to see was how Satan was trying to steal the pro-life movement, to distort it and change its message from a celebration of the dignity of human life to a necessary step for protection because of our fear.

Ultimately, my entire weekend was a weekend in which I was made aware of the warfare over our heads. After the tangible darkness I felt in the actual march and rally, the next day at Church was even more bizarre. My husband, priest and I saw three separate incidents in which people were acting very, very, strange around the Eucharist. Shortly after the tabernacle was closed, everyone had received, and the priest returned to his seat, I felt a jarring, hard punch in the back of my head, followed by a heavy weight against my back.I nearly fell over the front of the pew. I struggled for some time, and finally found myself face to face with this person who was having some sort of seizure and had fallen on me. Because I held the baby I couldn't help her, but she and I did this bizarre dance and struggle for nearly a minute before anyone around us noticed to help, and it was nearly four minutes before my husband or hers noticed! Very odd experience. Her children seemed completely unphased, as if this was normal behavior, and her husband was not wanting any help or assistance which made it even weirder.

I was shaken, particularly since a woman I knew had had an almost identical unexplainable seizure while sitting in the exact same spot a year before. Later that day, it seemed pretty clear to me and the woman I had gone with that some type of severe spiritual warfare was going on over our heads. Was this because we participated in a pro-life march? Because we NOTICED the visible darkness over the march and began to pray over it? What exactly caused this insanely thick darkness to descend over the weekend? I have no idea. All I know is that it lifted on Monday morning as quickly as it had descended, and in its place I found the solace of routine, family structure, and our normal lives.

But for a second- just for a fleeting instant-- my Spirit-woman was quickened and it was like I had open eyes to see the importance of the abortion issue in the spiritual realm.

All the saints of heaven, pray for the pro-life movement. Particularly tomorrow as they march on Washington DC in solidarity.

If you were at the Raleigh march, I'd love to hear you opinions of how the event went.

A quick note: Is abortion biblical?

Recently an acquaintance posted an article she wanted me to read on my facebook page in a debate about abortion.
The article can be found here:

http://elroy.net/ehr/abortion.html

Because this guy seems to embody the kind of thinking that many people I know adopt when making abortion "ok" in their heads, I thought it would be good to issue a more public response.

My basic problem with it is this- he claims that disapproval of abortion is based on taking passages out of context. He then goes on to deconstruct them in a way that makes it obvious that he has no contextual biblical knowledge at all (he is simply widening the passage being considered and then taking THAT out of context.)
He follows that up by doing the exact thing he is harping on us about TO make his own argument that abortion is biblical- how can I take him seriously?
Further, his arrogance and rebellion against the Lordship of Christ shows in virtually every sentence.... But no where better than when he says that "most" Christians don't read the Bible for themselves. What an incredible claim to make.

The second thing is that even if someone DID feel that he had a point and that his argument held some weight, I would have to ask...What makes this guy more qualified than me or you or her to interpret the Bible correctly?
As a Catholic, I have 2000 years of unbroken apostolic succession from Christ Himself through Peter, the first human representative of the head of His Church on earth who have consistently held the same view on abortion, since before abortion was even "perfected" as a "procedure."
If interested, I would turn people to this link, which gives quotations from the writings of the earliest Christian Fathers about abortion: http://www.catholic.com/library/Abortion.asp

I would suggest a proper theological grounding by meditating on the Theology of the Body: http://www.theologyofthebody.net/...

And I would especially suggest that a person read Humanae Vitae, an encyclical written by Pope Paul VI which accurately predicted the demise of a society whose blatant immorality allows it to regulate birth.
http://www.ewtn.com/library/PROLIFE/PPAULPRO.TXT

Among other things, he predicted that infidelity and moral decline would be rampant, that society would lose respect for the woman, instead objectifying her. Looking around today this is an obvious scenario on which I could write books. He predicted that there would be an abuse of power by the government, (hellooooooo, Obama and more importantly, hellooo third world countries where sterilization is handed out like candy without even an explanation) And he predicted that man would feel he had unlimited dominion over his own body (IVF, sterilization, etc). All of his prophecies were chillingly accurate.
You can read the full text of humanae vitae on the Vatican website:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html

If I were asked to provide ONE Bible verse to support my stance on Abortion, I would cite many of the verses he attempted to deconstruct in his article for the reason that they are contextually accurate representations of God's great CARE for human life, even from before conception, as He "knows us" and "has great plans for us" individually.

But I would choose Deuteronomy 30:19 as my "it" verse. It says :

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So CHOOSE LIFE in order that you may live, you and your descendants."

When we say "Choose Life" we are speaking the Word of God, which is always God's will for our lives. You are right in that it's not at all something that I would use to form an argument that the bible is pro-or anti-abortion (remember, I don't believe that the Bible is "crystal clear" on the subject but rather that it requires careful consideration and correct interpretation-- this is why I have the magesterium.)

Instead, I like using this verse to explain my stance because it represents God's whole view of our existence and freewill.
He gave us the choice between a blessing and a curse, and we must choose life- goodness-holiness etc for eternal life.

In the context of abortion, I think this is particularly appropriate because God is so clear in His word that the conception of a child is a BLESSING and not a curse, that rather, barrenness is a curse. Thus we can conclude from a contextual (whole bible) reading of this passage that God gives us the opportunity to say YES to His blessings-- to choose life-- and thus to propogate a culture of Life.


And I would lastly leave you with the inscription on a sign I saw at the march, held by a beautiful girl in a wheelchair who clearly suffered from some sort of serious palsy. Her sign read: "God does not make mistakes. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)