Show the ACOG that the abortion of children with Down syndrome must end

By signing this petition. I did!

Ash Wednesday in solidarity with 40 Days for Life

Guest post by CB at the Long Island Coatition for Life
Ash Wednesday vigil tonight at Planned Parenthood in Hempstead. While pro-lifers were praying around the country for the start of their 40 Days for Life campaign, we joined with them for an hour tonight. The rain held off as more than 20 of us prayed, held signs, and passed out literature. Even though the darkness makes it harder to read our signs, we received a number of supportive horn honks.
And it wasn't so dark that the pedestrians couldn't get our message and we got support from some of them also.Two young girls were walking by me and I handed them the little hands card, telling them that's how small their hands were in their mother. The reaction from the "older" girl made me think she was post-abortive or was somehow involved in someone else's abortion. I start telling them why we're there and that Planned Parenthood does abortions and they say "That's where we're going." Ugh. I start telling them that's not a good idea and they say they aren't going in for an abortion, but for a pregnancy test. Ugh some more. The girl who thinks she's pregnant.... 15 years old. I talk - they listen. I give them literature - they take it. I tell them about the Life Center nearby - they don't want to wait til tomorrow. I encourage them not to linger in PP after the pregnancy test or listen to them if they start telling her what a disaster her life will be if she has a baby now. I mention how abortion bothers women so much that the Life Center has programs to help women who had an abortion. And the older girl says "Really?" She readily takes the Life Center brochure.So the 2 teens walk into PP and are out in minutes. Why? Pregnancy test cost $100! WHY would PP charge so much, are they making sure the girl comes back for the abortion; is it a 'down payment?'We point out the LIfe Center across the street and tell them "Tomorrow. There. Free."
Thank God PP's high prices turn away customers and thank God people donate to prolife organizations so they can offer pregnancy tests kits for free. Pray that if this young girl's pregnancy test is positive, she'll find support and strength and courage to carry her child to term.Thanks for a job well done to ALL those who showed up tonight, including two families (one from Suffolk that's me and my girls!), a college student who walked from campus, a clergyman, and some stalwarts from the not-so-young crowd. And welcome to the first-timers - our group didn't quite match what they saw in D.C., but we're a strong presence just the same : )
We hope to see you again.
L'chaim,
Celeste

Gabbi's March for Life 2008 Montage

Gabbi goes to Washington

Gabbi and I left home Monday January 21st for a whirlwind two days chasing Congressmen for interviews, social gatherings with pro-life luminaries, political activism and prayer at the March for Life.

We stayed at the Phoenix Park Hotel on the 21st, right across the street from Union Station, and down Capitol Street from the Capitol itself.


We met our attorney for our attempt at bringing Catholic Radio to Long Island at the Dubliner the pub at the hotel that evening and met his pro-life activist friends, including Br. Augustine of the Friars of the Immaculate Heart whose order will be running a Catholic radio station upstate New York. These friars brought the statue of Our Lady of America to Ground Zero last anniversary of 9/11, where she circled the area, and rode up 5th Avenue to St. Patrick's Cathedral. If you are not familiar with this approved apparition from 1953, I posted on it here.
After dinner, I requested one of my favorite Irish ballads,"The Whistling Gypsy", and left the cozy pub since I wanted to show Gabbi the prayer going on at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. We attended the rosary and compline in the Crypt Church at the Basilica till midnight. I posted on this here.

On the 22nd we attended the Memorial for the Pre-Born at the Hart Office Building,where we met David Bereit, and Tony Melendez whom I posted on here. We heard inspired preaching from Fr. Frank Pavone, then we didn't get to Blogs for Life till about 11AM when Rep Christ Smith was speaking, and former Kansas Attorney General Phil Kline, who was awesome. He is in the throes of the battle to put lawbreaking George the baby killer Tiller behind bars where he belongs. Pray for him, if he succeeds amidst all the corruption in Kansas, then he promised to bring what he learned to the rest of us, and we can begin to dismantle the abortion machine, bit by bit.




Then Gabbi and I attended the March for Life, meeting many Long Island friends, I was interviewed by Japanese TV and did some interviewing of my own, and Gabbi took over 50 photos, which I made into a montage you can see here or on YouTube. I look forward to the celebration we'll have when we overturn Roe v Wade, and the state laws, and a mother's womb is no longer the most dangerous place in our land.

We spent a brief time in the Hyatt around 4PM to see the displays, meeting Norma McCorvey, the "Jane Roe" of Roe v Wade, and Fr. Tom Euteneuer, President of Human Life International as well as Slaves of the Immaculate Heart who ran Morning Star Camp which Gabbi and Bella attended camp last summer.



We ran round the corner, changed into our nice clothes, and at 5 we attended the Filipino Family Fund Champions for the Family Award Reception at the Phoenix Park Hotel. Eduardo Verastegui didn't make his appearance there, but we met Leo Severino and his brother Roger, Bobby Schindler, Chris and Marie Smith, and Maureen Flynn. Maureen writes the magazine, "Signs and Wonders for Our Time" and organizes the International Week for Prayer and Fasting each October at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Maureen's husband Ted Flynn, whose tape "The Thunder of Justice" . Leo Severino thanked us for the success of his film, "Bella" and informed us that the DVD will go on sale May 16. I met his brother Roger who works as an attorney for the Becket Fund.
It was an amazing two days, and I formed many contacts with whom I hope to coordinate our efforts to pass the Kennedy-Brownback Bill to protect unborn children with prenatally diagnosed conditions like Down syndrome.

Status of Kennedy-Brownback bill

Briefing on Kennedy-Brownback Legislation
On January 16, 2008, a closed briefing was held for Senate staff members on The Pre-Natally and Post-Natally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act (S. 1810), known as the Kennedy-Brownback bill. Representatives from both NDSC and NDSS were invited and attended this briefing. Staff members heard Mia Peterson, self-advocate, and Brian and Michelle Wray, parents of Matthew who has Down syndrome, discussing the quality of information they received before and after the birth of Matthew. According to Mr. Wray, “we know, first hand, what it was like to not be given this critical information and access to resources in a timely and effective manner.” Andy Imparato, of the American Association for Persons with Disabilities (AAPD) provided a cross-disability perspective on the issue of genetic testing.
This meeting was held to brief Senate staff members on S. 1810 before the bill is marked up by the Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee. The mark-up, which is a process whereby Committee members meet formally to make changes to the bill, is now tentatively scheduled to take place on January 30th. Hopefully, any differences among Senate members can be worked out prior to the mark-up.
We continue to follow this process closely and in consultation with NDSS, tracking, reviewing and discussing minor language changes with Senate staff. Since the legislative process is, by nature, in a constant state of flux, we want to ensure that grassroots efforts will be used when they have the greatest chance of success.
To see the most recent version of the bill that has been introduced, go to: http://thomas.loc.gov/ and key in S. 1810 in the space for the bill number.
HT National Down Syndrome Congress

No angels on that Christmas Tree, Grandma!

The Plant City Living Center has told Mrs. Arnold, an 85-year-old grandmother in Florida, that federal law prohibits her from displaying any religious words or items associated with Christmas in the common area of her apartment building.
Read the rest of this story on my Christmas blog here.

Where I was during Hurricane Noel

In the second to last day of 40 Days for Life, we were covering all the Planned Parenthoods on Long Island, whether they do surgical abortions or just chemical abortions. Here I am with 3 other protesters (one is the cameraman) . The office was closed that day.

Apparently the climate was unfavorable.

David Bereit Director of 40 Days for Life coming to Long Island tomorrow!!

I have posted the information at Causa Nostrae Laetitiae. He'll be in Hempstead from NOON to 1PM. Come and see the leader of the most amazing pro-life movement I have ever seen. There are 89 cities in 32 states participating in 40 Days for Life. This is our chance to be in on the beginning of the end of abortion in our time.

The Campaign to Keep Christ in Christmas

My Godmother, Kathryn Mansolill, is a dynamic woman who has, like so many of us, grown irate over how the name of Christ is forbidden from the celebration of Christmas. Unlike so many of us, however, she's doing something about it. Here's the blog I started with her, to organize her efforts to preserve . . . The True Meaning of Christmas. Make a visit, and get involved!

More Photos from the March for Life

A lady from Virginia is trying to organize homeschoolers into a pro-life group. The website is www.homeschoolersforlife.com I told her we are mostly active in pro-life here on Long Island, but not as a unified group. It's something to consider, as it would send a powerful message about homeschooling.
Christina was so cold (we were mostly inside, and only ventured out for an hour of the March) but she reached out to Sr. Katherine of the Sisters of Life, whom we see regularly. We marched with them in Manhattan on the Feast of the Holy Innocents.
This young man was handing out literature for my friend Sam Brownback and needed a hat and pair of gloves desperately. I told him he was in good company.
Isn't this a striking photo with the Blessed Mother next to him?
I wonder if it's a sign?!



Fr. Thomas J. Euteneuer of Human Life International was waiting to be interviewed by EWTN, when I asked him to pose for this photo. He gave me permission to use his weekly email on my blogs. He is a tireless crusader for the rights of the unborn.

Susan Andrews Brindle and her sister. She is the sister of pro-life activist Joan Andrews Bell, and has written the series of children's books, "The Catepillar Who Went to Mass", and "The Preborn Christ". I told her I marched with Chris Bell her brother-in-law(Joan's husband) and son in New York. Pro-life people get to be a big family in the trenches, and this is our family reunion.