Another Day

On Friday I again prayed outside the abortuary. I often see the same people praying. As I stood praying, workers began to show up. It seems that they cannot enter the clinic until 7:45 AM. I stood and prayed for each of them as they arrived. Some looked at us, others refused to acknowledge our presence. One young woman (there were 12 women and one man that entered) returned outside to smoke a cigarette. She only partially smoked her cigarette, then hurried back into the clinic.

On Thursday evening while I was driving home, there were several pro-lifers standing along New York Street with graphic signs of aborted babies. Three of Aurora's finest were speaking to them. I snapped a few pictures for posterity.

I found out later that it seems that Dominick's Foods is under some pressure from Planned Parenthood to prevent pro-lifers from standing on their property in front of the entrance to the PP death camp. We will see what happens. It also appears that the Dominick's security guard is chummy with the death camp guards. Also, it seems that PP wants to buy the Dominick's property on New York Street.

Today is Sunday. There were at least 150 people gathered along New York Street in a Life Chain to demonstrate against the PP facility. I recognized some of them as I drove past. And still we continue to pray. Every day we pray on the sidewalk. We implore the Lord to help us.

1 In you, LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2 In your justice rescue and deliver me; listen to me and save me! 3 Be my rock and refuge, my secure stronghold; for you are my rock and fortress. 4 My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the clutches of the violent. 5 You are my hope, Lord; my trust, GOD, from my youth. 6 On you I depend since birth; from my mother's womb you are my strength; my hope in you never wavers. PS 71: 1-6 (NAB)

Patience and Prayer

It was a day of strange beginnings. I was at the abortuary at 7:00 AM and read from the Psalms before beginning my rosary. It is amazing how appropriate the Psalms are for praying on behalf of babies facing execution. As I approached the sidewalk along the eastern edge of the property (the place where we've been praying day and night) there was a woman bundled in a blanket and sleeping in a folding lawn chair. At least, I thought she was sleeping. As I walked past she opened her eyes and said, "Good morning!" She had been keeping vigil all night alone. Three young men had approached her during the night, much like Nicodemus, and she had converted them to joining us in any future youth rally against the abortuary.
I was soon joined by two other men, one of whom is a Secular Franciscan from Cincinnati, OH. Many people gather at the clinic during the day. A few remain all day, a select few stay through the night.
The Brother Steven has been to Aurora three times in the past month on a mission to have Aurora declared a Peace and Life zone. He carried a banner and prayed as he paced along the sidewalk. He asked me if I knew of a Transitus Service nearby. Transitus is a service held by Fransiscans on the night before the Feast of St. Francis and is a remembrance of his death on October 3rd.
Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Francis. I wonder what he would have done. Would he have joined us? He sought martyrdom in the Holy Land. Without harm he approached the Muslim Sultan Melek-el-Kamel of Egypt. No one knows for certain all that passed between them, but ultimately the Fransiscan Order was given the privilege of maintaining the Christian shrines in Palestine.
After praying an hour I began walking back to my car. As I pass the entrance to the facility, my rosary breaks. The crucifix falls to the ground. I pick it up, walk to the car, and drive to Divine Liturgy with the Franciscan. We pray "LORD, have mercy". After Liturgy we return to the parking lot near the clinic. He leaves to try to persuade business owners to support his cause.
A question. I have a question. Did the slaughter of the innocents begin today? Let my eyes stream with tears day and night, without rest, over the great destruction which overwhelms the virgin daughter of my people, over her incurable wound....

Psalm 31
1 For the leader. A psalm of David. 2 In you, LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice deliver me; 3 incline your ear to me; make haste to rescue me! Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to save me. 4 You are my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake lead and guide me. 5 Free me from the net they have set for me, for you are my refuge. 6 Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, LORD, faithful God. 7 You hate those who serve worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD. 8 I will rejoice and be glad in your love, once you have seen my misery, observed my distress. 9 You will not abandon me into enemy hands, but will set my feet in a free and open space. 10 Be gracious to me, LORD, for I am in distress; with grief my eyes are wasted, my soul and body spent. 11 My life is worn out by sorrow, my years by sighing. My strength fails in affliction; my bones are consumed. 12 To all my foes I am a thing of scorn, to my neighbors, a dreaded sight, a horror to my friends. When they see me in the street, they quickly shy away. 13 I am forgotten, out of mind like the dead; I am like a shattered dish. 14 I hear the whispers of the crowd; terrors are all around me. They conspire against me; they plot to take my life. 15 But I trust in you, LORD; I say, "You are my God." 16 My times are in your hands; rescue me from my enemies, from the hands of my pursuers. 17 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your kindness. 18 Do not let me be put to shame, for I have called to you, LORD. Put the wicked to shame; reduce them to silence in Sheol. 19 Strike dumb their lying lips, proud lips that attack the just in contempt and scorn. 20 How great is your goodness, Lord, stored up for those who fear you. You display it for those who trust you, in the sight of all the people. 21 You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from scheming enemies. You keep them in your abode, safe from plotting tongues. 22 Blessed be the LORD, who has shown me wondrous love, and been for me a city most secure. 23 Once I said in my anguish, "I am shut out from your sight." Yet you heard my plea, when I cried out to you. 24 Love the LORD, all you faithful. The LORD protects the loyal, but repays the arrogant in full. 25 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. (NAB)

Aurora Abortuary Opens "Peacefully"

Today is a sad day. Yesterday the Mayor of Aurora, Tom Weisner, gave Planned Parenthood the occupancy permit that it requested without allowing public comment and without allowing a vote by the City Council. Last night we held a prayer vigil outside the clinic. The media was there in force. I believe that 300 or so people were there to pray. This morning at 7:00 am I was praying on the sidewalk outside the clinic with 5 others. Most were very disheartened. However, even in the midst of this seeming defeat, there will be victory.

" But I will call this to mind, as my reason to have hope: The favors of the LORD are not exhausted, his mercies are not spent; They are renewed each morning, so great is his faithfulness. My portion is the LORD, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him. Good is the LORD to one who waits for him, to the soul that seeks him; It is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the LORD. " Lam 3: 21-26.

Let's continue to pray, to hope, and to work.

Betrayal. Recall anyone???

It appears that Mayor Tom Weisner (may his name go down in infamy) reneged on his promise to allow a free and open debate on the issuance of an occupancy permit for Planned parenthood in Aurora. To make matters worse, there are allegations that he leaked his decision to Planned Parenthood before he told anyone else. In addition, he refused to face his constituents and tell them of his decision. Instead, he held the press conference announcing his decision in a City Hall conference room behind closed doors -- again the Public was denied access. This cowardly act only serves to reinforce the perception that he is afraid of allowing the truth, and of facing the consequences of his decisions.

I hope he realizes that he has irreparably damaged his reputation with the citizens of Aurora by not allowing a free and open debate. It appears that he never intended to honor his word to the people of the City. It also appears that he is in bed with Planned Parenthood. Interesting development. It certainly begs the question, "Is there some unseen connection between Planned Parenthood and the Mayor?" What have they got on Tom Weisner that would cause him to disregard the firestorm of opinion against the abortuary, renege on his word, and perhaps commit political suicide? Does he think that his Obama connection will save him?

Meanwhile, we continue to pray. Tonight at 8:30 PM we gather, again, outside of the abortuary and implore the Lord of Life to fight for us.