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Home Action News December 2002 Other Stories

December 2002 ACTION NEWS | VOL. XXI No. 3

Other Stories

Joe Receives Stand Up for Life Award in Philadelphia

[Stand Up for Life Awards Dinner]

Joe addresses the annual Stand Up for Life awards dinner

On Sunday November 24, Joe Scheidler spoke at the annual Stand Up for Life dinner hosted by the Pro-Life Union of Southeastern Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and received the Stand Up for Life Award from John Stanton. More than 1500 pro-lifers were present for this gala event, including members of the Catholic press and Joe's wife Ann.

[Ann Scheidler Explains Explains NOW v Scheidler]

Ann discusses Now v Scheidler at a press conference before the awards dinner.

The dinner has been held annually for nearly thirty years and always draws a large crowd. Past recipients of the Stand Up for Life Award include Ambassador Alan Keyes, Dr. Janet Smith, Dr. Bernard Nathanson, Congressman Chris Smith, Fr. Frank Pavone, Dr. Beverly McMillan, Sandra Cano and Joan Andrews.

Monday, Joe and Ann visited the offices of the Pro-Life Union and had lunch with Kim Marshall and the staff of Generation Life, the Union's youth outreach. In the evening, the Scheidlers spoke at Maria Goretti Catholic Church in Hatfield, PA at the invitation of Kristen Federmeir, director of adult faith formation at the parish.

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Lake Michigan Cruise Honors Joe Scheidler

[Evening Star Cruise]

Mary Ann Hackett, Joe Scheidler and Paul Caprio aboard the Evening Star

On August 6, Joe was honored with a Lake Michigan dinner cruise aboard the Evening Star, compliments of Paul Caprio and Family PAC. Over 150 family and friends celebrated pro-family leaders and legislators as Scheidler received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his devotion to protecting the unborn. He was introduced by radio host Tom Roeser and Mary Ann Hackett.

Other honors Joe received during the cruise were letters from Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) and Sen. Peter Fitzgerald (R-IL), a bible from Francis Cardinal George, a book of prayers from Sandy Rios of Concerned Women for America, and a spectacular banner of Christ the King from Catholic Citizens of Illinois.

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Young Scheidlers Join League Staff

[Annie Scheidler]

Annie Scheidler

A new generation of pro-life activism has been tapped with the addition of two of Joe and Ann's children to the League staff. After four years in parish youth ministry, Annie Scheidler, 27, came on board in October to head the League's new youth outreach, Generations for Life. This issue of Action News includes a full article on this exciting new program.

[Eric Scheidler]

Eric Scheidler

Eric J. Scheidler, 36, father of five, joined the League in November after five years with The GIFT Foundation, a lay Catholic apostolate dedicated to promoting the Church's teachings on marriage and sexuality. Starting with this issue, Eric assumes responsibility for editorship of Action News. Building on his work with The GIFT Foundation, Eric will spearhead the League's effort to address the contraception issue, which he calls "the taproot of abortion."[BACK TO TOP]

League Posts Glen Ellyn Billboard

This billboard across the street from Vinod Goyal's abortion mill is part of Glen Ellyn citizens' campaign to keep abortion out of their community. The Pro-Life Action League handled the design and contract for the billboard, paid for by churches and concerned citizens of Glen Ellyn. The Fr. Boecker Council of the Knights of Columbus in Lombard, Sacred Heart Parish in Lombard and St. Matthew's Parish in Glendale Heights helped raise funds and encourage parishioners to join the demonstrations in front of Goyal's building. Monica Miller of Citizens for a Pro-Life Society and Carol Wright of Illinois Citizens for Life coordinated meetings, protests, vigils and a community awareness project in the effort to keep Goyal out of Glen Ellyn.

[Billboard]

"Abortion Stops a Beating Heart," reads Glen Ellyn billboard

Ultimately there was no legal action that could prevent the opening of the clinic. Community activists maintain a presence at the abortion facility on Roosevelt Road, just east of I355. Sidewalk counselors are on hand on Wednesdays when abortions are being performed. Lawyers from the Thomas More Society Pro-life Law Center have drafted model legislation that a municipality can enact to require stricter standards for abortion clinics. Glen Ellyn's village board is considering such a proposal.

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Planned Parenthood Demands Parental Notification in Poster Contest

For years Planned Parenthood has fought parental notification laws that would require minor girls to notify their parents before having an abortion. When it comes to the potentially life-threatening decision to have an abortion, Planned Parenthood thinks parents should have no say.

But not when it comes to a poster contest. The online application form for Planned Parenthood's "Roe at 30" poster contest requires minors to get permission from their parents to submit an entry.

This is the kind of "parenthood" Planned Parenthood wants us to "plan" for: suspended in all but the most trivial matters.

Source: Planned Parenthood Online

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