Fall 2004 ACTION NEWS | VOL. XXIII NO. 4
by John Jansen
A Victory in Northern Ireland
A recent decision by the Belfast High Court aimed at reducing abortions in Northern Ireland has been hailed by Precious Life. Bernie Smyth, director of the Belfast-based activist group, commented, "It is now clear that abortion for reasons of disability is illegal. We are now seeking legal advice on how we can challenge any doctor in Northern Ireland who would carry out an abortion simply on the basis that an unborn child may be born with a disability."
In conjunction with the judges' decision, Precious Life held a demonstration outside the court with signs reading, "Justice for unborn babies."
Vote Life America Takes Action
Among the hard-hitting demonstrations sponsored by the Chicago-based group Vote Life America (VLA) are ongoing monthly protests outside the home of abortionist Dr. Vinod Goyal in Inverness, IL. Commenting on VLA's "hit 'em where they live" approach, co-founder Jim Finnegan cites Joe Scheidler's CLOSED: "If it were widely known that they are abortionists, they might be uncomfortable in their communities, and their communities might be uncomfortable with them."
Last Christmas, VLA sent hand addressed Christmas cards to Goyal's neighbors asking them to pray for him. Finnegan reports that VLA is expanding this year's Christmas card list to include every household in Inverness' elite McIntosh subdivision.
Grassroots Activism
Frustrated by the number of John Kerry bumper stickers on cars in the St. Leo's Parish parking lot, CJ and Mary Edgar of Inwood, WV decided to conduct their own Face the Truth demonstration across the street from their church to let Kerry voters know exactly what their candidate supports. The pastor of St. Leo's wrote the following week in the parish bulletin that he was "very disappointed" in the demonstration, and said such actions make pro-lifers "seem like right-wing nutcases."
Not backing down, CJ, a 101st Airborne veteran, and Mary are now planning their own full-fledged Face the Truth tour for next year.
Never Too Young
Not yet old enough to vote, Sandra Ramirez, a senior at Loretto Academy in El Paso, TX, recently organized a Face the Truth tour in front of the city's largest shopping mall. Police soon arrived and said her group would have to put away its "obscene" signs, but Ramirez countered that the group was protected by the First Amendment and El Paso city ordinance 13.32.020.
She then called her lawyer—her uncle—who asked to speak with the police sergeant and threatened a lawsuit if the group's rights were violated. After that, Ramirez said, the police were "much nicer," and the tour was a huge success.
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