Fall 2006 ACTION NEWS | VOL. XXV No. 3
Other Stories
- Eric Rallies the Troops in Maryland
- League Returns to Mundelein
- Joe Offers Invocation at Pro-Life Gala
- Byzantine Shrine Dedicated
- Joe Instructs Wisconsin Activists
- Hoosiers Face the Truth
- Pro-Life Porter County, IN
Eric Rallies the Troops on Maryland Truth Tour
[Photo by Peter Shinn]
On July 18, fresh off the League's summer Face the Truth Tour (see story), League Tour Coordinator Eric Scheidler traveled to Washington D.C. to join Jack Ames and Defend Life for two Truth Tour sites in the nation's capital, one along Massachusetts Avenue and the other at the Holocaust Museum. Eric delivered a luncheon talk on the importance of this type of pro-life activism, drawing on the text of Psalm 10 and the words of President George Washington. Eric encouraged the Maryland activists to keep up their powerful witness exposing the horror of abortion, and offered some practical tips for making their Truth Tours even more effective.
Eric also spoke at Sacred Heart Church in Lombard, IL on October 14 on the link between contraception and abortion.
[Back to Top]League Returns to Mundelein after Ouster
After being kicked out of the Village of Mundelein during the summer Truth Tour (see story), we vowed to return to the village. On September 6, thanks to the diligence of Tom Brejcha of the Thomas More Society Pro-Life Law Center in dealing with the Village of Mundelein attorney, the League brought the Tour back to Mundelein for two sites. However, the village still has far to go in respecting the rights of pro-lifers to protest abortion in the public square.
Mundelein Police required protestors to stay within a box spraypainted on the grass on the south side of Route 176, Sept 6 [Photo by EJS]
Pro-Lifers Literally Boxed In by Police
Upon arriving at the morning site across from Carmel High School on Route 176, we were instructed by Mundelein police to remain within a 50' by 4' box spraypainted on the grass on the south side of the street. This restriction dramatically reduced the impact of the display, which would normally have taken up an area three times that size on both sides of the street. Several protestors could not hold signs because there was not room for them within the box.
When the group moved on to the next site at Route 45 and Route 60, the scene of our ouster during the summer, police again insisted that we remain clumped together in a group, on the northeast corner of the intersection. However, Eric Scheidler was able to convince the deputy police chief to allow the protest to proceed as normal, pointing out that our signs are rendered useless when clustered together.
Mundelein Will Face Legal Action
We intend to pursue legal action against Mundelein for both the summer ouster and the restrictions imposed in September. Courts have recently sided with pro-life demonstrators in recent cases (see Activism Update).
[Back to Top]Joe Offers Invocation at Baltimore Pro-Life Gala
Joe Scheidler was a featured guest at the fifth annual Pro-Life Appreciation Dinner, hosted by Stephen and Michael Peroutka in Baltimore, MD. Joe and Ann attended the banquet where Joe gave the invocation.
Joe with Mark Crutcher at the Baltimore Pro-Life gala, Oct. 6 [Photo by Peter Shinn]
Bob and Mary Schindler and their son Bobby were also featured guests at the event, where plans were unveiled for a memorial sculpture in honor of their daughter and sister, Terri Schiavo. Steve Peroutka had had a chance meeting with sculptor Ron Berry while on a golf outing in California. He enlisted Berry's talent and collaboration, along with the counsel of the Schindler family to create a bronze sculpture entitled "Compassion." The statue will be 12 feet by 12 feet and will feature an angel comforting and shielding Terri with one wing while motioning heavenward with the other.
Several Baltimore area pro-lifers were singled out at the banquet for their outstanding commitment to life. And several pro-life politicians were introduced to the diners. Also introduced at the Appreciation Dinner for the first time was National Pro-Life Radio, a new internet communications network, hailed as "radio you can watch." Pro-Life organizations are invited to add their own programming to the station which plans to broadcast 24-hours a day over the Internet. For information visit www.nplr.net.
The banquet speaker for the evening was Mark Crutcher, director of Life Dynamics, who assured the audience that pro-lifers are winning the battle against abortion. "If you are not in the battle to win it, then you are not being faithful to the cause," said Crutcher. He urged listeners to stay the course and expect the victory.
[Back to Top]Byzantine Shrine of the Holy Innocents Dedicated
Fr. Thomas Loya dedicates the Shrine, Aug. 23 [Photo by EJS]
On August 23, Eric Scheidler and his children attended the dedication of a beautiful Shrine of the Holy Innocents at Annunciation of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Church in Homer Glen, Illinois. The children sang with the South Suburban Children's Choir and a delegation from the church presented Eric with a donation to the League.
[Back to Top]Joe Instructs Wisconsin Activists on Free Speech
Pro-Life Wisconsin Juneau County, under the leadership of Jim Schmidt, invited Joe Scheidler to deliver an address on "Your Right to Free Speech" on October 14 in Mauston, WI. Ann and Joe were honored at a reception and Surf and Turf dinner at the Park Oasis Inn prior to the main address. Juneau County District Attorney Scott Southworth served as Master of Ceremonies for both the private dinner and the public address.
Joe is interviewed by Relevant Radio in Wisconsin, Oct. 14 [Photo by Mike Schmidt]
Peggy Hamill, president of Pro-Life Wisconsin, and her husband Bob came from Milwaukee for the annual event. To give the Scheidlers the real "flavor" of Wisconsin, Jim Schmidt presented Ann with an assortment of cheeses and Joe with a "cheese" hat. Jim's son Mike, a high school student and member of Crusaders for Life, set up an impromptu photo studio and took pictures of each of the dinner guests with Joe Scheidler.
Following the dinner, the Scheidlers and other guests proceeded to the Mauston High School Auditorium for Joe's talk, offered to the public at no charge. Sheryl Albers, the local representative to the Wisconsin Legislature, introduced Joe Scheidler and presented him with a Wisconsin map and directory of Wisconsin legislators.
Scheidler emphasized the uniqueness of America's First Amendment right to free speech, pointing out that he has spoken and protested in other countries where this right is not protected. He said it is important for pro-lifers to be aware of the scope of the First Amendment and to exercise their right to freedom of expression in their battle to end abortion. He said that pro-lifers are really the true patriots in America today, that they are working to help America realize the dreams of the
Founding Fathers for a land where all people, born and unborn, are treated with respect and dignity.
A social hour with dessert and coffee followed the talk in the auditorium. The following morning Jim and Jean Schmidt, Bob and Peggy Hamill, and Jim and Betty Lobenstein joined the Scheidlers for brunch before the Chicagoans headed for the North Woods to relax and visit with relatives.
[Back to Top]Hoosiers Face the Truth on First Indy Tour
On Saturday, August 26, Pro-Life Action League Truth Tour Coordinator Eric Scheidler, along with League Directors Joe and Ann Scheidler, helped conduct a one-day Truth Tour in Indianapolis. Local activists Bob Rust, a cousin of Joe Scheidler, and Elizabeth Kane chose three sites in the city and recruited over sixty enthusiastic volunteers from throughout central Indiana.
Joe Scheidler (seated, right) talks with his sister, Mary Louise Scheidler and another Hoosier activist at 10th and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Streets in Indianapolis; at left, Chicago activist Beth Roland [Photo by EJS]
The Tour group was joined by stalwart Chicago activists Beth Roland and Luanne and Ron Bloom, who drove down for the day. Eric's three oldest children, Nate, Sam and Liza also helped out; Sam and Liza held signs and distributed water and fourteen-year-old Nate was his father's able assistant for the day.
Indy Shoppers Face the Truth
The Tour's first site was at 86th Street and Zionsville Road near Trader's Point shopping center, where morning shoppers beheld pictures of abortion during all three phrases of pregnancy. The public was notably supportive, and Marion County police were cooperative with the group.
Next the Tour group visited the busy intersection of Lafayette Road and 38th Street near the Lafayette Square shopping center. Turn-out was so great at this site that Eric and Nate Scheidler distributed all 52 of the signs they had brought for the Tour, with some signs held by pairs of activists. The Chicago activists were amazed at how postitive the public reaction was once again.
Next the Tour Group took a break from the hot, muggy weather during a most welcome lunch at St. Michael's Church. The Tour day concluded at 10th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street, facing a steady stream of cars bound towards a group of nearby hospitals.
The area activists who participated in the Truth Tour, most for the first time, were enthusiastic about this method of pro-life activism and are eager to hold Truth Tours more regularly in central Indiana, to solidify the pro-life views of their fellow Hoosiers.
[Back to Top]Pro-Life Porter County, IN
Joe Scheidler was invited to give the keynote address at the annual Porter County Right to Life dinner in Chesterton, IN, Saturday, November 11. Arriving in Chesterton a little early due to confusion over the time zones in Indiana, the Scheidlers spent several hours at the country home of Al and Bernie Raffin. The Raffins are a true pro-life family—they have twelve children and fifty-three grandchildren, participate in Face the Truth tours, and picket and pray at the Valparaiso hospital where abortions are performed. Al Raffin, Jr. is the president of Porter County Right to Life.
Julie Wheeland of Valparaiso, a long-time pro-life activist, helped to coordinate the annual dinner and silent auction held at the Sand Creek Country Club. Dave Koontz, vice-president of Indiana Right to Life, served as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening.
Richard and Elda Smith, son and daughter-in-law of the League's faithful volunteer, Marie Smith, were among the dinner guests at the banquet, as was Mary Lou Buckel, who volunteered at the Pro-Life Action League in the 1980's, before moving to Indiana. The Scheidlers are always delighted to run into old friends when they attend pro-life events away from Chicago.
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