Talking With the Fathers

As a guy, it's rather interesting to watch and talk with the fathers that come into the EMC centers. Each one is different but there seem to be some patterns developing.

Thankfully, there are some men who seem to realize what it means to be the father and the head of a family. Sadly, though, they're not exactly knocking down the doors. When one does cross my path, it's quite refreshing as happened last week in the Bronx.

More often, I see the guy who comes in pretending like he's in charge of the whole world. He's got his life and his girlfriend's under control. Often, this is the fellow who is pressuring the woman to abort, although, they generally cover by saying "it's her choice, I'm behind her either way." This is such a copout. He's just wanting her to abort and justifies it in his mind that he'll not have blood on his hands.

The saddest part about these fathers, at least for me, is that they seem to realize that it is a baby that is being killed, they've just rationalized the act in their mind somehow (each person is different and they usually have it all worked out) and now they've shoved it all off on the mother. Such manly behavior!

Some of these men are really beyond reason. They have built up such a wall that they cannot be reached, except maybe through prayer. Some of them do really care about the mother. These men often react in horror and even turn around after they realize what actually goes on during an abortion and then apply that to their girlfriend (or wife). One guy last week met this description, watching his face and body language change was one of the more amazing changes I've seen working here. He and his girlfriend decided not to go ahead with getting an abortion. Seems he didn't have everything figured out after all!

St. Joseph pray for the fathers!

"I wish I had come to you first."

When you work in the same building as two abortion clinics, you get a better idea of what is acctually going on. We were closing up for the day, the cleaning was finished and I was about to walk out of the door. Just then the phone rang. "Center, how can I help you?" said Linda Marzulla our Center Director. Boy oh boy, did this young lady need our help! On the other end of the line came a quiet shaking voice. "I'm trying to reach Dr. Emily's, I'm trying to get ahold of my records, I feel very sick!" A mixture of sadness and determination could be seen on Linda's face. "I'm not Dr. Emily's, I'm in the same building as them. This is a pregnancy Center. Did you have an abortion at Dr. Emily's? You did! What went wrong Honey?" The voice on the other end began to explain, she had complications with her abortion and she was bleeding... a lot! "Oh Sweetie! You make sure they give you your records! There are risks to abortion, it's a surgery! We can help you, if you need legal representation, you let me know. We have a Doctor here, you could come see him, he's the best OBGYN in Brooklyn. We will help you." "Thank you Linda, I wish I had come to you first." said the voice of the young lady a little less shaky.

I am very happy to tell you all that she is doing well, EMC put her in contact with a very good GYN who is helping her!

There's something about the heartbeat

Today I was in Queens,NY working at the Expectant Mother Center with Carmen. I had the opportunity to meet with a very well educated young girl in her 20's who came, thinking about getting an abortion. She had already had one last year. I asked her how her life was after the abortion. She told me she was so depressed. She said that she thinks of her aborted child every time she sees or hears a child on the trains or out on the streets. I said, "and you want to have another one?" She didn't answer.
We talked for about an hour. I told her that she has a living baby inside of her,but it's almost as if she didn't believe me. We talked about the father. We talked about abortion. I had her watch the Abortion Procedure video. I asked what she thought after watching it, and she told me it was very informative. She said there were a lot of things she learned that she didn't know before. We talked about abstinence.
After watching the video, she really started beginning to doubt the abortion. She said after watching it being performed, it opened her eyes to the truth of what it really is.
The next thing I had her do was to get a sonogram done. She goes into the room with Roxanna and begins the process. About midway through, Roxanna turns on the volume and all 3 of us could hear the baby's heartbeat. The next thing I know, I see tears streaming down her face. After the sonogram, she said to me "after that hearing that heartbeat, there's no way". I said "theres no way for what?" She said, "there's no way I can get the abortion".
It's crazy how you can be told by others that you have a living person inside of you, and you not believe it till you hear the heartbeat. There's something about the heart beating that makes you yourself become alive.

Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine...

Servant of God, Dorothy Day, the founder of the Catholic Worker Movment once observed that “[t]he early Christians started with the works of mercy and it was this technique which converted the world.”

In Dorothy Day's words, the Works of Mercy are divided into two lists:

“The corporal works: To feed the hungry; to give drink to the thirsty; to clothe the naked; to harbor the harborless; to ransom the captive; to visit the sick; to bury the dead. The spiritual works are: To instruct the ignorant; to counsel the doubtful; to admonish sinners; to bear wrongs patiently; to forgive offense willingly; to comfort the afflicted; to pray for the living and the dead.”

The works of mercy served as the basis for her work among the poor, jobless, and homeless in the Bowery over in the East Village. These good works should also serve as the basis for the life of each and every Christian, after all, they have converted the world once before and Jesus' final command was to go and make disciples of all nations. Working on the streets of the New York outside the dark Satanic mills where thousands of babies die each year, or in an one of the offices, I've had a good deal of reasons to reflect on Dorothy Day and her work. After all, she herself suffered from the consequences of an abortion in a situation not all that different from many of the women that I talk to every day.

It seems to me that of the corporal works of mercy, the most directly related to our work here at EMC is ransoming the captive, in this case a child doomed to die. On top of that, pretty much the entire list of the spiritual works of mercy applies. Lent is a time not just of fasting or prayer. It is about perfecting our imitation of Christ. What better way is there in imitating Christ than by seeing Christ in others, in the unborn and in the mother and father, and then by helping to the best of my ability whatever that case may require. It is responding to Christ's call to help Him, hidden in the form of the “least” of this world.

Quotes from The Catholic Worker, February 1935, 7 online at: http://www.catholicworker.org/dorothyday/

A Save at Dr. Emily's

On Wednesday I stood outside of Dr. Emily's abortion clinic in the Bronx,NY where I started at the front entrance, then worked my way to the back a few hours later. While I was at the front, I had the opportunity to talk with a girl about to go in with her boyfriend. I told her what our center does and how we can help. I talked briefly about her baby having a heartbeat at week 3 and how it has all his/her organs complete at 8 weeks. After all of that I gave her one of our pamphlets. She went inside.
About 2 hours later, I was at the back, and she came out with her boyfriend. As they were approaching the gate I said, "did you change your mind?" She said, "yeah.......I did." I didn't believe her. So I asked the boyfriend, "what happened?" He said, "I don't know. This is all her business, not mine." I said, "Yeah right! This is just as much your business as it is hers." She said, "that's right." So she agreed with me. I said, "if it weren't for you, this (and I pointed to her stomach) would never have happened" She said, "that's right", again. Then I said, "so what did you do? You get the pill? (abortion pill) She said to me, "No. I told you . I didn't do it."
I looked back at the boyfriend and said, "is she tellin me the truth?" He said, "yeah she is". I said to her, "what made you change your mind?" She said to me, "that paper." I said "what paper?" She said, "that blue paper you gave me before I came in. I read it. It's horrible. Abortion's horrible. I couldn't do it."
I WAS STOKED!!! It was almost too good to be true. I got her number and we have already spoken on the phone and set her up for a sonogram.

How great are your works, Lord!

Today was my first Saturday of 40 Days for Life. That meant not only more supporters out praying for the babies, but also clinic escorts. Two showed up this morning.

Knowing this beforehand, I was pleased to find that the Divine Office this for today featured Psalm 92. It was quite a comfort this morning.

6 O Lord, how great are thy works! thy thoughts are exceeding deep. 7 The senseless man shall not know: nor will the fool understand these things.

8 When the wicked shall spring up as grass: and all the workers of iniquity shall appear: That they may perish for ever and ever: 9 But thou, O Lord, art most high for evermore. 10 For behold thy enemies, O Lord, for behold thy enemies shall perish: and all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.

...

13 The just shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus. 14 They that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God. 15 They shall still increase in a fruitful old age: and shall be well treated, 16 That they may shew, That the Lord our God is righteous, and there is no iniquity in him.

40 Days for Life Day 2

One of the best parts about this internship has been the incredible variety of tasks that make up the week. This is my second week at the Life House and I'm getting settled in.

Today, I began the day by praying and passing out information in front of the abortion mills by the EMC Queens office. Shortly after I got out front, I noticed a woman down the road from me handing out little business cards for one of the murderers. A challenger! So, in addition to trying to give out as much information to everyone that walked past, I now began to try and ensure that everyone who had one of their cards had one of our magazines, to arm them with the truth.

After a morning of prayer on the streets of Queens, I went to help at our Brooklyn office. There I was able to talk with a woman who was dead set on having an abortion. She had already had one and also had a 3-year old at home. It was obvious that she was scared and was convinced that abortion was the best option for her, her family, and the unborn child.

While she was waiting for her ultrasound she watched videos on the danger of abortion. When I sat down to talk with her, it was clear that she was shaken. Not just by the threat to her life posed by abortion, but also by the fact that the abortionists could care so little about her safety that they did not give her the full picture of the risks involved. To make a long story short, she had concluded that abortion was not the easy answer to a pregnancy. She knew it herself, I believe, but it took coming into the office and the Grace of God to make her realize it and act on it.

It is a great privilege and blessing to fight on the side of God in this battle for the lives of New York's children. The hard work of all involved and the prayers of the Church do pay off!

40 Days for Life Day 1

Today was Ash Wednesday, that means it's the beginning of 40 Days for Life. The combination of the season of fasting, repentance, and increased devotion is a perfect fit with an even greater push in our work. It was also wonderful to see the many kind people who joined us in the Bronx and in Queens today outside the abortion mills.

We also saw our first confirmed turnaround of the Lenten 40 Days today, care of Abby. The ability to actually see these first results of the effort to save babies is an amazing experience. The real impact, however, is impossible to know. It is a bit overwhelming to think that just one little word or one action, like handing out a flier with information on abortion can have an impact that not only touches the lives of that mother and child, but makes a change that reverberates down the generations. Not only is this work life-changing, but it is truly changes all of humanity. All because of a little bundle of joy that is spared on a cold February morning in the Bronx.

"They're closed, and the better for you"

"They're closed, and the better for you. Come upstairs, I can help you." She said through the open door on the 6th floor, never stepping off of the elevator. She's Linda, the director of our Pregnancy Center and Prenatal Clinic in Brooklyn, NY. But who was she talking to and what was closed? Well you see, we are in the same building as two abortion clinics. Yes, you read that correctly. Today was Presidents day and both Planned Parenthood and Dr. Emily's were closed and there were young ladies unaware that PP wouldn't be taking walk-ins.. Up on the 12th floor it was a different story, we were open for life saving.

Linda, Denise, and I stepped into a back room , closed the door, and began to pray. The lobby was full of young women filling out intake forms and watching a video about the various risks and complications of abortion. One of those women was Carry.

Carry came into our center in a flurry. (Of course Carry isn't he real name.) She wanted to get this over with as soon as possible, because she had places to go and goals to accomplish. She told us that she wanted an abortion. A sonogram confirmed that she was 7 weeks pregnant. This was going to be a hard case!

She was a beautiful girl in her early twenties, but all around her could be sensed an unsettling lack of peace. It seemed as though she was not at peace wit her decision. After some prompting it all came to the surface, and than a phone call to her boyfriend changed everything. Unbeknownst to Carry, her boyfriend had quite the interesting dream the night before, some would say miraculous. He dreamed that she was in an office talking to a woman about his child, he hadn't even known that she had an appointment with us. He said it was all too spiritual for him, he would like to come in and speak with us in person. Carry left looking much happier and at peace, and her child would live another day....


I got a chance to sit down with the two girls that Linda had spoken with on the 6th floor. They were best friends, the younger was there for emotional support. The older was 8 weeks pregnant. The father was ok with the idea of having a baby, but his attitude wasn't the problem at all. The problem was the idea of telling her sister who she lived with and her mother. She so desperately didn't want to disappoint her family. They had told her so many times not to get pregnant! She was sure that they would not be happy.
I told her that she was right, they would probably be disappointed, because they love her. But when they looked into the babies eyes, everything would change. Did they love the other babies in the family? Than they would love this one too! The disappointment would be replaced by love.

She said that in her heart of hearts she didn't really want to get an abortion, she hated abortion. She just didn't know how to tell her sister. In the end we came up with a plan. Her best friend and the future God Mother would be there with her to help support her as she told her big sister. They left with a return appointment, an exchange of numbers, and a promise to call me if they needed anything. This baby was going to live! How thankful I am that the Lord prompted Linda to push the 6 botton on her way down.

"They're closed, and the better for you. Come upstairs, I can help you."

"Abortion comes from God"

Yesterday, I not only cried, but I was down on the floor with tears pouring out of my eyes, and snot dripping out of my nose.
Back in September, in VA, I made a prayer. I prayed for God to "break my heart for what breaks yours".Man, did He.......
He called me to move to the Bronx, NY to meet with girls and women of all ages,mainly 15-24,who are pregnant unplanned.
Yesterday I met with a girl who is 21 yrs old with 3 kids already.She just married this guy a year ago,and now that she is pregnant again; he wants her to get an abortion.
Well, I talked with her for 2hrs first.He was out of the room.We watched 2 videos on the procedures of abortion and then actual abortions filmed.She cried the entire time.I could tell she did not want to get one deep down in her heart.
Then I got her out of the room, and him in.When he first came in, before I started the tape,he had the audacity to make the statement,"everything happens for a reason.God allowed man to come up with this procedure.It came from God. Abortion comes from God." I said, "wait-you're saying abortion happened for a reason and therefore its right and we should do it?" he says, "I'm sayin God allowed it. did he not?" I said, "God also allowed the Holocaust. Was that also for a reason? Therefore its right?" he mumbled something..... of course he did.
How are you going to say abortion is from the Lord? I left the room, in a rage. I came back about 5 minutes later after he had watched the tape and he was talking to another one of the counselors.
To make a long story short, Julie and I ended up talking with this man for the next half hour.He was extremely smart.He ended up pouring out his heart to me and Julie,in his own way.
He talked about all the things he had seen.How rough and mean the world is.How no one has his back.How HE WOULD RATHER GO TO HELL for killing his baby through the way of abortion, than to allow that baby to come into this world. When he said that,I couldn't help but cry.......my gosh.
Here is this tough,athletic looking,smart man here in my office with his wife,trying to keep it together, and is falling apart.He didn't cry or anything,but it doesn't matter with me.
I am able to look past what people say and do, and HEAR THEIR HEART.God has given me that spiritual gift (of prophecy).
Through his blasphemous comments, and many times he said he wanted his girl to get an abortion, all I saw was hurt,.......hurT,....... huRT, ...... hURT,........ HURT. This man was beaten and bruised inside.Forget the facade he was putting up to the world.Forget the front he was making to everyone around him.This man was in deep sorrow and pain;he felt pain.
It made sense.....why WOULD he allow a sweet, innocent child of his come into a sick,nasty,perverted world? Really. Why?
This was his logic.And I'm sorry. I cant help but to understand.........do i agree? Absolutely not, but I understand.
Julie and I tried so hard to reason with him.We got somewhere, however, towards the end, he goes, "I don't know why you 2 on my case.I mean you performing the abortions right now". and I said, "no sir. actually we are not an abortion clinic." he says, "are you serious?.....you have just been a complete waste of my time. and I'm walking out your door right now".
He grabbed his wife and walked out that door.
I was so upset and distraught. I went back to the back prayer room, got down on my knees,with snot coming out of my nose I begged. I prayed the prayer "GOD: you can take whatever it is that you want from ME. but please. PLEASE. help me help these 2 people.God. please. help me help them. I love them so much. because YOU love them. you DIED for them. I want nothing more right now then to help them.God. please.".....................
I blew my nose a couple times.Walked out of the room,where Julie was,she just got off the phone and told me that the girl called and said that she was going to come back tomorrow for a sonogram, and apologized for how her husband left.
If God does not answer prayer, then today never happened!

These girls DO have Hope

Last week I was in Brooklyn, I talked with a girl who was from Europe,25,single, and pregnant.She got her first sonogram today, found out shes 5 months pregnant and didn't EVEN KNOW SHE WAS pregnant.Then the doctor told her how far along she was and she was shocked."5 MONTHS???!!" she immediately started crying...she looked terrified and traumatized.She said she would lose her citizenship to be in this country through her school cause they would kick her out if she got pregnant.She looked lonely,depressed, and full of NO HOPE.
NO HOPE.....seems to be the common expression i get from every girl that comes into the clinic.
She said her BF told her he wanted her to get an abortion.She was so adamant on getting one; kept asking about it. She kept saying that she had to get rid of this baby; had to get rid of this baby.Did you read that? She had to get rid aka KILL her baby. .......
THAT is what these girls think once they get to this point.At this point, I cant help, I repeat,cannot help but to give and feel instant compassion.Compassion is the only thing I feel.I find my eyes watering and my voice softening. My goodness, God loves these women SO so SO much.They have no idea-literally. Most of them don't know the love of God or experienced any kind of love at all. Why you think they had sex with these guys? They thought love was there....guess what? It isn't there.
After 3hours, I talked and cried with this girl and gave her my cell.She's coming back for another appointment in 2 weeks.
These women are cold. Most are from the Bronx and Brooklyn; cold,harsh women that are hard to break down.Well,God's doing some breaking in His own amazing way.I just get the privilege of being a part of it.Man. I'm so blessed!

Life in New York

My first week as an intern has been quite an experience. It is quite a change from my normal routine to work and live in New York City. On top of that, this week we had a blizzard come through to make our Wednesday interesting. No day has been the same so far, there is excitement in that. I never know when I wake up exactly what I'll be doing or who I will be meeting that day.


Flying into town, the city at first appears to be a massive anthill of activity, the impersonal mass of brown, grey, and black (and sometimes green) seems so harsh and massive. Now, on the ground, the Bronx is quite different. There are neighborhoods, people going about their work, laughter, and all the other aspects of life. That is what this internship is about, after all, life. Sadly, there is also death here. Thousands of children will never experience the joy of seeing this borough covered with snow glistening in the morning sun or find out how much fun it is to try and keep a sidewalk clear of snow during a blizzard.

While it is a sad reality that not all of these children will be saved, that does not diminish the value of the work that can be done. Their mothers come in scared, more scared than I can even imagine. The personal toll and reality of the abortion industry is beginning to hit home. I look forward to the challenges that this internship offers and hope to make a difference, even if it is a small one in this massive flood of death, while I am at the Lifehouse.

Sidewalk Counseling in a Blizzard!!!

There is a blizzard in NYC today! The school children were happy to have a snow day, thanks to the mayor! For most people the idea of working outside in such cold conditions would make them run the other way! Not us! Here at EMC we know that it is more important that mothers and children be saved from the horrific pain of Abortion. So we bundled up and headed out into that snow at 7:30 this morning, to sidewalk counsel in front of Dr.Emily's Abortion Clinic in the South Bronx! Here are some pictures of our day in the blizzard!

EMC Interns Join Rally Applauding CBS Studios for Tebow Superbowl Ad

Last week EMC took part in a rally in Manhattan, in front of CBS Studios! The purpose of our presence was to thank CBS for agreeing to air Tim Tebow's Pro-life Super Bowl ad sponsored by Focus on the Family.





Here is the story by Lifesitenews.com


Pro-Life Advocates Gather at CBS to Show Support for Tim Tebow Super Bowl Ad


by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 2, 2010


New York, NY (LifeNews.com) -- Dozens of pro-life advocates showed up for a rally today supporting the decision by CBS to air the Focus on the Family Super Bowl commercial featuring Tim Tebow. The ad focuses on Pam Tebow's decision not to have an abortion when pregnant with Tim despite a debilitating medical condition.

The story of Tebow's birth is inspiring millions of Americans already who know of his prowess on the football field and are glad his mother chose life over abortion.

The pro-life groups Christian Defense Coalition, Expectant Mother Care and Generation Life sponsored the rally and pro-life advocate Brandi Swindell emailed LifeNews.com about it.

"We are joining with hundreds of thousands of Americans who have signed petitions and joined on-line groups applauding the decision of CBS to air a pro-life ad featuring Tim Tebow and his mother Pam," she said.

"The National Organization for Women and other pro-abortion groups have shown disdain and open hostility toward women who choose to keep their children and refuse to have abortions. Their hysterical rants and anger over this ad of a woman simply sharing her own personal story to embrace life, shows these groups have no regard for either women or the concept of choice," she said.

Swindell said the groups felt it important to put together a supportive rally when, in many cases, there is much to gripe about concerning the mainstream media's treatment of abortion.

"Pro-life organizations feel it is important to make a public show of support for CBS and thank them for not bowing to the pressure from fringe extremist groups that have little regard for women's rights or human rights," she said.

Swindell said the pro-life advocates will also "pray for the thousands of women who will view the ad and are facing challenging pregnancies."

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, the director of the Christian Defense Coalition, also spoke about the rally.

"We applaud CBS for having the courage to televise this ad and not bow to the pressure from fringe extremist groups that have little regard for women's rights or human rights," he said.

Chris Slattery, director of Expectant Mother Care in New York City, a pregnancy center, knows from first-hand experience how it can be tough for women like Pam Tebow to choose life.

"Our organization works with women every day that face difficult and challenging pregnancies. In fact, we have saved 34,000 lives in the past 23 years," he said.

"This life affirming ad by Pam and Tim Tebow brings a message of great hope and compassion to all women. Feminist anger over this ad supports what we have known about the so called pro-choice movement for years," he continued.

ACTION: Support the Focus on the Family ad by contacting Sean J. McManus, President CBS News and Sports, at sjmcmanus@cbs.com or 212-975-4321

Related web sites:
Support Tebow’s Super Bowl Ad - http://www.facebook.com/TebowSuperBowlAd

....." for the least of these, you did for ME. "

Friday I was at the EMC in Brooklyn with Linda. I had stood outside of Dr. Emily's abortion clinic for 4 hrs earlier that day. By the time I got to Brooklyn I was working on paper work Linda had for me to do. It was later in the afternoon and she was just taking in walk ins. Towards the end of the afternoon, the 2 of us were just wrapping things up, when we had an unexpected couple come to our door.
They had been married for 1 year. She was almost 5 months pregnant. He originally had a job with one of his relatives, but the relative decided to abruptly leave him with unemployment at the last minute. Basically was very shady and threw him out on the street. So now, he has no income, no job, along with a 5 month pregnant wife with no food for either of them.
That was the reason they came to see Linda. They had heard that our Center provided help for women in need and that were pregnant. They came to the right place!
Linda grabbed her coat, made a few phone calls, left me instructions to stay there and answer the phone, and was out the door with the couple, headed to the Food Pantry around the corner. Before they left I reached into my bookbag to see if I had anything to offer them, and all I had was a Fiber One bar, but she took it. She took it so gratefully.
They were a perfectly normal couple. He had a college degree and has a lot to offer. His situation could happen to anybody, at anytime, anywhere in the world. They were humble enough to ask for help.
All of a sudden, I literally felt like Jesus Christ himself was IN THE ROOM. I felt his presence. "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"
WOW.
It moved me to tears. Literally. I was so excited I called my mom in North Carolina and told her the whole story.
Jesus' presence was there. He was there in the midst of what Linda and I were doing.
Praise be to God. Praise and glory be to God. Forever.

Faith and Hope in NYC

On Mondays I work in Manhattan on Park Avenue in a pro-life Dr.'s office. It's wonderful and generally very busy, most of all the females I meet come in wanting an abortion. Tania was one of these women. She arrived very early for her appointment and waited anxiously for me to call her name. She had to wait through my first appointment so her discomfort was mounting. Later I found out that she'd been through this before, she told me it was a dreadful experience that she NEVER wanted to experience again but that she saw no other option. We began talking and she told me that she's been raising her three children alone and for the last year has been coming home to Brooklyn after work to a putrid smelling apartment, perhaps the result of rat infestation, rat poison and,...the obvious. Loneliness and hopelessness seemed to be pushing her to choose abortion, her loneliness was made worse by the fact that she has a large family living here in the US, including her Mother, that she never sees nor speaks with. Her Mother was physically abusive most of her life, so life for Tania has long been tainted with pain, bitterness, anger and pessimism.
Tania told me that she couldn't imagine bringing another baby to the laundromat. Besides the terrible smell in her apartment, most daunting to Tania was the idea of laundry! Let me explain to those of you who might have (like myself) grown up with the convenience of having a washer and dryer in your home. In NYC even doing laundry is an ordeal and very expensive, a mother of 3 or 4 could spend $60 a month and 3 hours a week in the laundromat, not to mention the work it takes to bring the laundry up and down the steps of a 5th floor walk-up apartment and to a laundromat 2 blocks away with her kids in tow, only to find herself scrambling to keep her children occupied and out of trouble once there. I couldn't imagine the faith necessary to choose life in Tania's situation, but I know that God is good always ("O taste and see that the Lord is good" Psalm 34:8) and that He uses people to touch others' lives ("Two are better than one, woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up" Ecclesiastes 4:9,10). So, I called the Sisters of Life who live only a few blocks away and dug some Metrocards out of my bag for Tania. She arrived 15 minutes later to hot chocolate, sandwiches and a lot of love, reassurance and comfort. The Sisters tell me that she is doing very well and leaning towards choosing life for her baby, she agreed to allow a Spanish speaking female friend of the Sisters to come to her home periodically to assist her in any way possible throughout her pregnancy and beyond, and... they are working on getting her out of that apartment!!

Sidewalk Counseling in SPANGLISH!

I stood waiting and praying, periodically stepping into the sunlight to warm my frozen hands. It was Tuesday morning, and I was on the sidewalk outside of Dr. Emily's Abortion Clinic. I was there to offer options to the women going in. The last line of defense against the pain that would later come from the death of their children.

I focused on my prayers as the smooth beads glided through my gloved hands. The wInd beat against my face. I almost didn't see the taxi pull up. The door opened and a nervous couple stepped out.

"Good morning Mami, can I give you some information? This is real help for you!"

She looked puzzled.

"Spanish?" she asked.

"Oh no! What am I going to do? I don't speak Spanish! If only Julie were here!" I thought to myself.
"Ay, lo siento! Mi espanol es muy mal! Yo no soy latina" I told her, as I am often mistaken for Latin American.

"No?"

"No! Mi madre es negra y mi padre es irelandes! Yo soy Californian!"

"Oh!"

"Are you Mexican?"

"Si."

"Ah! Mi premara amiga, no me amiga en Christo es mexicana de Oaxaca! She makes me salsa verde!"

"Hahahaa"

"Mami, Tu embarazada?"

"Si."
She didn't look happy.


"Tu quedes aborto?"

"Si."

"Tu habla ingles?"

"No."

"Y tu?"
I said turning to her boyfriend.

"Muy poquito." he said.

"Un momento! Mi amiga hablar espanol! Hello julie! I'm with a spanish speaking couple. Will you talk to her?"


I handed Mom the phone. They spoke for a few minuets and then the call was lost! What a time to drop a call!

I turned to her, "Mami I can help you. You don't need to do this. Tu no nessicitas! I can help. Tu es un madre! Tell her please. I work for a pregnancy center."

He didn't say much. I looked at her.

"Tu Catholica?"

"Si."

"Me too!"
I said holding up my rosary!

I pointed to the clinic.
"Esta clinica de muerte! Casa de muerte! Es muy mal, muy mal! Papi, why do you want to do this? I can help you. You don't have to do this"

He shrugged.

"So many women are sad after their abortions. They cry a lot and have depression. Tu no quedes!"

"Mami, tu tiernes babes?"

"Si."

Quantos? How many?"

"Tres."

I pointed to her belly.
"No quatro! Ay! Esta hermano parra tu bebes! If you asked tu bebes, quedes aborto? They will say 'No Mami! No! Y el bebe ( I pointed to her stomach) quedes aborto? No Mami, no! Tu es un madre! Tu no nessicitas!"

I turned to him.
"There is a Mexican saying. 'If one can eat two an eat, if two can eat three can eat, if tree can eat four can eat, if four can eat five can eat. This is not macho! Tu es un padre! Padre es muy fuerte! You need to protect your baby! This is your family! Muy fuerte!"

"Sorry, sorry." she said and they walked into the clinic.

I told myself that I tried, I began to pray again. Later that morning as I sat in White Castle taking a quick break from the cold, I received a phone call from Julie. She had spoken with them as they exited the clinic, Mom hadn't done it! She was still pregnant! Everywhere they went, they had been told that they should keep. Support was given where support was needed! All I can say is that I'm so happy my very, very elementary Spanish err Spanglish came in handy!

Scary

I stood outside of the abortion clinic in Bronx today in the snow. I was standing out on the sidewalk when a girl came up attempting to go inside. I began talking with her about our clinic and what we offer. I said nothing about Dr. EMily's. I did not talk bad about it whatsoever. I didn't even talk about it period. In the middle of my conversation, one of the other girls that worked at the clinic, literally grabbed this girl by the arm and was pulling her into the clinic. She did this while completely interrupting me to say to the girl this: "don't listen to this girl...she is a protester...you don't need to listen to her...just come on inside...come on." I was very quiet at first. I didn't know what to say. I was in no position to argue with this girl. I knew she was wrong. I ended up saying, "I am not a protester". She said, "you're not allowed to come in here. You're telling me you're not a protester?" This whole time, the girl is still surprisingly very open minded to me. She's just giving me this look like, 'who should I listen to?' So I said to her, "If you have any questions maybe you could come back down here,without her interrupting us, and I can answer them." She said "ok." And then went inside.
Sadly, she never came back out. What struck me, was that if anyone was being pushy between the abortion worker and myself, it was her. SHE was the one literally pulling the girl inside the clinic. SHE was the one who lost her cool by interrupting me blatantly,speaking over me, not letting me say anything. SHE was the one who looked scared. I, however, remained calm. When she talked I let her say what she wanted. I was not there to argue with her. I was there to provide these girls with the truth. That's what I did. That's what I am responsible for. If other people have issues with that, it's bloodshed on their hands, not mine. So, this worker took on the responsibility of this woman's baby, without even realizing it. Scary isn't it?

Pressure to Abort part I

I was standing on the cold sidewalk outside of Dr. Emilies Abortion Clinic in the South Bronx. A girl in her mid teens and her mother approached. "Are you going to the Doctor today?" I said. She stopped and we talked. "Are you pregnant? You are! Wow! How far along are you?" As we spoke it was very clear that her mother wanted her to enter the clinic, but there was something in this young girls eyes. "Do you want the abortion Mami?" "No, but everyone is telling me I have to, and my boyfriend says his mom will kick him out if I don't." "Who else is telling you that you have to do this?" My mom and my sister." She said as she cried. "Do you need a hug?" I said, and more tears filled her eyes, we embraced. "Mami," I whispered in her ear, "that's what you are, you are a mother, and you don't have to do this, this is your child and I know you want to protect it." She glanced at her mother who was looking more and more inpatient by the minute. "You don't have to go in there." I said "Just walk away, come with me to the pregnancy center where I work. I can help you."


To be continued....

True Information Makes for True Choice part II

I asked her what she knew about the abortion procedure. Admittedly she didn't know much, so I began an education in the two most common abortion procedures as well as the various risks and complications involved.

Informed consent when it comes to abortion, is a very interesting subject. You see, I have had the opportunity to counsel many women facing a crisis pregnancy over these past six months. It has become a common practice of mine to ask my clients not only what they know about the procedure but what they were told when they went to the clinic for their abortions. What I have found is this; so many women, even those who have had abortion know next to nothing about the procedures and side effects. As far as what they have been told by their "friendly neighborhood abortion clinics" it usually consists of the risk of infection and the excess bleeding that is likely to accompany the surgery. Then there is the, "It's a simple procedure." No mention of the increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, than there's the uterine scarring that can occur and the infertility that it can accompany it. Uterine perforation, laceration of the uterine artery that can cause massive hemorrhaging and the list just goes on.

If it wasn't so serious it would almost be funny, you see for any other surgery you better believe that the patient gets ALL of the information. What's the difference when it comes to abortion? Is it because it's a heart wrenching, hard decision? Wouldn't that be even more reason to tell her the TRUTH? Doesn't she deserve that? To be given all of the information so that she can make the BEST decision! Otherwise she is just taking what she is given, not truly making a choice.

When faced with the truth, this mother decided to choose life! She couldn't believe that she had never been told these simple facts about fetal development and the abortion procedure.

An Office to Live Surrounded by Offices to Die

The hard work of construction, lead by David V., took place at 89-09 Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens. It is the new office of EMC, and it has already available four small but confortable rooms, one of them with its own sonogram machine (that debuted last Thursday with eleven clients, by the way.)
Of course that location was not choosen randomly. Even though it is depressing, it is the precise place: twelve abortion offices are in the surrounding area within one mile. That does not mean that Jackson Heights neighbors are not very good people, because they did not chose to live in a cemetery. But they have something worse than that. Actually, last Monday, a woman died while she was having an abortion in one of those offices, a couple of blocks from our new center. The news told us about that sad event on Tuesday. On Wednesday, we went to that abortuary and we gave copies of the story printed in the "Daily News" that told about that terrible death. Most of the people already knew what goes on inside that office. Neighbors know neighbors. There were even people that already knew what had happened there on Monday (sadly,the news will not report the death that happens in an abortion, unless it is a mother who dies.) We also put some candles outside the abortion office (we would like to have candles there all the time in remembrance of the babies who have die, not "just" when a mother dies.

Our new place is ready, the area needs life, and the babies cannot wait. No excuses are possible. Let's make an extra effort and go to work in our new office. In a few weeks we will be changing the borough from a place to die to a place to live.