Fall 2004 ACTION NEWS | VOL. XXIII NO. 4
From the Director's Desk
by Joe Scheidler
Since the November election the rest of nation is waking up to what we've known all along: there's a substantial segment of our society that isn't content with the cultural status quo—like the kind of great people I meet on my trips around the country.
The weekend of October 9 I was among the "values" crowd on the East Coast. That Saturday I spoke at the Tradition, Family and Property national conference, where I met a direct descendant of St. Louis of France. The ceremonies included a candlelight rosary procession, a concert and excellent talks by members of the TFP. Then on Sunday evening I spoke to 300 in Herndon, VA as part of an International Week of Prayer and Fasting.
Monday the 11th I spoke at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC, along with Bishop Michael Sheridan, Congressman Chris Smith, Norma McCorvey, Fr. Frank Pavone, Drew Mariani and others.
Michigan Activists Brave the Cold
I joined Professor Janet Smith speaking at a pot-luck barbecue and silent auction in the backyard of Monica Miller, director of Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, in South Lyon, MI October 16. The day turned out cold, blustery and wet, but 150 dedicated pro-life activists gathered at Monica's for good music, good food and good company.
On Sunday, October 24 I spoke to a group in Manchester, NH that included my old friends Shannon McGinley, who used to work for the League, and her husband Doug, along with many New Hampshire activists I had picketed with years ago. It was a fun evening and my hat is off to Betty and Ed Holdgate and Betty Bruder, who ran the event.
While League activists were picketing Lisa Madigan in Chicago on October 30, I spoke in Waterbury, CT at the invitation of Bob Muckle and Connecticut Right to Life. I stayed at the St. Margaret's parish rectory as the guest of fellow activist Fr. Joe Looney, and made it back to Chicago in time to "trick or treat" with my grandchildren.
[Back to Top]Outstanding Iowa Right to Life Convention
On November 6 I spoke at the annual Iowa Right to Life Convention, which focused this year on the fight against Planned Parenthood. I spoke on the spiritual dimension of the fight, with other informative talks by Mark Crutcher of Life Dynamics, author George Grant and Jim Sedlak of STOPP Planned Parenthood. Meanwhile, Annie Casselman and John Jansen of our Generations for Life division conducted a teen program at the convension . Our hat is off to Iowa Right to Life for their highly successful conference.
On November 14 I was back in Berwyn, IL to give the keynote address at the first annual Respect Life Banquet hosted by WomanCare Services, a pregnancy resource center opened this year by long-time activist and counselor Laura Nelson.
The Challenge Ahead
Activists everywhere are upbeat about how decisive the pro-life vote was in the November election. Now we've got to work double-time to turn those "values voters" into values activists. That's the only way we'll really be able to turn this country around and secure a pro-life future for our nation.
[Back to Top]Links and Related Pages
- Scheidler Helps Stateline Celebrate 25 Years—Story in this issue of Action News
- Lourdes Pilgrimage Rejuvenates Scheidlers—Story in this issue of Action News
- Cincinnati Pro-Lifers Raise $ for League—Story in this issue of Action News