Way of the Cross...Nashville at noon in front of Women's Center abortion facility

On Good Friday we remember all the victims of abortion—the children lost, the mothers wounded, the communities blighted—in a solemn, ecumenical prayer service:

• Event: Way of the Cross for Victims of Abortion
• When: Friday, April 18, 2014 at noon.
• Where: The Women's Center, 419 Welshwood Drive, Nashville, TN. Click here for map

Join us as we pray for healing for the victims of abortion and for a final end to this injustice in our land. This is a peaceful prayer vigil, not a protest. Family friendly....

Nashville Way of the Cross ...150 people pray while death occurs across the street....

The Way of the Cross in Nashville, TN in front of the Women's Center on Welshwood was a success despite the cold and rainy weather. Approximately 150 men, women and children came out to pray in this ecumenical prayer service known as the Way of the Cross. Children held 14 large crosses symbolizing the walk of Jesus to his death. Other students held pictures in front of each  cross as the remembrance was read.

Unknown to most,  there was a  spiritual battle taking place inside the abortion mill. I  received a text message when I was preparing to leave for the vigil....needing to arrive early to set up. It was from a friend who serves on a pro life board with me. A relative of hers was inside that very abortion facility on that day to get an abortion. Many individuals were communicating with her via text message (by the way, this abortion mill  does not want cell phone in there for this very reason) trying to get her to change her mind. One birth mother,who made an adoption plan,  was texting her telling her story of choosing life and adoption for her son. Prayers were offered. Pleas to consider another option were ignored and this "strong willed " girl went though with the abortion. This was occurring while 150 people were outside praying the way of the cross and remembering the journey that our Savior made for us some 2000 years ago as He walked to his death by crucifixion.  A most cruel and painful death....and inside  this building  another  life was also facing a death .....by dismemberment. It might sound terrible to be so blunt but that is the way it is and we shouldn't pretend that it is a pretty way to die.

The relative  who tried to intervene, herself a mother by adoption, was disheartened. I sent her a picture of the men, women and children praying outside. It may be  some comfort to know that this little one was remembered in prayer acknowledging her/his brief existence. I know as co coordinator it gave me some solace. Here is one of my favorite pictures.

Check out Pro Life Action League for more pictures around the country including Nashville and then read Fr. Frank Pavones's commentary on Killed in Darkness, Remembered in Light. 

Nashville: Good Friday Way of the Cross in front of abortion facility

This prayer vigil will be one hour in length, rain or shine. It is peaceful, loving and legal. This is not a protest.  It is appropriate for youth. Christ gave all for us, can we give Him one hour on this special day of remembrance?  Please share with your pro life friends and announce in your church if allowed.

Join me Good Friday for a "Way of the Cross for Abortion Victims"

Dear Pro-Life Friend,

On a bleak Friday afternoon, our Savior Jesus Christ was crucified

at Golgotha, "the place of the skull."

We have our own Golgotha right here in Nashville: The Women's

Center, where 2,000 years after the Crucifixion, His image is

violently destroyed again and again by abortion.

So it is fitting that we solemnize Jesus' suffering and death in

connection with the pro-life ministry He has entrusted to us.

Please join me on Good Friday, March 29 at 1 PM for an ecumenical

"Way of the Cross for Victims of Abortion" at The Women's Center.

EVENT: Good Friday Way of the Cross for Victims of Abortion

Deacon Ken Levinson- Prayer leader....booklets provided

WHEN: Friday, March 29, at 1:00 P.M.

WHERE: 419 Welshwood Drive, Nashville, TN

Click here for directions from your starting point

I want to emphasize that, even though the Way of the Cross is a

traditional liturgical observance, I look forward to praying for an

end to abortion with ALL my Christian brothers and sisters on Good

Friday.

Come to remember Christ's sacrifice and rededicate yourself to the

fight against abortion, inspired by His Passion. I hope to see you

there.

Families with older children and youth groups: please volunteer to

be a cross-bearer or hold a Station picture in front of each cross.

Please call  Marilyn

Yours for Life,

Susan Allen

susancallen@bellsouth.net

or

Marilyn Cox

stdominic@bellsouth.net

Nashville: Prayer vigil on January 22nd

Lay Dominicans in Nashville are praying for all the young people headed for Washington, D.C. There will also be a prayer vigil at The Women's Center at 419 Welshwood Drive, Nashville, TN 37211. They will be holding the prayerful vigil from 8 AM to 5 PM on Tuesday, January 22, 2013.

This is the 40th anniversary of the insidious Supreme Court ruling of Roe V. Wade that legalized the killing of 55 million babies in America. 

Join us for any amount of time you can......

From Jill Stanek Weekly....interesting ...

On January 22, abortion will have been legal throughout the United States for 40 years, leaving in its wake 55 million murdered babies.

The number 40 is significant, Biblically speaking. It is generally considered a period of testing.

Examples:

The Flood lasted rained 40 days and 40 nights. Then Noah waited 40 days after the rain stopped before opening a window of the ark.
Moses was on Mt. Sinai with God for 40 days - twice.
The Israelites spent 40 years wandering in the Wilderness.
The Israelite spies searched out the Promised Land for 40 days.
Goliath threatened the Israelite army 40 days before David slayed him.
Elijah, strengthened by one angelic meal, traveled 40 days and 40 nights to Mt. Horeb (Sinai) to meet with God.
Jonah warned Ninevah they had 40 days to repent, and they did.
Jesus fasted for 40 days in the Wilderness.
Jesus appeared on earth after his resurrection for 40 days. As we pass this grave annual marker of the day the U.S. Supreme Court made its Roe v. Wade decision, let us strive ever harder end this atrocity, beginning first with prayer.

Rep. Chris Smith to speak at upcoming Rally for Life-Nashville on January 19th

Rep. Chris Smith (R) NJ will be the keynote speaker for the upcoming Rally for Life in Nashville sponsored by TN Right to Life. The event will take place on Saturday, January 19th on the steps of the Capitol in Nashville beginning at 2:00 PM.

I had the privilege of hearing him last year in Washington DC at the Rally for Life and he is truly a pro life  stalwart and has been for the past three decades. His involvement in pro life legislation has garnered  so many accolades including the prestigious 2012 Henry J. Hyde Defender of Life Award for his leadership on pro-life issues in the House of Representatives. He is also a strong advocate for ethical and non destructive stem cell research using adult stem cells and cord blood.

His concern for children and women extend to the born especially those with special needs and at risk for exploitation in countries around the world.  Hear the words of Charmaine Yoest, President  of Americans United for Life on the announcement of this honor named after the pro life hero, Henry J. Hyde. 

“Rep. Chris Smith will be recognized for his heroic defense of life during his tenure as a U.S. Congressman, including his fight to end taxpayer-funding of abortion, his steadfast leadership in working to safeguard the health and safety of women against the harmful effects of abortion, and for his courageous work to defend the human rights of all human beings both domestically and internationally,” 

Baby reaches our during C section.....

What does this remind you of?  

This reminds me of baby Samuel during surgery at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville in 1999. Fellow Tennessean and photojournalist Michael Clancy took an amazing   picture  of a baby at  21 weeks gestation during the operation to repair spina bifida. Instead of being heralded for his great picture, he was chastised and called a liar by the attending doctor and the hospital. Visit his website michaelclancy.com to see his story. 

But here is a similar story....  this baby was in the process of being born by C section when she reached out and squeezed the hand of the doctor.

Welcome to the world....Nevaeh which is heaven spelled backwards...

40 Days of Life Nashville hosts special guests....

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 

 While in Nashville to speak at the CareNet national pregnancy center conference, David Bereit, 40 Days for Life’s national director, visited the local 40 Days for Life campaign and brought along other conference speakers, including former Planned Parenthood clinic director Abby Johnson and Rev. Walter Hoye of the National Black Pro-Life Coalition. Upon arriving, they joined an enthusiastic crowd of more than 60 people, including the Survivors youth pro-life team that was passing through Nashville on their way back to California.

Pro Life Action League: Dozens Protest the War on Women

This is cross posted at Pro Life Action League.   

I agree with his analysis is that even a beautiful day their numbers were paltry....it could be their muddled  messages. I was unable to attend the one in Nashville and searched for coverage and went to their public Facebook page to see their photos which I posted and they objected but hey, they would only post flattering photos right?? They should have been happy for the coverage because only Channel 5 covered them in online  and no video that I could find and their one and only photo was not flattering at all....a lone speaker with a bullhorn? 

They warned me not to post pictures with children in them which I did not and it made me wonder if it was not a good rally to bring kids to. Since they had so many sponsors endorsing them...and a beautiful day in most cities...is this non response surprising??

 I will be out of country on June 8th and hope someone will step up in Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga. I see Memphis is on the list...good for them. I can tell you PLAL gives you all the guidance

you need and from someone who never put on a rally before the hardest part was getting the word out...but I as expecting 75-100 since it was a work day but I think our final reported count was 700.

Thousands Dozens Protest the “War on Women”

Posted by Matt Yonke (May 1, 2012 at 8:11 am)

One of last weekend’s “Unite Women” rallies juxtaposed with one of last month’s “Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rallies

On Saturday, rallies were held to “Unite Against the War on Women”, a pretty obvious response to the Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally campaign spearheaded by the Pro-Life Action League and Citizens for a Pro-Life Society.
As the picture indicates, the response was paltry. Even in New York City, where thousands gathered on March 23 in defense of religious freedom, only a few hundred showed up to protest.
They may have had a few B-list celebrity speakers, but they were pitching their muddled message to largely empty audiences. Outside of some talk about the so-called “war on women”, their message was as scattered as could be.

Unite Women for What?

At some Rallies it was about Planned Parenthood’s funding, others were about the wave of pro-life legislation that’s been sweeping the country, some about women making less money than men, still others were about the imaginary “crisis” in the availability of contraception.
With such an unclear message, it’s hardly surprising that the media largely ignored the event—even with the National Organization for Women’s PR juggernaut behind the events. Most of the coverage they received was from “women’s health” related websites and even there it was scarce. Google News search results don’t go past one page!

Unite Women a Sharp Contrast to Stand Up Rally

The disorganization of this effort as evidenced in their shoddy messaging, poor attendance and lackluster media coverage is a sharp counterpoint to the Stand Up Rally effort.
To say nothing of the messages on their signs, most of which are too vulgar to publish here. The Stand Up Rallies were designed from the outset to welcome participation from families, children and young people. I can only imagine how parents or folks from times with more decorum would feel at one of the Unite Women Rallies.
All of this shows exactly what League National Director Joe Scheidler has been saying for years: They might have the money and the political clout, but the other side just doesn’t have the grassroots.

A Beautiful Day To Yell at the Government

Martha Plimpton, TV actress of limited renown, summed the situation up nicely when she tweeted after attending the New York rally that it was, ” . . . a beautiful day to yell at the government.” And that seems to be precisely what was accomplished on Saturday: sound and fury, signifying nothing.
But while their event has sputtered out, the Stand Up effort has just begun. Mark your calendar for the June 8 Rally and bring your friends, bring your neighbors, bring your parish, bring your school.
Check here for a Rally near you, and if you don’t see one, consider signing on to become the Rally Captain in your town. The National Rally team will be there every step of the way to make sure your event is a success.

Nashville...thousands to marathon...We are Women rally ....negligible turnout..

Saturday, April 28th was a busy day in Nashville, TN. It was  the day  of  Music City Marathon which starts in the morning. Thousands participated in the various marathons along with supporters, vendors and  marathon personnel .....it made  for a lot of people in the city all day.  

Yet that afternoon just a few blocks away,  the  'We are Women' rally hosted by United Women.org  held  their 'nationwide' rally touted by their website  in 56 cities . The advertised rally  was  described in the previous post as a  panoply of the bizarre.

Despite beautiful weather , speakers and handing out refreshments...the crowds were barely recognizable. The speakers promoted  for Nashville rally were Park Overall, actress and activist – Democratic candidate for US Senate and Danielle Billingsley, concerned Tennessean. Ever hear of them???

A few interesting signs were ..... Think outside my box....and contrary to popular opinion the Bible does not fit inside my uterus???  Okay????  The rally was promoted from 3-6...ending in time for Happy Hour. 


Top picture from Tennessean online...other phots from Facebook page for We are Women.

Abortion mill closed again on Friday during 40 Days....

40 Days for Life in Nashville is focusing on the Women's Center one of the most notorious abortion facilities in the state since is is not licensed as an ambulatory surgical treatment center and not inspected and regulated.  This past Friday for the second Friday in a row, the usually busy day at this facility was empty accept for two worker's cars. Did the abortionist not show up? Was business just down? Or do prayers work. You be the judge.  Check out 40 Days for Life/Nashville and get involved.

Nashville: I am right to life......young team scores well!

Nashville Dispatch – Day 4

Posted on February 28, 2011 by nrlccomm| 

If you’ve been following our Twitter feed, you already know that our team from SAGU placed third in the 36.DV Challenge with their “I Am National Right to Life” ad.

Krystle, Danielle, Richie and Jason face the judges during the wrap-up for the
36.DV Challenge at NRB11.

To recap: beginning at 9pm Friday night, the team comprise of Krystle Sonmore, Danielle Chambers, Jason Rutel and Richie Kotwica (under the watchful guidance of their faculty advisor Rob Price) had 36 hours to come up with a promotional ad for NRLC.  In that time they had to familiarize themselves with our work, conceptualize the ad, storyboard it, script it, film it, edit it, code it and turn it in by 9am Sunday morning (they submitted the final cut at 8:59am ).

The iNRB judges evaluated all five video projects based on content and technical excellence and announced the winners during the iNRB awards ceremony last night.  The top three videos were all within a few points of each other.  Even though our team didn’t take 1st place (and the $150 cash prize for each student that went with it), they placed first in our eyes for all of their hard work.

Our winning team from SAGU: Richie Kotwica, Danielle Chambers, Jason Rutel,
and Krystle Sonmore.

And now, the team’s video…”I Am National Right to Life”:

Liberal area of Nashville not even friendly for marchers for PP

Fox 17 Nashville  ran a story of a Walk for Choice  that took place in liberal East Nashville. It was a pretty bland piece filled with all the talking points given to him from PP. But I take exception to his saying there were over 100....more like 30 I would say. But the real take away is the fact that in liberal east Nashville  they had detractors and people who wanted to point out they did not support them and some even called them baby killers....my they must really be in trouble if they cannot march in that liberal area. Of course they wanted to focus on health care and birth control and stay away from the a word and stuck with the talking points that PP saves lives...hummm....not so much for the 383,000 babies....

"Several people in the area said they don't support the walkers or their position, however they would not appear on camera.  But some of the participants of today's event say others were much more vocal on this divisive issue.

“People like to yell baby killers but that's really not what Planned Parenthood stands for,” Bartley said."

Nashville abortion mill kicks pregnant woman outside despite cold weather and no car to sit in.

 This is an excerpt from a faithful sidewalk counselor in front of  The Women's Center in Nashville...one of the most infamous abortions mills. How compassionate that the Security Guard and nurses tossed out a pregnant lady who drove her friend there to have an abortion because she was talking to her friend about her decision. Even after she said, I have no car to sit in and it is 20 degrees out there and I am pregnant, they still threw her outside. Nothing should interfere with their abortion  production line and the profits....serving women indeed!

Thursday  Dec. 9th

 It is a crisp 20 degrees this morning as we arrive on the hill. Don’t worry we were bundled up. The clients started arriving very slowly today. First, there were six and then 30 minutes later there were 12. I spoke to one young lady and she listened but chose to go in anyway. I had one women ask me if I had a rosary and I did. I gave it to her because she wanted to pray for her friend who was about to have an abortion. 

 I went   for a warm up break and 20 minutes later, one of the counselors said there was someone who wanted to see me. It was a young lady who had taken her friend to the abortion facility. She said’ “They threw me out up there’’. I said, “what!!!!!”  She was trying to talk her friend out of getting an abortion. She was showing one of our brochures. She asked her friend why she wanted to do this your baby’s heart is already beating.” She said, another girl who was waiting started crying and got up and left.

 The nurses told Cliff the security guard to tell that girl she has to leave. She said ‘’It is cold outside and I am 16 weeks pregnant and I am keeping my baby. I don’t have a car. They still kicked her out. So she came down to us.

Media ignores Nashville flood - why?

Nice write up from Mommy Life.com

I am so proud of TN....we are picking ourselves up and getting back on our feet with little to no help from Washington....we are not called the Volunteer state for nothing. We are helping one another. No one is demanding that they receive this or that or blaming anyone for what happened. And yes we are being ignored by the media and the powers that be.

If I lived in Tennessee I'd be feeling pretty abandoned by my country be now. To think of all the clamor the followed Katrina, the Bush-bashing and howling of victims. How dignified the people of Tennessee seem, how heartless our Glorious Leader who has not even mentioned the 500 year flood that is turning out to be one of the most expensive natural disasters in our history.
The Big 0 hasn't even mentioned it. I guess there's no political advantage to be had. But I've been to Nashville. There are black people there too.
Meanwhile, the media are grinding out story after story trying desperately to humanize our latest terrorist. Something tells me they wouldn't be doing this for the middle-aged white man they - the media - first decided was the culprit, suggesting he was probably a Tea Party member angry about the passage of health care.
Yeah, because that would be so like the Tea Party, wouldn't it? Not like the cavalcade of car bombs now commonplace in the Mideast.
Anyway, here is a surprising perspective from Newsweek - Why the Media Ignored the Nashville Flood:

As you may have heard, torrential downpours in the southeast flooded the Tennessee capital of Nashville over the weekend, lifting the Cumberland River 13 feet above flood stage, causing an estimated $1 billion in damage, and killing more than 30 people. It could wind up being one of the most expensive natural disasters in U.S. history. Or, on second thought, maybe you didn't hear. . .

Andrew Roman has some interesting analysis and you can read the entire article at Newsweek, or cut to the chase for his conclusion:

If I sound like I'm condoning the media's inattention here, I'm not. My explanation is meant as a criticism. Given audience demands--especially at a time when traditional media companies aren't doing so well--it's impossible to avoid the stories with the most buzz and the strongest narratives. Nor should we. But urgency should be at least as important. In this case, the most urgent aspects of the oil spill and the Times Square attack had already been covered to death; the culprit was already caught, the containment was already underway. And yet we still kept rehashing each of those stories--and fighting about politics--while thousands of homes and business were destroyed and dozens of people died. That matters. Media silence means public ignorance, and public ignorance means fewer charitable donations, slower aid, and less political pressure. If that's not reason enough to cover the flood--to do our jobs--I don't know what is.

Love,