Good afternoon.
My name is Steve Karlen, and I am here to submit more than 1,000 signatures on behalf of Madison Vigil for Life.
The members of my organization are people of faith. Yet we are a people of faith that is grounded in reason. That a new, unique, and individual human life begins at the moment of conception is an indisputable fact, proven by both logic and empirical science.
Indeed, this debate over plans to perform late-term abortions at the Madison Surgery Center is not a debate over when life begins, but over which human beings we as a society decide to value and which we decide to discard.
The University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics and Meriter hospital boards now have an important choice to make. Will their institutions affirm the self-evident truths that all human beings are created equal, endowed by their Creator with the inalienable rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness? Or will they decide that a person’s value can be arbitrarily diminished by size, age, health, or location?
Can anyone seriously suggest that mere passage through the birth canal transforms a body from a non-entity to an individual worthy of society’s protection? Indeed, abortion is an irrational act.
Secondly, we must take issue with the UW Health statement that callously labeled abortion as a community service. We cannot conceive of any other service that leads to an astronomically high risk of suicide and substance abuse. So-called family planning services are the only cases where health care is designed to destroy the normal, healthy functioning of the human body.
This week, I have spoken with businessmen who have begun exploring opportunities for changing their insurance plans so that they need not patronize Meriter and UWHC should these late-term abortion plans be enacted. I invite all businesses, families and individuals to join them in this boycott.
Thank you.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Vigil for Life ACTION ITEM and Week in Review!
ACTION ITEM:
Before we get to our weekly message discussing last Thursday’s rally and the days to come, we need your help once more! Vigil for Life has united with other pro-life groups from around the state to circulate a petition opposing the plan to perform late-term abortions at the Madison Surgery Center. We will be circulating this petition throughout the entire state as all Wisconsin taxpayers should be outraged that the publicly funded clinic will dismember live babies.
We encourage you to download the petition (the attached file) and circulate it among family and friends. Then, mail the completed petitions to the Karlens at the address listed at the bottom of the petition. We will add them to those collected by groups all over Wisconsin to be presented to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics president and board. Thank you for your help! Now to our message! Now to our message!
Message from the Vigil for Life Team
Dear Prayer Warriors,
To the Vigil for Life team and all those who allied with us in prayer and witness the past week and a half: Well done.
We could not have been more pleased with Thursday morning’s demonstration. More than 100 of you braved the subzero wind chills on short notice on a week day. Many more reported praying from home, work, school and church. In fact, prayers came in from all over Wisconsin. Absolutely superlative. We made a very strong statement. Even the secular media was out in force, with three television stations and the Wisconsin Radio Network out to cover our event. Just an exhilarating day.
Yet when the rally ended, I couldn’t shake a tinge of sorrow. When the cameras, microphones and signs were put away, my heart grew troubled. When I tried to spend a relaxing evening with my family, my thoughts remained haunted.
Haunted by the face of a little girl I met at the demonstration. A special needs child who greeted me with the biggest, most beautiful smile I have ever seen. A smile that radiated love and warmth and joy. Indeed, this little smile was the closest look at perfection I might ever have on this side of Heaven.
After saying my quick hello to this child, I quickly excused myself. You see, my eyes had begun to well with tears. But from that moment on, I couldn’t help but notice each and every child gathered with us. Whether nestled in closely to their mothers or playing in the snow, each boy and girl was a reminder of the innocence we adults seem to lose along the way.
Let us make every effort to protect these little ones, our greatest example of what once was good…and can be again. As my wife often says, abortion would be unimaginable if children ran the world. They simply would never tolerate the rationalization that accepts abortion as a reasonable solution to society’s problems. Instead, they’d cry “You can’t hurt a baby! Why would you ever hurt a baby?”
Let us pray that we may all see the world through the eyes of a child.
-The Vigil for Life Team
Looking Ahead
Outside of 40 Days for Life, we typically try to limit our emails to one per month. However, as this situation continues to develop, we will keep you updated. There are a lot of plans in the works, and we expect to make another major announcement in the days ahead. Stay tuned, my friends.
Until then, please continue to inundate UW with calls and emails:
Ms. Donna Katen-Bahensky, President and CEO
(608) 263-6400
Before we get to our weekly message discussing last Thursday’s rally and the days to come, we need your help once more! Vigil for Life has united with other pro-life groups from around the state to circulate a petition opposing the plan to perform late-term abortions at the Madison Surgery Center. We will be circulating this petition throughout the entire state as all Wisconsin taxpayers should be outraged that the publicly funded clinic will dismember live babies.
We encourage you to download the petition (the attached file) and circulate it among family and friends. Then, mail the completed petitions to the Karlens at the address listed at the bottom of the petition. We will add them to those collected by groups all over Wisconsin to be presented to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics president and board. Thank you for your help! Now to our message! Now to our message!
Message from the Vigil for Life Team
Dear Prayer Warriors,
To the Vigil for Life team and all those who allied with us in prayer and witness the past week and a half: Well done.
We could not have been more pleased with Thursday morning’s demonstration. More than 100 of you braved the subzero wind chills on short notice on a week day. Many more reported praying from home, work, school and church. In fact, prayers came in from all over Wisconsin. Absolutely superlative. We made a very strong statement. Even the secular media was out in force, with three television stations and the Wisconsin Radio Network out to cover our event. Just an exhilarating day.
Yet when the rally ended, I couldn’t shake a tinge of sorrow. When the cameras, microphones and signs were put away, my heart grew troubled. When I tried to spend a relaxing evening with my family, my thoughts remained haunted.
Haunted by the face of a little girl I met at the demonstration. A special needs child who greeted me with the biggest, most beautiful smile I have ever seen. A smile that radiated love and warmth and joy. Indeed, this little smile was the closest look at perfection I might ever have on this side of Heaven.
After saying my quick hello to this child, I quickly excused myself. You see, my eyes had begun to well with tears. But from that moment on, I couldn’t help but notice each and every child gathered with us. Whether nestled in closely to their mothers or playing in the snow, each boy and girl was a reminder of the innocence we adults seem to lose along the way.
Let us make every effort to protect these little ones, our greatest example of what once was good…and can be again. As my wife often says, abortion would be unimaginable if children ran the world. They simply would never tolerate the rationalization that accepts abortion as a reasonable solution to society’s problems. Instead, they’d cry “You can’t hurt a baby! Why would you ever hurt a baby?”
Let us pray that we may all see the world through the eyes of a child.
-The Vigil for Life Team
Looking Ahead
Outside of 40 Days for Life, we typically try to limit our emails to one per month. However, as this situation continues to develop, we will keep you updated. There are a lot of plans in the works, and we expect to make another major announcement in the days ahead. Stay tuned, my friends.
Until then, please continue to inundate UW with calls and emails:
Ms. Donna Katen-Bahensky, President and CEO
(608) 263-6400
publicaffairs@uwhealth.org
Media Coverage of Vigil for Life’s 1/8 demonstration:
Channel 3 Video: http://www.channel3000.com/news/18439268/detail.html
Sly in the Morning Radio Show: (Includes tasteless commentary after the interview): http://podcast.loyalears.com/mr_embeddable.php?station_id=wtdy&mp3_path=YmVndmJhZnlsX25v8mp3&UserID=
Catholic Herald: http://www.madisoncatholicherald.org/around-diocese/298-abortion-plan-protest.html
Media Coverage of Vigil for Life’s 1/8 demonstration:
Channel 3 Video: http://www.channel3000.com/news/18439268/detail.html
Sly in the Morning Radio Show: (Includes tasteless commentary after the interview): http://podcast.loyalears.com/mr_embeddable.php?station_id=wtdy&mp3_path=YmVndmJhZnlsX25v8mp3&UserID=
Catholic Herald: http://www.madisoncatholicherald.org/around-diocese/298-abortion-plan-protest.html
Text of Steve Karlen's speech at January 8 Rally
My friends, what a blessing it is to stand united with you this morning to witness against this culture of death in our nation, our state, our city and this very building.
Over the past few months, the Vigil for Life team has asked a lot of you. We’ve asked for you to pray, to fast, to stand witness outside of Planned Parenthood. We’ve asked you to volunteer, to sacrifice your time and give of your talent. And now—when we need you more than ever, when the stakes are higher than ever—you show up in greater numbers than ever to tell UW and Meriter that we do not want this fine medical facility turned into a death camp! Last night as I prepared to speak to you, I realized this is classic preaching to the choir. It’s a work day. It’s a school day. It’s the middle of winter, and you were given less than 48 hours notice that this event would be happening. Yet you’ve come. God Bless you!
As Bishop Morlino might say, I’ve got three points that I’d like to make this morning:
First, I’d like to update you on the latest developments. Exactly two days ago, Matt Bowman of the Alliance Defense Funds raised some serious question for Meriter and UW Officials. Yet this morning, these critical questions have yet to be answered. How will the University abide by a multitude of laws prohibiting public money from financing abortion? In a hastily constructed statement to the media, UW spokesperson Lisa Brunette has said that insurance and patient fees will cover these so-called services. Do not be misled. This institution is a joint venture with the public UW. The abortionist is an employee of that public UW. And her salary is paid by that public UW.
How will the Madison Surgery Center abide by conscience protection laws to ensure that faithful Christians are not coerced into participating even indirectly in killing the pre-born? That same hastily written statement said essentially no more than “Uh, just trust us. Our Lawyer said it was ok.”
In response to allegations that the University could use this facility as a cheap way to harvest nearly-fully formed organs from preborn babies for research purposes, Ms. Brunette said that this could happen quote “only after review by a faculty committee.”
As though that’s supposed to make us feel better about it! I recently learned that there is a market for fetal organs. With a little investigation, you can find price lists for various body parts. Ms. Brunette, allow me to make a suggestion for your price list: Sell every brain, every pancreas, every arm and every other body part for a flat rate of 30 pieces of silver!
If the UW Hospitals and Clinics intended to be forthcoming and transparent as we should expect from a public institution, we’d have answers by now. But still we wait. Shame on you UW, and shame on you Meriter!
Secondly, I ask you to continue this fight with me, wherever it will take us. When this fight for the pre-born goes to the Capitol, let us go there. When this fight goes to the courts, let us go there. When this fight goes to this facility and to Planned Parenthood, let us go there. When it comes to our neighborhoods, our workplaces, even our own families, let us go there.
But wherever this battle for souls goes, let us go first to our knees.
Because it is only with the armor of God, as St. Paul says, that we have the strength and courage to take a stand for life.
Ephesians 6: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.”
My friends, that day of evil has arrived. So let us petition our God and Savior for the spiritual fortitude to reach out to the unwed mother and the child within her, to give the extra dollar, to spend an extra half hour in prayer. Millions of tiny little boys and girls depend on our actions, but perish at our inaction. So let us receive His grace to stand firm against the gates of hell that one day we may be welcomed in at the Gates of Heaven.
Third, I seek to encourage you. Right now, we are an angry people. But we are first and foremost a joyful people. Our victory is and has been in hand for nearly 2,000 years. Alleluia!
We are a people of faith, of hope, and of love. So let us stand witness today to the love we have for our God, for each other, for the pre-born babies, for the parents facing crisis pregnancies, for the post-abortive, and in a very special way for abortionists like Dennis Christiansen and Caryn Dutton.
Our Lord told us “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Indeed, these abortionists have become very skilled at destroying the body. They’ve made careers of it. But in doing so, they’ve caused incredible damage to their own souls and the souls of their victims. So let us always pray for their conversion in love and charity.
Regardless of what decisions are made here at this facility, let us remain hopeful. It may be easy to get discouraged by recent events, but such trials are a part of every movement for justice in the world.
This fight over abortion is THE civil rights battle of our generation. Yet history is on our side. We know that one day abortion will be in children’s textbooks alongside racism and slavery, genocide and apartheid.
So take heart. For one shining day, whether in this life or the next, abortion will be merely another historical relic of man’s shocking capacity for cruelty toward his fellow man. And on that day, we will rest peacefully knowing that we were the Lord’s humble instruments who ran the good race and fought the good fight.
I close today with words of encouragement from Teresa of Avila:
Let nothing disturb you
Let nothing frighten you
All things pass away
God never changes
Patience obtains all things.
He who has GodFinds he lacks nothing
God alone suffices.
Praise be to God the Father. Praise be to Jesus Christ the Risen Lord. Praise be to the Holy Spirit in whom and through whom all our good deeds are done. Thank you and God bless you.
Over the past few months, the Vigil for Life team has asked a lot of you. We’ve asked for you to pray, to fast, to stand witness outside of Planned Parenthood. We’ve asked you to volunteer, to sacrifice your time and give of your talent. And now—when we need you more than ever, when the stakes are higher than ever—you show up in greater numbers than ever to tell UW and Meriter that we do not want this fine medical facility turned into a death camp! Last night as I prepared to speak to you, I realized this is classic preaching to the choir. It’s a work day. It’s a school day. It’s the middle of winter, and you were given less than 48 hours notice that this event would be happening. Yet you’ve come. God Bless you!
As Bishop Morlino might say, I’ve got three points that I’d like to make this morning:
First, I’d like to update you on the latest developments. Exactly two days ago, Matt Bowman of the Alliance Defense Funds raised some serious question for Meriter and UW Officials. Yet this morning, these critical questions have yet to be answered. How will the University abide by a multitude of laws prohibiting public money from financing abortion? In a hastily constructed statement to the media, UW spokesperson Lisa Brunette has said that insurance and patient fees will cover these so-called services. Do not be misled. This institution is a joint venture with the public UW. The abortionist is an employee of that public UW. And her salary is paid by that public UW.
How will the Madison Surgery Center abide by conscience protection laws to ensure that faithful Christians are not coerced into participating even indirectly in killing the pre-born? That same hastily written statement said essentially no more than “Uh, just trust us. Our Lawyer said it was ok.”
In response to allegations that the University could use this facility as a cheap way to harvest nearly-fully formed organs from preborn babies for research purposes, Ms. Brunette said that this could happen quote “only after review by a faculty committee.”
As though that’s supposed to make us feel better about it! I recently learned that there is a market for fetal organs. With a little investigation, you can find price lists for various body parts. Ms. Brunette, allow me to make a suggestion for your price list: Sell every brain, every pancreas, every arm and every other body part for a flat rate of 30 pieces of silver!
If the UW Hospitals and Clinics intended to be forthcoming and transparent as we should expect from a public institution, we’d have answers by now. But still we wait. Shame on you UW, and shame on you Meriter!
Secondly, I ask you to continue this fight with me, wherever it will take us. When this fight for the pre-born goes to the Capitol, let us go there. When this fight goes to the courts, let us go there. When this fight goes to this facility and to Planned Parenthood, let us go there. When it comes to our neighborhoods, our workplaces, even our own families, let us go there.
But wherever this battle for souls goes, let us go first to our knees.
Because it is only with the armor of God, as St. Paul says, that we have the strength and courage to take a stand for life.
Ephesians 6: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.”
My friends, that day of evil has arrived. So let us petition our God and Savior for the spiritual fortitude to reach out to the unwed mother and the child within her, to give the extra dollar, to spend an extra half hour in prayer. Millions of tiny little boys and girls depend on our actions, but perish at our inaction. So let us receive His grace to stand firm against the gates of hell that one day we may be welcomed in at the Gates of Heaven.
Third, I seek to encourage you. Right now, we are an angry people. But we are first and foremost a joyful people. Our victory is and has been in hand for nearly 2,000 years. Alleluia!
We are a people of faith, of hope, and of love. So let us stand witness today to the love we have for our God, for each other, for the pre-born babies, for the parents facing crisis pregnancies, for the post-abortive, and in a very special way for abortionists like Dennis Christiansen and Caryn Dutton.
Our Lord told us “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Indeed, these abortionists have become very skilled at destroying the body. They’ve made careers of it. But in doing so, they’ve caused incredible damage to their own souls and the souls of their victims. So let us always pray for their conversion in love and charity.
Regardless of what decisions are made here at this facility, let us remain hopeful. It may be easy to get discouraged by recent events, but such trials are a part of every movement for justice in the world.
This fight over abortion is THE civil rights battle of our generation. Yet history is on our side. We know that one day abortion will be in children’s textbooks alongside racism and slavery, genocide and apartheid.
So take heart. For one shining day, whether in this life or the next, abortion will be merely another historical relic of man’s shocking capacity for cruelty toward his fellow man. And on that day, we will rest peacefully knowing that we were the Lord’s humble instruments who ran the good race and fought the good fight.
I close today with words of encouragement from Teresa of Avila:
Let nothing disturb you
Let nothing frighten you
All things pass away
God never changes
Patience obtains all things.
He who has GodFinds he lacks nothing
God alone suffices.
Praise be to God the Father. Praise be to Jesus Christ the Risen Lord. Praise be to the Holy Spirit in whom and through whom all our good deeds are done. Thank you and God bless you.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
BREAKING NEWS: Vigil for Life Action Alert for Thursday, January 8 at 8 a.m.
Madison Vigil for Life News Release
January 6, 2009—For Immediate Release
Contact Vigil for Life Communications: 608-445-2063
Today we were saddened to learn of secret plans to perform late-term abortions at the Madison Surgery Center, a clinic jointly operated by the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics and Meriter Hospital.
Pro-lifers across Wisconsin are invited to help stop this transformation of a legitimate health facility into a death camp. Vigil for Life will meet outside the Madison Surgery Center (1 S. Park Street, Madison, WI 53715) at 8:00 a.m. this Thursday, January 8 for a demonstration against these grisly plans. Together, we will stand and declare that we will not accept the destruction of pre-born life.
The demonstration is scheduled to last an hour, but participants are invited to stand witness and pray as long as they would like.
According to the Alliance Defense Fund, the Madison Surgery Center plan would likely illegally force unwilling employees to participate in the killing and dismembering of pre-born babies. Additionally troubling is UWHC researchers’ history of experimenting on body parts harvested from second-trimester abortions performed nearby.
Interestingly, the revelation of these secret plans comes on Epiphany, the Christian holiday commemorating the Wise Men’s visit to the infant Jesus. Shortly after the Wise Men’s visit, King Herod began his Slaughter of the Innocents, killing all of the babies in Bethlehem.
Here are three other ways pro-lifers can help stop this latest development in the modern-day slaughter of innocents:
Pray! Please pray regularly for a quick end to these plans and an end to all abortion.
Spread the word. Please share this information with all your pro-life friends, family and acquaintances from around the state.
Make your voice heard! We urge you to call the officials behind these plans:
Donna Katen-Bahensky, President and CEO of UW Hospital and Clinics
608-263-6400
Jeffrey Grossman, M.D., President and CEO of the UW Medical Foundation
608-608-263-7013
James L. Woodward, President and CEO of Meriter Hospital
608-417-6000
Please contact Steve Karlen at 608-445-2063 with any questions.
January 6, 2009—For Immediate Release
Contact Vigil for Life Communications: 608-445-2063
Today we were saddened to learn of secret plans to perform late-term abortions at the Madison Surgery Center, a clinic jointly operated by the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics and Meriter Hospital.
Pro-lifers across Wisconsin are invited to help stop this transformation of a legitimate health facility into a death camp. Vigil for Life will meet outside the Madison Surgery Center (1 S. Park Street, Madison, WI 53715) at 8:00 a.m. this Thursday, January 8 for a demonstration against these grisly plans. Together, we will stand and declare that we will not accept the destruction of pre-born life.
The demonstration is scheduled to last an hour, but participants are invited to stand witness and pray as long as they would like.
According to the Alliance Defense Fund, the Madison Surgery Center plan would likely illegally force unwilling employees to participate in the killing and dismembering of pre-born babies. Additionally troubling is UWHC researchers’ history of experimenting on body parts harvested from second-trimester abortions performed nearby.
Interestingly, the revelation of these secret plans comes on Epiphany, the Christian holiday commemorating the Wise Men’s visit to the infant Jesus. Shortly after the Wise Men’s visit, King Herod began his Slaughter of the Innocents, killing all of the babies in Bethlehem.
Here are three other ways pro-lifers can help stop this latest development in the modern-day slaughter of innocents:
Pray! Please pray regularly for a quick end to these plans and an end to all abortion.
Spread the word. Please share this information with all your pro-life friends, family and acquaintances from around the state.
Make your voice heard! We urge you to call the officials behind these plans:
Donna Katen-Bahensky, President and CEO of UW Hospital and Clinics
608-263-6400
Jeffrey Grossman, M.D., President and CEO of the UW Medical Foundation
608-608-263-7013
James L. Woodward, President and CEO of Meriter Hospital
608-417-6000
Please contact Steve Karlen at 608-445-2063 with any questions.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Merry Christmas, everybody! As we celebrate the birth of Christ and another year winds down, we'd like to take this moment to thank you for your wonderful service to our Lord and to the least of His people: the pre-born babies. We have asked a lot of you these last few months, and you've answered the call every time.
From 40 Days for life to rallies, to special events, to our continuing presence outside of Planned Parenthood, you have sacrified your time, talent, and energy to prevent the sacrifice of babies. It has been an absolute blessing for us to be able to serve with such faithful, committed people as yourselves. We pray for you and for your families and ask that you continue to stand and kneel with us in the year ahead. God bless you! That said, there is a lot of exciting pro-life news in the Madison area this month. Please read on for all the details, including some major BREAKING NEWS!
BREAKING NEWS
A MAJOR pro-life event will be held around the downtown area on Thursday, January 8 at 8:00 a.m. Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to disclose exactly what and where this event will be, but please trust us: It will be crucial to the pro-life movement in Madison.
We will be able to deliver all the details on Tuesday in a special Vigil for Life email. Until then, we ask that if you are able, please block off the 8:00 a.m. hour to attend this event. Certainly, many of you will be working or otherwise engaged. If this is the case, please let your pro-life friends and family members know. And please pray for the success of the event. If you are scheduled to pray outside Planned Parenthood on Thursdays per the continuing presence at the East Side facility, we invite you to feel free to attend this event in lieu of your scheduled hours.
Again, we will provide more information on this as soon as we are able.
Vigil for Life Expands Presence Outside Planned Parenthood
Our prayerful presence changes hearts and minds through the Holy Spirit. This knowledge challenges us to continue our loving witness outside of Planned Parenthood. We need your help to stand outside in the cold when the clinic is open and especially when abortions are happening. We need your weekly, monthly or one-time commitment to spend an hour in prayerful vigil on Thursdays and Fridays, 7AM-6PM. Our goal is not constant, 24-hour vigil but a year-round commitment to prayerful presence. Please respond to this e-mail with the commitment you can make. As you know, each day, thousands of unborn babies die. So, each day, you and I have the opportunity to do something about it. We kicked off these Thursday and Friday vigils beginning Thursday, December 4, 2008 in conjunction with our anticipation of the Incarnation of Jesus as a helpless child on Christmas morning. Now that we have celebrated the birth of Christ, we seek to continue defending children from this modern day slaughter of the innocents.
Saturday, January 3 Guest Speaker: Safe Place for Newborns' Terry Walsh
As the economy worsens, more women will feel the strain of an unplanned pregnancy. We really need to get the word out more that there is a last safety-net option -- not a quick abortion. Terry Walsh of Safe Place for Newborns joins us to share how we can help mothers choose life in tough financial times. See her speak at 9:00 am at Holy Redeemer, 120 W. Johnson.
Our Lady of Hope Clinic to Bring Pro-Life Family Practice to Madison
Our Lady of Hope Clinic, a 100 percent pro-life family practice clinic, will open its doors in Madison in April. Dr. Michael Kloess and Dr. Anne Johnson will provide primary care to benefactors and uninsured people in the Madison community. However, there is still a great need for pro-life families and individuals to become benefactors, donors, promoters, or to regularly offer prayers. Small group informational meetings are currently being held with free snacks and beverages. Please contact Steve Karlen by phone, 608-445-2063, or by e-mail sjkarlen@ourladyofhopeclinic.com. You may also visit the Web Site, www.ourladyofhopeclinic.org. You are also invited to attend the following scheduled presentations:
-Sunday, January 4, 2009, 9:30 a.m. (Following the 8:30 Mass) at St. James Parish (downstairs)1128 St. James Court, Madison, WI 53715-Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 7:00 p.m. at Schoenstatt5901 Cottage Grove Road, Madison, WI 53718
-Sunday, January 18, 2009, 8:30 a.m. (following the 7:30 Mass) at Sacred Hearts Parish
221 Columbus Street - Sun Prairie, WI 53590
-Sunday, January 18, 2009, 11:30 a.m. (following the 10:30 Mass) at St. Joseph Parish
590 S. Saint Joseph Circle - Edgerton, WI 53534
Silent No More Wisconsin: Post-Abortive Women to Deliver Testimonies at Capitol
Testimonies of mothers and fathers that have lost their children to the choice of abortion. Come, listen and support our precious brothers and sisters giving their personal stories. Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. www.silentnomoreawareness.org
Care Net Seeks Male Mentors for Men Facing Crisis Pregnancies
While a great deal of time, effort and attention is rightly given to women facing crisis pregnancies, sometimes men can be forgotten. That's why Care Net seeks volunteers for their man-to-man ministry. It is a commitment that involves being trained in meeting men who are accompanying their pregnant partners/spouses to the Elizabeth House and assisting them in thinking through their situation and praying that they see choosing life as a beautiful option. For more information on volunteering for this life-affirming project, contact Cassie Mott at cassiem@carenetdane.org.
All men who are governed by Christian charity and love, willing to go through some formal training at Care Net, and have some aptitude for relating to men, are encouraged to apply.
Men of Christ Conference, Jan 10, 2009
www.MenofChrist.net
YOUTH 2000 Mar 20-22, 2009
A high school and young adult retreat, led by the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Renewal and the Community of St. John, will take place at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center. More info: www.madisondiocese.org:80/Ministry/EvangelizationandCatechesis/YouthMinistry/Youth2000/tabid/1129/Default.aspx
Respect Life Retreat: Mar 27-28, 2009 (Date change)
Fr. Samuel Martin of the Diocese of LaCrosse will be our retreat master during our Lenten Journey focusing our attention to how we can continue to protect the innocent (conception to natural death), building a Culture of Life! The flyer will be posted on our new upcoming website. Please ask for more details.
To have your event or announcement listed in our monthly email, contact Steve and Laura Karlen at vigilforlife@gmail.com.
From 40 Days for life to rallies, to special events, to our continuing presence outside of Planned Parenthood, you have sacrified your time, talent, and energy to prevent the sacrifice of babies. It has been an absolute blessing for us to be able to serve with such faithful, committed people as yourselves. We pray for you and for your families and ask that you continue to stand and kneel with us in the year ahead. God bless you! That said, there is a lot of exciting pro-life news in the Madison area this month. Please read on for all the details, including some major BREAKING NEWS!
BREAKING NEWS
A MAJOR pro-life event will be held around the downtown area on Thursday, January 8 at 8:00 a.m. Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to disclose exactly what and where this event will be, but please trust us: It will be crucial to the pro-life movement in Madison.
We will be able to deliver all the details on Tuesday in a special Vigil for Life email. Until then, we ask that if you are able, please block off the 8:00 a.m. hour to attend this event. Certainly, many of you will be working or otherwise engaged. If this is the case, please let your pro-life friends and family members know. And please pray for the success of the event. If you are scheduled to pray outside Planned Parenthood on Thursdays per the continuing presence at the East Side facility, we invite you to feel free to attend this event in lieu of your scheduled hours.
Again, we will provide more information on this as soon as we are able.
Vigil for Life Expands Presence Outside Planned Parenthood
Our prayerful presence changes hearts and minds through the Holy Spirit. This knowledge challenges us to continue our loving witness outside of Planned Parenthood. We need your help to stand outside in the cold when the clinic is open and especially when abortions are happening. We need your weekly, monthly or one-time commitment to spend an hour in prayerful vigil on Thursdays and Fridays, 7AM-6PM. Our goal is not constant, 24-hour vigil but a year-round commitment to prayerful presence. Please respond to this e-mail with the commitment you can make. As you know, each day, thousands of unborn babies die. So, each day, you and I have the opportunity to do something about it. We kicked off these Thursday and Friday vigils beginning Thursday, December 4, 2008 in conjunction with our anticipation of the Incarnation of Jesus as a helpless child on Christmas morning. Now that we have celebrated the birth of Christ, we seek to continue defending children from this modern day slaughter of the innocents.
Saturday, January 3 Guest Speaker: Safe Place for Newborns' Terry Walsh
As the economy worsens, more women will feel the strain of an unplanned pregnancy. We really need to get the word out more that there is a last safety-net option -- not a quick abortion. Terry Walsh of Safe Place for Newborns joins us to share how we can help mothers choose life in tough financial times. See her speak at 9:00 am at Holy Redeemer, 120 W. Johnson.
Our Lady of Hope Clinic to Bring Pro-Life Family Practice to Madison
Our Lady of Hope Clinic, a 100 percent pro-life family practice clinic, will open its doors in Madison in April. Dr. Michael Kloess and Dr. Anne Johnson will provide primary care to benefactors and uninsured people in the Madison community. However, there is still a great need for pro-life families and individuals to become benefactors, donors, promoters, or to regularly offer prayers. Small group informational meetings are currently being held with free snacks and beverages. Please contact Steve Karlen by phone, 608-445-2063, or by e-mail sjkarlen@ourladyofhopeclinic.com. You may also visit the Web Site, www.ourladyofhopeclinic.org. You are also invited to attend the following scheduled presentations:
-Sunday, January 4, 2009, 9:30 a.m. (Following the 8:30 Mass) at St. James Parish (downstairs)1128 St. James Court, Madison, WI 53715-Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 7:00 p.m. at Schoenstatt5901 Cottage Grove Road, Madison, WI 53718
-Sunday, January 18, 2009, 8:30 a.m. (following the 7:30 Mass) at Sacred Hearts Parish
221 Columbus Street - Sun Prairie, WI 53590
-Sunday, January 18, 2009, 11:30 a.m. (following the 10:30 Mass) at St. Joseph Parish
590 S. Saint Joseph Circle - Edgerton, WI 53534
Silent No More Wisconsin: Post-Abortive Women to Deliver Testimonies at Capitol
Testimonies of mothers and fathers that have lost their children to the choice of abortion. Come, listen and support our precious brothers and sisters giving their personal stories. Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. www.silentnomoreawareness.org
Care Net Seeks Male Mentors for Men Facing Crisis Pregnancies
While a great deal of time, effort and attention is rightly given to women facing crisis pregnancies, sometimes men can be forgotten. That's why Care Net seeks volunteers for their man-to-man ministry. It is a commitment that involves being trained in meeting men who are accompanying their pregnant partners/spouses to the Elizabeth House and assisting them in thinking through their situation and praying that they see choosing life as a beautiful option. For more information on volunteering for this life-affirming project, contact Cassie Mott at cassiem@carenetdane.org.
All men who are governed by Christian charity and love, willing to go through some formal training at Care Net, and have some aptitude for relating to men, are encouraged to apply.
Men of Christ Conference, Jan 10, 2009
www.MenofChrist.net
YOUTH 2000 Mar 20-22, 2009
A high school and young adult retreat, led by the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Renewal and the Community of St. John, will take place at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center. More info: www.madisondiocese.org:80/Ministry/EvangelizationandCatechesis/YouthMinistry/Youth2000/tabid/1129/Default.aspx
Respect Life Retreat: Mar 27-28, 2009 (Date change)
Fr. Samuel Martin of the Diocese of LaCrosse will be our retreat master during our Lenten Journey focusing our attention to how we can continue to protect the innocent (conception to natural death), building a Culture of Life! The flyer will be posted on our new upcoming website. Please ask for more details.
To have your event or announcement listed in our monthly email, contact Steve and Laura Karlen at vigilforlife@gmail.com.
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