'Roe' of Roe vs. Wade addresses pro-life event ["I think it's great being a Catholic."]

Catholic Online.org ^ | 10-14-05 | Paula Doyle

[Salvation]

'Roe' of Roe vs. Wade addresses pro-life event for L.A. Hispanics

Norma McCorvey, the 'Roe' of the Roe vs. Wade 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, addressed an audience at Resurrection Church in East L.A. Oct. 8.

By Paula Doyle

10/14/2005

OS ANGELES (CNS) -- More than 100 parishioners from a dozen East Los Angeles parishes turned out Oct. 8 at Resurrection Church for a Spanish-language respect life program featuring Norma McCorvey, the "Roe" of the Roe vs. Wade 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. "I think the archdiocese (of Los Angeles) is trying to light a spark in the Hispanic community regarding the pro-life movement," said organizer Jay Hernandez, a member of the archdiocesan Family Life Issues commission.

"When you show people what abortion is, you get their attention," he said, noting that community feedback has been positive since the Spanish-language respect life campaign kicked off in August.

As part of the program, participants saw the film "Dura Realidad" ("Hard Reality") produced by Hispanics for Life, which shows aborted babies that were found in trash bags a few years ago in Houston. "People are deeply touched when they see the film," said Hernandez.

In his talk, Hernandez said abortion providers target the local Hispanic community with their "death zone" of seven abortion mills in a one-mile area of MacArthur Park in Los Angeles.

Louis Velasquez, special projects coordinator for the archdiocesan vicar for clergy office, said today's fast-paced, "immediate satisfaction" society sees abortion as a quick solution to unanticipated pregnancies.

McCorvey, who became a pro-life supporter in 1995 after spending years as a proponent of legal abortion, was among several speakers during the afternoon conference organized by Hispanics for Life. Her talk was translated into Spanish by Velasquez.

As a pregnant 22-year-old in 1969, McCorvey was referred by an adoption attorney to lawyers seeking a plaintiff for an abortion suit against the state of Texas. She said she still carries guilt for her involvement in what would become Roe vs. Wade.

"I did sign the affidavit that brought the holocaust of abortion into this nation," said McCorvey, whose baby was given up for adoption. But, she added, "I found out about Roe vs. Wade like everyone else did -- in the paper."

McCorvey said she was told that the legalization of abortion would end back-alley abortions and "probably" put a stop to rape and incest. "They (the lawyers) had a hidden agenda," she said. "They told me that they only wanted to legalize abortion in the state of Texas, but what they actually wanted to do was what they did -- legalize abortion across the land."

In 1994, after more than two decades of guilt-induced drug binges and various jobs at abortion clinics, McCorvey began to change her mind about the abortion industry, especially when Operation Rescue moved next door to her workplace, an abortion clinic in Texas.

She was particularly enchanted with the friendliness of two little girls, Emily and Chelsea, the 7- and 4-year-old daughters of Operation Rescue workers. "I was on the pro-abortion side so long, I didn't know how to react to kindness and love that all these people and the children were showing me," said McCorvey.

She became disillusioned with her job admitting women for first- and second-trimester abortions. Each weekend, according to McCorvey, clinic staff had to perform enough abortions to meet a $40,000 quota.

"What I didn't understand at the time was that I was tiring of the abortion movement," she said, adding she was "fed up with the lies and the mistreatment of the women" coming in for abortions.

When she started counseling women that they were under no obligation to go through with their abortions, reducing the weekend numbers, she was fired.

In 1995, while attending a church service with Emily and Chelsea's family, McCorvey answered an "altar call," an invitation to come forward and publicly accept Christ as lord and savior. A couple of years later, McCorvey felt called to the Catholic Church of her youth. (Her mother was Catholic and her father was a Jehovah's Witness.)

After receiving instruction in the Catholic faith at St. Albert's Priory at the University of Dallas, she became a Catholic Aug. 17, 1998.

"I think it's great being a Catholic, and I enjoy my work a great deal," said McCorvey.

As founder of the nondenominational Crossing Over Ministry, formerly named Roe No More Ministry, McCorvey travels internationally speaking on behalf of the pro-life movement. She is particularly interested in helping crisis pregnancy centers, which now outnumber abortion clinics in the United States.

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Click to enter the new website of Crossing Over Ministry, formerly known as Roe No More Ministry

[Desdemona]

McCorvey said she was told that the legalization of abortion would end back-alley abortions and "probably" put a stop to rape and incest.

That certainly didn't happen.

"They (the lawyers) had a hidden agenda," she said. "They told me that they only wanted to legalize abortion in the state of Texas, but what they actually wanted to do was what they did -- legalize abortion across the land."

There are good lawyers out there, but some are a disgrace. It's always good to be on guard against "hidden agendas", especially when being solicited to be a plaintiff in a suit rather than initiating it yourself.

[cyborg]

When I worked at the health food store, I undercovered a little abortion scandal myself. There was a 'family planning' clinic in Brooklyn giving cheap abortions to women who were at one time in dire financial circumstances. So sad...all the women are sterile now except for one who got pregnant before I left that job.

[SuziQ]

When we got pregnant with our first child, we were part of a Catholic Charismatic community in New Jersey. One of the families recommended the OB they'd used for their 5 kids. Somehow we heard that he performed abortions, so SirKit went and talked with him. Turns out, he DID do abortions, but he was convincing himself that he was helping poor women by getting rid of their 'problem'. SirKit had a LONG talk with him, and told him that we wouldn't be using him. We let the family that referred us know as well; they were absolutely shocked! We ended up going with another doctor who we KNEW was pro-life, and stayed with him through the birth of our third, and we moved to MA.

About a year after our first was born, we found out that the first doctor had stopped doing abortions and became a Christian. We don't know if SirKit's talk had something to do with it, or not, but we kinda hope so.

[SaltyJoe]

Lenin was the first to legalize abortion. I learned this from a Pro-Life Russian Orthodox web site:

http://www.pms.orthodoxy.ru/zhizn/english/gazeta.html

What makes American Abortion so horrific is that the USA popularized genocide in a way that Soviets and Nazis could not. A British ally explained to me the difference between Nazis and Soviets. Hitler's Nazism was a popular movement with the threat and application of force. Lenin and Stalin used pure force with most Soviet popularity coming from beguiled foreigners.

Knowing this puts into perspective Our Lady of Fatima's message about how Communists poisoning Russia would spread the errors of its ways, doesn't it? But know other high speed self-indulging society could sell infanticide like America's Hollywood machine. Since abortion's legalization and complete legal protection, our nation has far surpassed what Nazi socialism and Soviet Communism has murdered. Furthermore, how many other allies of America freely followed our example to be more like us?

Chinese Communist have FORCED their abortions and gave the mothers no choice in the sin, but Satan sold damnation and American society embraced it as a "right". Reasonable judgment against us says that we're a party with greater guilt than if such wickedness had be thrown upon us against our will.

If God allows us time for penance, then we ought to pray for the Grace of more Divine Mercy.

[Salvation]

Oh my goodness! What an unbelievable discovery to come across!

[Salvation]

Wasn't aware of the Lenin connection although it DOES make sense.

[HitmanLV]

It's always good to be on guard against "hidden agendas", especially when being solicited to be a plaintiff in a suit rather than initiating it yourself.

A simple rule I have had in my life is that whenever someone suddenly (and apparently selflessly) comes to my aid, or is looking out for me, I ask myself if this person has consistently done so, or if it's a new development. If it's consistent, fine. If it's unlike their character, I decline the advice, assist, info, etc. It's never failed me!