Columbiettes bump!
Posted on 01/23/2007 8:41:14 AM PST by NYer
MADISON, Wis. (The Catholic Herald) -"I think that billboard probably saved her life."
In October of 2003, at the call of Bishop Robert C. Morlino, the Knights of Columbus spearheaded the diocesan "billboard project."
The billboard campaign was started in conjunction with the pernicious opening of the Madison Planned Parenthood abortion center located on Madison's east side.
Unfortunately this scourge on Madison and on our diocese remains in business, destroying lives, both physically and emotionally. Yet, as the scourge remains, so does the billboard, standing as a sentinel overlooking the abortion center.
Has the presence of this billboard saved lives and changed hearts? We believe "yes," many lives have been saved. There are two stories to validate this claim.
Billboard was lifeline
We recently had a conversation with Leslie Graves, a counselor with Rachel's Vineyard.
A young lady called her office and offered the following: "She told us that after her abortion, she drove to the clinic every day to see that billboard located near Planned Parenthood that says 'I REGRET MY ABORTION - and if you do too, there is hope . . .'
"She drove there every day just to see that billboard. It was her lifeline. She said that after the abortion her despair was so deep that she had taken a couple of overdoses of pills. I think that billboard probably saved her life."
We also heard from a pro-life friend of a young pregnant lady who was driving down to Madison for her appointment at the Planned Parenthood abortion center. When turning into the clinic parking lot, she saw the "I REGRET MY ABORTION" message and turned around, went back home, and made an appointment at the local crisis pregnancy center. She gave life to her baby!
Power of prayer
The Knights would like to see this campaign not only continue, but to expand. We can use everyone's support to keep this campaign effective.
Everyone can help in one aspect of this campaign that is having a tremendous impact, though it cannot be quantified - the power of prayer.
Chad Droessler, a seminarian in our diocese, says this of the billboard project: "As Christians we are called to defend the defenseless. To aid in this complex task we have the power of prayer to help change the 'culture of death,' as described by John Paul II, into a 'culture of life.' This is exactly what we do every time we converge at the abortion clinic to pray.
"However, stationing a group of people outside the clinic for 24 hours, seven days a week, is a tough task in our busy lives. This is why the K.C. sponsored billboard is very important for our ministry. It is a wonderful statement to have a billboard of our Blessed Mother watching over a place that brings so much sorrow to our Father's heart. It is statements, like the billboard, which truly spreads the message of truth to a secular world."
Prayer was brought to the abortion center this last summer again, when the seminarians of the diocese, along with the Knights of Columbus, sponsored a 24-hour prayer vigil in front of the clinic.
Father James Bartylla, director of vocations for the Diocese of Madison, says, "The billboard of the Knights of Columbus is a front-line reminder to the people of the Madison area of the horrors and emotional pain of a woman who survives, but is permanently traumatized by the abortion of her child."
Effective location
This billboard is so effective because of its location - directly across the street from, and overlooking, the abortion mill.
Amy Hying, a sidewalk counselor, says, "Every week since the beginning of this year, a friend and I bring life through prayer of the Rosary to the place of death at the Madison abortion center. There have been cases that while I'm talking to the pregnant women I point up to the billboard and share the 'Silent No More' message of how abortion hurts women. It is truly a great way to reach out to many women, and also many men, as they drive by on Hwy. 51!"
Financial support
The cost of this campaign is not insignificant. Yet, lives are being saved! How much money is too much, if lives are being saved? If God has blessed you, we ask you to share your blessings and support this campaign.
Donations can help as follows: $25 funds the billboard for eight hours; $75 funds the billboard for one day; $550 funds the billboard for one week; one hour of prayer - priceless - thank you.
Donations can be sent to: Joseph Boehnen - Knights of Columbus, Attn: Billboard Campaign, 105 Brenda Cir., Mt. Horeb, WI 53572.
Go Knights!!
Pro-life bump!
great story - this should be happening in more cities. God bless Bishop Morlino, he is one of the good ones.
Is a picture to be found of this billboard?
Columbiettes bump!
We had the honor of being associated with Mary Ann Kuharsky and her wonderful grassroots organization. They started very small, buying advertising on billboards around Minnesota. Mary Ann traveled the state, then the nation, spreading the story of their mission. It's a wonderful story, and the organization has since gone national. You might even have seen the PAA billboards in your city.
Thank you for posting that information to this thread!! It's good to know of others who are out there trying to rescue lives through positive communication.
Please FReepmail me if you'd like to be added to or removed from the KofC ping list.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1773197/posts
Bombshell alert!
Open your checkbooks and send the man some $.
(this is not 'the' billboard AFAIK, but it is 'A' billboard.)
Please FReepmail me if you would like to be added to, or removed from, the Pro-Life/Pro-Baby ping list...
Thanks for the ping!
awesome. I love those billboards. My kids do too.
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