Helper’s Vigil Old St Patrick’s

For the first time in the months since the pandemic, the monthly “Helpers of God’s Special Infants” vigil was held this past Saturday in Manhattan. The vigil commences with 8 am Mass and adoration at Old St Patrick’s Cathedral, followed by a peaceful, prayerful walk to the formerly named Margaret Sanger Planned Parenthood Clinic a few blocks away. There the rosary is prayed for an end to abortion, the turnaround of those entering the clinic, and its ultimate closure.

In these days of “Black Lives Matter”, “Margaret Sanger” has recently been dropped from the name of the clinic because of pressure from supporters about her racist eugenics and her call for the extermination of all she deemed “unfit” in society. This is nothing new, just something that Planned Parenthood did not deem significant until this time of pressure

As we stood in front of the clinic you could not help but notice another sign that is now on display. “We are Open, we are here for you, we care.”

I must admit, sometimes it is exceedingly difficult for me to be there. I often find myself not wanting to enter into the reality that is taking place inside the clinic. I know it well on a personal level. The reality of abortion. I cannot help but identify with the many women walking in their doors, many believing the lies, desperately seeking a solution to a pregnancy they see as a problem or caving in to the pressures of boyfriends, husbands and parents to terminate the pregnancy. I do not want to enter into the grief I know many will later face sometimes known only to them as they suffer in silence from the consequences of having participated in the death of their own children. As I stand there praying I also think of the countless numbers of women I know that have reached out to us at Lumina/Hope & Healing after Abortion, through the years, some of whom went to this very clinic, seeking help as they live with the truth of the damage of what abortion is and has done in their lives.

Planned Parenthood can change its name, but it can never change the reality of what it is they do. “Margaret Sanger” may not be included anymore, but her philosophy lives on.

Data available from 2016 shows that 40% of abortions were performed on black babies and out of 59,854 abortions in NYC 23, 209 were on black women. It continues. So much for “Black Lives Matter”.

Planned Parenthood may be an expert at the game of words, hiding their sale of baby parts etc. They may use slogans like, “Your Body, Your Choice,” “Reproductive Rights”, “A Woman’s Right to Choose,” to distract from the truth of what abortion is and does, kills an innocent’s unborn child and damages countless others. They can change their name and put up new signs in front of their clinics proclaiming compassion and care but the reality of abortion and the harm it causes never changes, because ultimately there is only one truth no matter what words you use, and there is no changing that.