Summer of Mercy...2.0

Back when I was big into the pro-life movement, I read about the Summer of Mercy in the early 90's and thought that it was great. Now, I look back and think "What was the point?". It wasn't peaceful. It was chaos. Can you imagine how those poor women must have felt? I can only imagine the weight of the world on my shoulders as I was about to make such a heart wrenching decision...much less with thousands of people pointing their fingers and judging me...publicly, on top of it. And on top of that, hundreds of pro lifers were arrested.

Now, Operation Rescue is at it again. Only this time, instead of holding their "peaceful" protest in Wichita, it's being held in Germantown, Maryland...right outside of Leroy Carhart's clinic. Leroy Carhart now performs late term abortions in his Germantown clinic, though the majority of his work is done early in pregnancy. The protest is scheduled to last for one week. Already, Carhart's clinic is scheduled to be closed for the week, in an effort to save the women undergoing abortion procedures from being humiliated, harassed, and possibly hurt. As soon as I read this, I understood that it was for the privacy (As if there really is any when you're a patient of this clinic, as Operation Rescue has an office directly across the street now. You better believe they're working those side walks on a daily basis.) and safety of the patients...but I automatically thought "What about the women who are at the limit?". I can't help but wonder about those women who are at the legal limit to receive an abortion as a result of a fetal abnormality. As if it wouldn't be bad enough to be in the situation to have to make that decision...what if you were doomed to bring a suffering child into the world, just because these people are so intent on judging others?

Don't get me wrong. I fully believe that everyone has the right to PEACEFULLY protest their beliefs. But I don't believe this is peaceful. I don't think this comes from a good place. I think these people are more interested in judging, more interested in being "better". I can understand one's reasoning for being pro life. If you're a regular reader, you know that I used to be one of them. Now, I consider myself lucky to understand both sides.

Please keep all involved in your thoughts and prayers this week. Please pray for the Operation Rescue people...that they carry on their protest with goodness in their hearts. Please pray for the women who are carrying babies doomed to suffering. Please pray for the women who are terminating their pregnancies, for whatever reason. Whether it be fetal abnormality, bad timing, or they just don't want a baby...pray for them. Pray for them because you want them to change their minds. Pray for them because you know they must be in a rough spot. Just pray for them. Pray for the unborn babies who are (whether you're on the pro life side of the pro choice side) in fact, losing their lives to abortion...for whatever reason. And finally, pray for all the workers who are in the reproductive field (again, whether you're praying they stop, or praying for their well being).