Respecting Life in the Missions
by Father Patrick O'Donnell

Every third citizen conceived in the United States today is condemned to death without trial by its mother in consultation with her doctor in a legal travesty of justice. In Washington, D.C., our nation's capital, seat of justice, every other child is destroyed before birth. That Glenmary Missioners could witness this cataclysm without actively engaging in pro-life protest and positive action is unthinkable.

Thomas Cecil, president of the North Central Right-to-Life Committee and Father August Guppenberger, Glenmarian, attending the national Right-to-Life convention in Denver.

In eastern Kentucky, priests and brothers, under the leadership of Father John Barry, organized a workshop replete with authoritative speakers to inform a segment of the public effectively. Fathers Roland Hautz and Patrick O'Donnell created an illustrated pamphlet which succinctly tied together the abortion statistics and pointed out some practical steps that might be taken toward corrective legislation.

In Franklin, Kentucky, a significant Glenmary pro-life effort took shape under the direction of Father August Guppenberger. Within a month after the infamous Supreme Court decision on January 22, 1973, Father Guppenberger had engaged Joan Bradford to help organize a letter writing meeting. A pro-life film, "The Committee," was shown, and after the Congressional letters were sealed and stamped, Father Gus led a discussion on: "what shall we do now." The following week saw the famous Dr. and Mrs. John Willke of Cincinnati present a slide lecture in nearby Nashville.

Subsequently the group moved to a one-to-one approach. Local Baptists and Methodists began to add their voices to the defense of the unborn. A Franklin Right to Life committee was formed with a Baptist minister on the Board. Glenmary granted money for projectors and screens to tell the story in Sunday School classes,' ministerial associations, and high schools. An impact movie, "Abortion, Woman's Decision?" was shown to impressionable young people. A monthly news-letter began to appear. At a booth at the Simpson County Fair, homemade ice cream brought people close enough to hear the message. A student organization, under the direction of Janelle Finn, was organized at Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green. Barbara Breuer-Sipple, the famous pro-life folk singer, was brought in for a successful concert. A "Celebrate Life" banquet was held on May 28, 1975, with all political candidates of the State Assembly present to hear Robert Cetrulo, a Covington attorney and chairman of the Northern Kentucky Right To Life Committee, plus Morton Oliver from Baptists For Life.

In Georgia, the zealous Father James Wilmes carries a pro-life film in the trunk of his car, and shows it whenever he can find a gathering Protestant churches, ministerial associations, civic groups. A stack of bumper stickers and books are distributed among high school and college students locally. Several times he has been able to lecture at Georgia Southern University with large crowds in attendance.

In Ohio County, Kentucky, when the local hospital administration assumed a pro-abortion stance, Father Joseph O'Donnell published an open letter of protest in three county newspapers expressing the view that the hospital was a community hospital, and should therefore reflect the thinking of the entire community, which was largely pro-life. A turnabout in policy resulted.

It took the American people over 150 years to realize the injustice of slavery, but when the case was clarified, we fought a Civil War and amended our Constitution to counteract the Dred Scott decision of our Supreme Court. American people are on their way to seeing the abortion question with greater clarity. A recent poll shows 62.7% of American women now oppose abortion (May 3, 1975). Glenmary will continue to share the work of correcting this perhaps greatest evil of our times.