Pacificans Picket Planned Parenthood in Redwood City
Churchgoers took their anti-abortion stance to a proposed Planned Parenthood location last week.
A small group of parishioners from a Pacifica Catholic congregation, Church of the Good Shepherd, picketed outside of a proposed Planned Parenthood site in Redwood City last week.
The protest was part of an anti-abortion campaign organized by 40 Days for Life which, according to a statement issued by the organization, is "a community-based campaign that draws attention to the evil of abortion through the use of a three point program: prayer and fasting, constant vigil, community outreach."
The campaign started on March 9 and lasts until April 17.
In 1998, the organization's National Campaign Director David Bereit led the first 40 Days for Life campaign in College Station, Texas, in an effort to stop Planned Parenthood from building an "abortion clinic" in the town.
Planned Parenthood is not a self-described “abortion clinic,” but a “trusted health care provider, an informed educator, a passionate advocate, and a global partner helping similar organizations around the world,” according to a statement from the network of clinics. Planned Parenthood clinics provide reproductive health care and also medical procedures for abortion.
Since the inception of this first campaign, 40 Days for Life has been closely affiliated with Christian religious values and is organized at a grass-roots level among Christian congregations across the U.S.
Pacifica's Church of the Good Shepherd is one of those participating congregations.
On Thursday, a small group representing Good Shepherd stood in 80 degree heat with picket signs reading “Defend Life” and “Pray to End Abortion” at the corner of El Camino Real and Renato Court in Redwood City--an empty lot where Planned Parenthood Mar Monte has applied for a permit.
Among the group were two members of the Knights of Columbus, an international Christian brotherhood of an estimated 1.8 million members: Jeff Patino and Joe Delorio.
Patino is a father of nine. His wife and young son also stood with picket signs in support of the 40 Days for Life campaign.
Like the other 40 Days for Life picketers, Patino does not want a Planned Parenthood to be established in Redwood City, or anywhere for that matter, as long as the clinics perform abortion procedures.
"There are other options,", said Delorio, adding that the Knights of Columbus organization offers resources for soon-to-be fathers and donates to pro-life centers for women in at-risk pregnancies.
By Planned Parenthood's account, the potential establishment of this clinic is essential to the community of Redwood City.
According to a statement from Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, “The dismal economy has created an especially urgent need for Planned Parenthood’s services, including contraception, breast- and cervical-cancer screening and general health care for adults.”
Patino disputes any assertion that the 40 Days for Life campaign stands in the way of providing such medical care to low-income women, who make up the majority of Planned Parenthood’s clients.
“Planned Parenthood is crying foul that people like us are taking away health services from unfortunate young ladies who need it,” said Patino. “We have no problem providing tax dollars for health care, we just don’t want to fund abortion."
Whether or not the proposed Planned Parenthood clinic will open at this site in Redwood City is yet to be determined by the city’s zoning department.
Redwood City Patch previously reported that a public hearing regarding the proposed Planned Parenthood site was held in January, and residents on both sides of the fence shared their input both for and against the clinic.
Good Shepherd Church did not return a request for comment on the protest at the time of publishing this article.
Nina Russo Terheyden
6:17 am on Tuesday, April 5, 2011
I understand the whole idea of anti-abortion, it's a sad situation to have to be in.....but as an open minded Catholic, I think the focus is on the wrong subject......my fellow Christians should be praying for the end of rape & incest, praying for education to teens and the under priveleged about safe sex and consequences....Just sayin'
Steven Dreith
7:16 am on Tuesday, April 5, 2011
If they are so upset about murder why don't they protest all the wars we are in.
Danielle Brekalo
12:28 pm on Tuesday, April 5, 2011
It is interesting how some "open minded" people always want to change the subject when confronted with the reality of abortion. Fact is that abortion ends human life. The fact is also that one cannot be a Catholic and pro abotion. The fact is that right to life is a fundamental human right and all other human rights are meaningless if there is no right to life, and if human life is taken in the womb.
Cheryl Amalu
1:16 pm on Tuesday, April 5, 2011
As a Catholic I am capable of praying to end abortion while also praying to end rape and incest and war. I must take exception to the oft repeated talking point that sex and contraceptive education would do anything to reduce abortion. The statistical facts are conclusive that since the 60's when the birth control pill was introduced sexual activity as well as abortion has skyrocketed. While it seems like it makes sense the reality is that birth control separated the idea of sex from marriage. It made promiscuity and adultery seem possible with no consequences. We are choking on the consequences of 1.25 million annual abortions and STD rates which can only fail to horrify you if you don't know the facts. Planned Parenthood encourages sexual promiscuity and then profits mightily from the result....lots of dead babies and hurting women. The last thing that Redwood City or any other city needs in another abortion mill posing as an advocate for women.
Cheryl Amalu
Nina Russo Terheyden
3:46 pm on Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Sex before marriage has been going on FOREVER.....It's not changing the subject when talking about educating people....I'm all for abstinence until marriage, but the fact of the matter is that there are those that don't want to abstain...and those that don't should be taught to use protection.....Planned Parenthood may seem like just an "abortion mill" to some, but it also has so many other services that people are not thinking about....if you take away the other services that are given at Planned Parenthood then you are taking away someone's rights to health services that they wouldn't be able to afford elsewhere.
amber
5:51 pm on Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Planned Parenthood provides more than just abortions. They also provide low cost family planning, counseling for teenagers who think they might have messed up their lives, and prevention services. Just because some people don't agree with one portion of what they do doesn't mean that a valuable community tool should be thrown away.
Cris
7:43 pm on Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Lemmie tell you about my experiences w/Planned Parenthood. At 19, no insurance, little money, they did an annual check up, pap smear & breast exam for $35. I got an abnormal result. The follow up was $25. I could not and would not have gone in for a check up if Planned Parenthood wasn't there and didn't offer a sliding scale.
There is so much more that makes Planned Parenthood a vital part of any community.
Diana Jelen
11:38 am on Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Dear Chris, I’ve been in the pro-life movement a long time, and yours is the first post I’ve ever read from someone who's actually been to a Planned Parenthood facility and left with a good impression. I know that if a woman decides to keep her baby, PP offers no prenatal or postnatal care. Nor do they do mammograms. I pray for the day that abortion is no longer legal and ALL PP’s services (not just some) are of the non-killing kind. Then they’ll never have to see us pesky picketers again.
Cris
7:49 pm on Friday, April 29, 2011
Diana, it may be that you hang out in different circles than I do. Many of my friends had very positive experiences at Planned Parenthood. I can only think of one exception, which was a friend who found out she had HIV at the clinic. That was not fun at all, but you can't blame Planned Parenthood on that. At least they gave her the opportunity to get tested in a safe, anonymous and free manner. They also had counseling available to her at no charge.
Also, you may not be aware, but abortions are only 3% of the services PP offers and even those receive no federal funding.
I pray for the day we can actually work together to reduce the unwanted pregnancies and therefore the abortion rate. PP does so much to reduce unwanted pregnancies, we need to encourage that wholeheartedly.
Ruza Lasic
12:16 pm on Wednesday, April 6, 2011
For those who need a medical checkup, you can speak and deffend yourselves while babies don't have that opportunity. Until PP stops abortion 100%, they must close their doors for good. You are either with God and protect the babies or against God. Here, the gray area doesn't exist. Period.
Rocky
6:24 pm on Wednesday, April 6, 2011
"You are either with God and protect the babies or against God." So if you're pro-choice, you're against God. That means that the vast majority of people in the world are against God and only a small minority are with God.
Nina Russo Terheyden
7:26 pm on Wednesday, April 6, 2011
I am sure I will have to answer for this when I reach judgement day, but just because I am pro choice does NOT mean I am against God. I am against the idea that it's "God's will" for a woman that was raped and pregnant from the rape that she HAS to have this baby. Yes, it's not the babie's fault....but no matter how much prayer & faith may do good, that child will want to know where he/she comes from....the devastation would be horrible....and what about the nightmares that poor pregnant mother would go through? It should be an option.....for those that need it to be....But not for the town whore who keeps getting pregnant.
And for the person that mentioned that Planned Parenthood does not help with prenatal or postnatal, there are other agencies that take over for that.
This is one subject that not everyone will agree....Just like war, just like the death penalty and capital punishment.
Nunu
12:22 pm on Thursday, June 2, 2011
Nina, I, like most people, am all for choice of free will in life. That doesn't mean, though, that you should be allowed to act out on choices that are intrinsically evil. You should never be allowed to shoot & kill your neighbor just because you disagree with their politics. Do you realize the CHOICE one makes in the issue of abortion? Don't say you're a Catholic and you support abortion but NOT against God. GOD is LIFE and TRUTH, and abortion is ending a life; hence YOU ARE AGAINST GOD WHEN YOU ARE ENDING A LIFE! That is basic fundamental TRUTH. I pray you learn more about your Catholic Faith.
Nobody is against health care services, but Planned Parenthood uses the term "Family Planning" to envelop abortion in it. Abortion is NOT family planning. Abortion is ending a life which means murder. Abortion is where PP makes most of their money. PP will not be in existence today if they didn't do abortions.
Nunu
12:28 pm on Thursday, June 2, 2011
"Unwanted pregnancies" are emotions and so-called choice of the mother and/or father, but NEVER changes the innocense of the baby. Whether through rape, incest, or what have you, babies are ALWAYS, ALWAYS innocent! The nightmares of rape victims are usually intensified during the pregnancy period Many mothers start a healing process once the baby is born. And while it may take months, even years, for some women to heal, they DO heal through counselling, and a strong support system. They heal because people and situations change; they heal because time changes. But nothing changes the nightmares of women who have CHOSEN to end the lives of their babies. Those nightmares stay with them forever and they're constantly reminded of the abortions they've had when they see other children of the same age or would have been same age.
Have you ever heard of our Catholic teaching on 'just war' and 'capital punishment'? God Bless!
Ruza Lasic
8:53 am on Thursday, April 7, 2011
You see how you and I can express and deffend ourselves by e-mail, but babies have no chances. I will pray much harder for your conversions and I am judging no one. GOD is the only Judge no one else. Love.
Bob Larsen
12:17 pm on Saturday, June 18, 2011
You'll find, most people in the U.S.A., will say to draw the line at rape, incest and mother's life in danger, in regards to abortion. Most pro abortionists will use the "rape argument" to justify abortion for any reason - even for cosmetic purposes in regards to "disfiguring" a woman's figure - so, the "rape argument" doesn't hold water in regards to current abortion laws.