Non-cooperation with Abortion Mills (Fr. Frank's Bi-weekly Column)

December 1, 2003

Dear Friends,

I am sending you one of next month's columns early, because it contains the seed of a whole new
wave of activism in our movement, and I need you to spread the word!

Meanwhile, did you know that the devotion to Divine Mercy has been intertwined with post-
abortion healing long before Roe vs. Wade? Find out how in my booklet "Rachel, Weep No
More," co-authored with Dr. Bryan Thatcher of the Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy.
Contact orders@priestsforlife.org -- suggested donation $3.25.

We continue to need a strong team of volunteers to help prepare for Elections 2004. For more
info, email us at vote@priestsforlife.org

Thank you and God bless you!

Fr. Frank Pavone

Non-cooperation with Abortion Mills
Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life

In the April 8, 2002 edition of this column, I called for "conscientious objection"
on the part of businesses of all kinds that might be called upon to service abortion
facilities. In June of that same year, Pastoral Life magazine published a longer
version of the same article, and I preached about it on EWTN.

These articles pointed out that businesses, and the individuals employed by them,
should simply refuse to provide their services to the maintenance of a killing
center. The legality of abortion does not create the obligation to participate in it. I
called upon plumbers, electricians, office supply companies, delivery services,
printing companies, lawn and garden companies, snow removal services, computer
consultants, office machine repair services, sanitation workers, roofing companies,
taxi drivers, security companies, lock and key companies, cleaning and
maintenance services, sign and fence companies, food services, exterminators, and
every other conceivable business, to simply say no to any request to service an
abortion facility.

That is why I, along with so many others, are so encouraged to see what is
happening in Austin, Texas. The proposed construction of an abortion mill by
Planned Parenthood is at a standstill because plumbers, concrete suppliers, and
other workers refused to take part in the project. Eventually, because of this lack
of cooperation, the general contractor had to pull out as well. Chris Danze, and
"Texas Contractors and Suppliers for Life" have found broad support in the local
community and the Churches, who have helped to implore businesses not to get
involved and have told them that they in turn would not do business with those
who are involved.

It is, in the end, all a matter of free choice. That's what makes the reaction of
Planned Parenthood's president, Gloria Feldt, so odd. She describes this whole
effort as "bullying" and "fascist tactics." She says they are "repugnant to
democracy" and constitute "strong-arming everybody else into adhering to [anti-
choice] ideology."

But if free choice is valued in our society, why should those who oppose abortion
be forced to participate in it?

Pro-abortion groups defend abortion as an exercise of "conscience." But how is it
that "conscience" can justify having an abortion, but can't justify refusing to
cooperate in helping others have one?

Moreover, refusing to participate in building or servicing an abortion mill is not
only an exercise of choice, it is a moral obligation. To work in any way for a
facility whose purpose is to perform abortions is morally wrong.

Pope John Paul, speaking of laws allowing abortion, insists that "there is a grave
and clear obligation to oppose them by conscientious objection" (The Gospel of
Life, n.73). The US Bishops write that such laws "cannot...be supported,
acquiesced in, or recognized as valid" (Living the Gospel of Life, n. 33). If we
think that because abortion is legal we have to service the facilities that commit it,
we have "acquiesced in" abortion laws.

Let the People of Life arise, then, and let a new chapter of pro-life activism begin!

Contact Priests for Life at PO Box 141172, Staten Island, NY 10314; Tel: 888-
PFL-3448, 718-980-4400; Fax: 718-980-6515; email: mail@priestsforlife.org;
web: www.priestsforlife.org