Real Men Stand Up for Mothers

Regardless of your stand on abortion, you probably know the name Jill Stanek. If you are against abortion you see her as a bright star in the fight to save the lives of unborn babies. She’s been on every notable television and radio show and President George W. Bush invited her to his signing of the “Born Alive Infants Protection Act.”

On the other hand, Keith Olbermann, MSNBC’s liberal commentator, called Jill Stanek the “worst person in the world” in June of 2009 for her work to save the lives of unborn babies.

Ms. Stanek is a fascinating, powerful woman who is a wife, mother, grandmother and nurse.

In her most recent column “Pro-Abort Women Lament Dearth of Vocal Pro-Abort Men”, Stanek excoriates the pro-abort women quoted in a recent issue of Newsweek whining over the lack of male leaders amongst pro-aborts and complaining that all the outspoken men on the issue seem to be on the “anti-choice” side:

How schizophrenic. How hypocritical. What, now that they’re losing the abortion battle they admit they can’t handle it on their own? They need men’s help, seriously?

Over 37 years ago feminists outlawed giving fathers any say whatsoever when aborting children they may want while forcing fathers to financially support children they may not want – and feminists are now calling on men to help uphold the status quo?

Feminists are demanding that male pro-life legislators butt out because they have no ovaries while demanding that male pro-abort legislators intervene – on what grounds?

Stanek nails the irony that the women who have rallied against any strength men may bring to the table were now lamenting the fact that the pro-life movement had an unfair advantage because men were on their side! Jill Stanek has a way with words that makes the lunacy of the rabid pro-aborts clear. And of men in the pro-life movement she has this to say:

I know exactly what kind of men they are. They are stand-up, not stand-down men. They respect women. They love children. They take responsibility. They are protective. Unlike pro-abort men, pro-life men have no selfish stock in the pro-life movement.  They don’t exploit women as sex objects where consequences are dealt away with.

Her column made me stand up and take notice as I had just come from the college graduation ceremony of my son at which Barack Obama, our nation’s most pro- abort president ever, spoke. Stanek’s article rings with accuracy; I saw firsthand the truth of those words at the graduation, where male pro-lifers with protest signs stood alongside the crowds filing into the event.

The crowds were forced to see the 4’x6’ images of aborted babies because the mass of people simply was not moving. It took about fifteen minutes to progress a foot ahead. Security measures involved a very conscientious appraisal and/or search of every person entering the stadium; it took a tremendous amount of time to clear the more than 85,000 citizens anxious to hear their president speak.

With no other options, then, but to acknowledge the graphic pictures, women in the throng spat out such things as:

“J____ C_____! I don’t need to see s___ like this!”

and

“You’ve got to be f______ kidding me that you have those signs here!”

What’s that expression? “Talking like a drunken sailor.” No offense to drinking sailors intended.

When I looked upon the images, the explicitness of each tore at my heart for another reason. Here I was walking towards the stadium to see my oldest son graduate from college as the images of babies who were robbed of any such chance in life brought me to tears and the horror of that realization made me feel sick to my stomach.

As I was able to approach every man propping up a sign — four in all — I was shocked by his appearance.  Each looked similarly haggard as the women’s vile remarks pelted him. It was as if none of the men had eaten or slept in days, their appearances were so ragged.

I was stunned.

Shining the light upon truth is no easy task.

That they were standing as soldiers in an exhausting spiritual battle was so plain to me. As Stanek had described these were “stand-up men and not stand-down men.” It was clear that stand-up men are greatly affected by the verbal attacks of vicious women; such attacks take their toll on these conscientious, caring fathers, brothers, sons and friends.

I quietly said to each man holding a sign, “I will be praying while the president is speaking.”

To which each murmured, lips moving but words barely audible, “Thank you.”

Hours later, as the stadium stomped and applauded Barack Obama’s words about hope and change and the brightness of the future I could not get those images out of my mind.

The irony was so thick that I found myself choking on it and had to get up and walk around. While nothing could steal my joy that day, I feel that I will never be lukewarm when supporting t10.2347–the Church’s teaching on abortion.

There can be no doubt that to take the life of a child in the womb is intrinsically evil.

Does this mean that we can stop at that statement?

No, it does not. A mother who cannot feed her children needs our help. She should not be in a situation where she sees abortion as an option. We should not be creating a nation in which a mother — regardless of her age and circumstances — feels that killing her child is the best of all alternatives.  But regardless of her feelings, our nation cannot continue to allow this legal murder.

There was recently an article in USA Today about how each side (pro-death and pro-life) would be ahead if the number of abortions was at least reduced. The argument was presented in such a way that a little win-win was better than nothing at all.

Having looked at those babies whose lives were snatched during the most vulnerable of times, I am certain that even one abortion is far too many and that no one wins when a baby’s life is taken. Too many mothers have had to wake the hard way to that sad reality. Thank God for the men who know it and who stand up for mothers.

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Cheryl Dickow is a Catholic wife, mother, author and speaker. Cheryl’s newest book is Wrapped Up: God’s Ten Gifts for Womenwhich is co-authored with Teresa Tomeo and is published by Servant (a division of Franciscan Media); there is also a companion journal that accompanies the book and an audio version intended for women’s studies or for individual reflection. Cheryl’s titles also include the woman’s inspirational fiction book Elizabeth: A Holy Land Pilgrimage. Elizabeth is available in paperback or Kindle format. Her company is Bezalel Books where her goal is to publish great Catholic books for families and classrooms that entertain while uplifting the Catholic faith and is located at www.BezalelBooks.com. To invite Cheryl to speak at your event, write her at [email protected].

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