On Monday, January 23rd 2012, the 39th annual March for Life was held in Washington DC, and I was in Washington DC for my first March for Life.  The March is held annually to remember and protest the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision.  Since the decision over 53 million babies have been legally killed according to the law of the United States. 

Arriving to the National Mall with extra time Monday morning, we decided to go for a walk and check out the WWII national memorial.  The memorial is an impressive sight, with pillars and bronzes stills commemorating scenes of battle and of the home front.  But the thing that struck me most was the wall of golden stars, over 4,000 in all, each representing 100 American citizens killed or missing during the war.  It was a sobering representation; it seemed to me a multitude of stars, yet each one represented not just one dead but 100.  And then it occurred to me the number of children killed by abortion since 1973.  If the same memorial were made for them, there would be over 530,000 golden stars.  And the wall holding the stars would be over two miles long.  This image stuck with me throughout the day and sticks with me now.

At 12 p.m. the rally began on the National Mall, with a prayer led by a mixed group of Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox bishops.  After this a host of pro-life congressman took the stage several of whom were from Ohio.  These included House Speaker John Boehner and Representative Jim Jordan.  Also speaking was the brother of Terri Schiavo and a group of women who have experienced abortion first hand, and attest to the remorse, pain, and anguish that it causes women who have had abortions.   Throughout the rally the Mall continued to fill, whereas once we had been on the periphery we were now in the middle of a densely packed crowd. 

The March began and the sea of people began moving en masse towards the Supreme Court building.  As we mounted Capitol Hill I turned to survey the crowd and could not see the end of it, it stretched down the hill around a bend and out of sight.  A tide of people sweeping uphill, seeking justice for those who cannot seek it themselves.  

-David Bethel, Pro-Life Club at The Ohio State University

I would like to encourage other high school students to become involved with the Right to Life Oratory contest in their area.  I participated at my county Right to Life Oratory contest in March (of 2011) and what a neat experience it has been for me.  To my surprise I came in first place and then went on to the state contest that was held in Columbus in April. Again with so many good speeches I was surprised to hear my name called for first place. From there it was on to the National Right to Life Oratory contest, which this year was held at Jacksonville, FL.

In June my Mom and I flew to Florida, which was a first for me to fly.  The Right to Life Convention was being held at Jacksonville and the Oratory contest was a part of that.  Participants were from all across the country and it was really neat getting to meet and talk with them.  We were all rooting for each other to do good.  Even though I did not have a finishing place I still had fun.  I would like to encourage others to get involved with the Right to Life Oratory Contest.  You have a chance to meet others who also are taking a part in standing up for life.  We can all BE A VOICE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NONE.

-Travis Goettemoeller, Coldwater, member of Mercer County Right to Life

If you would like to participate in or host a local oratory contest, email Erin at ecain@ohiolife.org.

Deadline to register a local contest is Friday, February 24th. The winner of the state contest (to be held on April 21) will receive an all-expense paid trip to Virginia for the national contest in June. The Youth Oratory Contest is for high school juniors and seniors.

Most pro-life student groups across the state have an impact on their communities. Some reach hundreds of people, while others speak to the young and old with a unique mission. Some stick to the tried and true methods while others create new methods and think outside of the box. Teens for Truth, a student group in Shelby County in Midwest Ohio, is one such group. Through barn painting, these students are making a positive impact on their community.

As a form of billboard in the agriculture-dominated community, barns are being painted by Teens for Truth with the image of a baby in the womb in the shape of a heart. The purple design is called “breath of life in a beating heart.” (Pictured above.)

Group members spread the word about the project throughout the community to allow different farmers and families to volunteer the use of their buildings for the painting. The barns located along well-traveled roads are ideal in order to reach the highest potential.

The design is intriguing to those who pass by. At first glance, they see a purple heart. At second glance, they might wonder what is really being displayed. Finally, at a closer glance, they see the beautiful image portrayed. The simple, compassionate and accurate image has the potential of reaching those who perhaps would not have been touched otherwise.

Teens for Truth not only paints barns, but they also organize and participate in a number of activities in the area. They pray the rosary on the fourth Monday of every month, which is recorded live for a local radio station, they go to the abortion mill to pray for those who enter, participate in the March for Life in D.C. and distribute tees for National Pro-Life T-Shirt Day.

The group is guided by two scripture passages: Deuteronomy 30:19 (above) and also, John 8:32, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Their mission is to learn and to teach the truth – God’s truth – on the moral issues that they face in their daily lives. They strive to learn and show others the love God has for each of us.

One member of the group, Carla, said, “The group has affected my life in so many ways. I feel more comfortable talking about abortion and want to show (people) that there is another option.”

Teens for Truth meets on the last Sunday of every month. “It is in these meetings that we pray and discuss life issues,” said Kim Poeppelman, a leader of the group. If you are interested in learning more about Teens for Truth or getting involved, click here.

Posted by Erin Cain, 6/8/11 

Ohio Right to Life joined with the Pro-Life Club and the College Republicans on The Ohio State University’s campus to host Pro-Life Day with Chris Spielman earlier this week. The event was held in the new Ohio Union on Tuesday evening.

Chris shared a message of life that is very close to his heart – his personal pro-life testimony. His late wife Stefanie’s battle with breast cancer presented an agonizing choice to the Spielman family when Stefanie discovered she was pregnant with their fourth child. Her doctor gave them two options. She could stop taking her treatment medication so that the child would have a chance at survival, or they could abort the child.

The decision to choose life was not easy for the Spielman family, but one that Chris does not regret. “I’m happy and humbled to say that (my) baby girl is playing softball tonight as a beautiful, bouncing eight-year-old,” Chris said. Stefanie passed away in November of 2009. 

As many struggled to hold back tears, Chris continued on. “I believe that all life begins at conception and that every life is sacred,” he stated. “I believe we change people’s hearts, minds and souls not through hatred or intimidation.” 

ORTL’s Executive Director agrees. “We’re going to focus on Ohio State to get a compassionate message out,” said Mike Gonidakis. “That’s how we will reach people, not by pounding on the table.” 

After Chris spoke, other pro-life leaders took the podium to continue the message of life and educate students on different issues and ways to get involved. Those presenting included: State Representative Terry Johnson (R-Portsmouth), Steven DeWeese, with the Christian Legal Society, Kathleen Gibbons, representing the Women’s Care Center and Katherine Chapman, Co- President of the Pro-Life Club, who informed students of Ohio State’s Health Care Policy, one that includes abortion coverage. “We are paying for abortion,” she stated. 

Many students were inspired and motivated by the event. “I felt so many different emotions – I was choking back tears and then filled with rage at the injustice,” said one attendee. Another said, “It was a lot more touching than I anticipated it to be.” 

With the help of students on Ohio State’s campus, which is one of the largest in the nation, Ohio Right to Life continues to impact a culture that will one day truly respect the dignity of each and every human life.

Read the article OSU's student newspaper, The Lantern, posted on the event.
View pictures of the event.

Posted by Erin Cain, 5/27/11

Today, Planned Parenthood and its allies descend upon the Statehouse to lobby for abortion on demand.  What our legislators won’t hear from Planned Parenthood today is the fact that over 40% of all abortions in Ohio last year were performed on African American women – a tragically disproportionate percentage of our population.  Our legislators won’t hear the truth that Planned Parenthood is the nation’s largest abortion provider and that Americans oppose public funding of abortion by a margin of 61% to 35%, according to recent a CNN poll.

According to the abortion lobby’s marketing materials, the keynote speaker for their event, Lois Uttley, works to ensure women’s health needs will be met in the new health reform laws.  What our legislators will not hear today from her is that abortion is not health care because the only measure of success for an abortion is the death of an innocent baby. 

Based upon the recent Ohio Department of Health’s annual Abortion Report, Ohio is at historical lows in the number of reported abortions.  This fact threatens the profit margins for Planned Parenthood.  We are winning the fight against those who push abortion as the first and sometimes only choice for women in crisis.  

Posted by Mike Gonidakis, 5/10/11

Recently, a Columbus man pled guilty to attempted murder for trying to force his girlfriend to have an abortion. Dominic Holt-Reid was arrested last October after he pointed a handgun at his girlfriend and drove her to an East Side Columbus abortion clinic for a scheduled appointment, even though she told him that she didn't want to go through with the procedure.

The irony in this story is that had the girlfriend desired an abortion, there would be no offense. There is more irony in that other men, perhaps similar to Holt-Reid, took their girlfriends and paid for them to have abortions in the very same abortuary on the very same day that he drove his girlfriend there by force.

Since 1996, Ohio law has provided that there can be a separate criminal offense for killing or injuring a woman and killing or injuring her unborn child. This strongly reflects the simple biological fact that there are indeed two human lives in every pregnancy. Sadly, since Roe v. Wade, current law also allows for the killing of an unborn child as long as it is a "choice."

Simply put: when a pregnant woman wants an abortion, killing her unborn baby is her protected right. But when a pregnant woman does not want an abortion, killing her unborn baby is then considered homicide, and the one who forced her to have the abortion faces serious criminal charges (and rightfully so).  It is absolutely absurd that one person determines whether the life of another is murder or just another legal abortion.

Thankfully, the mother in question was protected and her baby has since been born and is doing well. Thanks to pro-life Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien, the mother received justice, her baby has received precious life and the father, Holt-Reid, will receive what he rightly deserves. But unfortunately, until Roe v. Wade is overturned, we can never give all unborn children the same protection and justice that this woman and her baby received. "Equal justice under the law" will continue to be denied to millions of those most vulnerable, the unborn.

Read more about this story in the Columbus Dispatch. Click here.

Posted by Erin Cain on 5/5/11

The Annual Ohio Right to Life Oratory Contest last Saturday was a great success! Travis Goettemoeller from Mercer County Right to Life won the first place prize and will be going to Florida in June for the National Competition. There were eight contestants from across the state, some traveling from the far corners and edges of Ohio – can you say four-hour drive?!

The contestants (in their speeches) reminded those in the audience of the need for ACTION NOW in our communities. There are so many evils happening in this world – together they are rapidly creating a culture of death. There is abortion happening on demand across the world and let us not forget, here in Ohio. There are the issues of euthanasia, human trafficking…the list goes on and on. The contestants truly inspired those in the audience to ACT NOW in response to these great evils and to take a STAND for LIFE in their communities – for together, we can build a culture of Life.

Check out the photos (recently updated!) by clicking here.

Posted by Erin Cain on 4/21/2011

Last Tuesday at the Ohio Statehouse, amidst the normal hustle and bustle of legislators, lobbyists and visitors of all kinds, a small group of people gathered next to the Map Room beneath a sign that read “Great Ohioans”.  It was a group of families from the Holy Family Catholic Homeschool Group based out of Shelby and Mercer counties in mid-west Ohio.  

The families have the custom of visiting the statehouse not only to provide an opportunity for their children to learn about the legislative process in Ohio, but also to educate them specifically on pro-life laws.  So, the group set aside time to hear from Ohio Right to Life Director of Legislative Affairs, Stephanie Krider, and Director of External Affairs, Erin Cain.  

The presentation progressed within the echoing halls of the lower level of the Statehouse, filled with the energy and excitement of laws being made. The ORTL staffers shared about the laws currently moving through the legislative process that will, once enacted, save the lives of hundreds of unborn children.  They shared about the organization's programs in action to make Ohio a state where life is respected and revered as a gift from God.  

Though it was difficult for the voices of the ORTL employees to carry over the surrounding noise, the children of this homeschool group heard their message, thanks to the structure of the group: the parents and taller children stood on the outside, while the younger children stood looking upward from the inner circle.  

They were more than just another one of the multiple tour groups that flood the Statehouse each day as the parents provided the shield from the pervading noise and their children soaked in this message of Life.  As such, with the parents creating an opportunity for their children to be educated by the gospel of life, they serve as a representation of the beauty and absolute necessity of family within the pro-life movement.  

Even though the group merely found the "Great Ohioans" sign as a convenient meeting place, it ironically depicted the group of people that gathered beneath it.  The pro-life movement is made of men and women who uphold the values of respect, compassion and love and pass them onto their children, just as the parents of the Holy Family Catholic Homeschool Group do to their children.  For this, the movement continues to travel ever-closer to the goal of bringing an end to abortion and other practices that generate the culture of death.  Ohio Right to Life thanks these Great Families, for from them emerge the Great Ohioans that continue to fight for Life in our state.

Posted by Rachel Schlater on 4/14/11

Dr. John Barnard, president of the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, recently wrote an article that was published in the Columbus Dispatch entitled: Type of stem cell shows promise. As a leading physician at what is arguably one of the best hospitals in the Midwest, if not the nation, Dr. Barnard believes we should be focusing our research efforts on adult stem cells – specifically, induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells).

Obtained from routine skin biopsies, iPS cells have the potential to generate many cell types. As such, there has been an explosion in the research performed with iPS cells in the past few years since the initial discovery.

The pro-life community has particular reason to be excited about Dr. Barnard’s article, as he writes, “And what is especially exciting about the iPS approach is that it bypasses most of the current ethical concerns relating to the use of human embryonic stem cells. No embryo or fetal cells are involved.”

Great news for the babies! 

Not only that, but this research is working. Dr. Barnard offers a couple of examples of research on iPS cells. Defective cells can be generated from humans with certain diseases or disorders that have been difficult to study in the past. After converted into cardiac cells, the iPS cells could be studied in greater detail, leading to potential new insights into therapy, something unheard of several years ago. By using iPS cells, researchers avoid limitations that animal research models have, and also take an important step in protecting the rights of the unborn!

In his article, Dr. Barnard, a well-known and respected physician, is publicly voicing what Ohio Right to Life and many other pro-life organizations have known – and fought for – for years. Why would medical professionals continue to use embryonic stem cells and therefore, degrade human life when we know that adult stem cells can work in the same capacity, AND produce more and better results?

Click here to read the entire article at the Dispatch’s website.



Posted by Erin Cain, 3/29/11