A photo from our 40th Annual Assembly for Life at Faneuil Hall in Boston

Despite various challenges this past weekend was an excellent weekend for the pro-life cause. On Friday thousands upon thousands marched in Washington to support the rights of the weakest and most vulnerable among us, the unborn, to live. It isn’t always easy to stand against the horror of abortion but more than half a million people braved the cold to do just that!

By Anne Fox, President of Massachusetts Citizens for Life

Mr Chesterton was a delight. He had heard that we have the Doctor Prescribed Death ballot question coming. He shared these insights with us.

Not only is suicide a sin, it is the sin. It is the ultimate and absolute evil, the refusal to take an interest in existence; the refusal to take the oath of loyalty to life. The man who kills a man, kills a man. The man who kills himself, kills all men; as far as he is concerned he wipes out the world. His act is worse (symbolically considered) than any rape or dynamite outrage. For it destroys all buildings: it insults all women. The thief is satisfied with diamonds; but the suicide is not: that is his crime. He cannot be bribed, even by the blazing stones of the Celestial City. The thief compliments the things he steals, if not the owner of them. But the suicide insults everything on earth by not stealing it. He defiles every flower by refusing to live for its sake. There is not a tiny creature in the cosmos at whom his death is not a sneer. When a man hangs himself on a tree, the leaves might fall off in anger and the birds fly away in fury: for each has received a personal affront. Of course there may be pathetic emotional excuses for the act. There often are for rape, and there almost always are for dynamite. But if it comes to clear ideas and the intelligent meaning of things, then there is much more rational and philosophic truth in the burial at the cross-roads and the stake driven through the body, than in Mr. Archer's suicidal automatic machines. There is a meaning in burying the suicide apart. The man's crime is different from other crimes -- for it makes even crimes impossible.

John Triolo is working on the video so everyone can see Mr. Chesterton's presentation.

I really enjoyed seeing so many of you!

By Anne Fox, President of Massachusetts Citizens for Life

The Mass. Citizens Annual Dinner was a sell-out with 450 people attending. They were inspired by Professor Anthony Esolen ‘sremarks, especially on what we pro lifers see as the "seamless garment". The video of his talk will be posted shortly on the web site. 

Congratulations to State Representative Elizabeth Poirier and her husband, Kevin, who is a former State Representative.  They received jointly the Dr Joseph Stanton Award "for outspoken courage in defense of life, through tireless personal example". 

Marian Desrosiers, head of the Pro Life Office for the Diocese of Fall River, received the Ignatius O' Connor Award "for outstanding contributions to the pro-life movement". 

Local Chapter Service Awards, given to "the unsung hero of a chapter who has demonstrated outstanding service", were awarded to Don Golden, Longmeadow; Madeleine Lavoie, Greater Fall River; Jim Loughman, North Adams; and Claire Donohoe, West Roxbury/Roslindale. 

Pro-Life Community Awards, "given to a citizen or group who demonstrates outstanding support of a chapter's mission", were awarded to Eleanor McCullen, Newton; Msgr Francis McGann, Needham; Patricia Stebbins, Cape Cod; and The Watertown Knights of Columbus Charitable Trust.  

The enthusiasm and commitment of the attendees was inspiring! 

Choose Life License Plates 

Only 242 people needed and another excellent reason for reserving. 

We have been buying advertising for the Walk to Aid Mothers and Children and have learned that radio ads in Boston cost as much as $500.00 for 30 SECONDS. TV and newspaper ads cost in the tens of thousands. 

For forty dollars, you are spreading the word to more people than any of that other advertising, which is seen or heard only once.  

You will be interested to see how many people in your town have reserved:  http://www.machoose-life.org/PlateCounts.htm 

The reservation form was inserted in the July/August MCFL News.  Or you can print it out, http://www.machoose-life.org/images/ChooseLifeRegistrationApplication.pdf. Do it now!