"A voice of one crying out in the desert. Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths" (Mark 1:3).
Dear HLI Family,
What a wondrous voice was that of Saint John the Baptist, which heralded such a miraculous message of joy and hope. I have heard these inspired words of the prophet Isaiah which open the Gospel of Mark many times, reflected on them and proclaimed them from the pulpit; however, as I stood on Executive Park Terrace in Germantown, Maryland this past Monday, they spoke to me in a new way.
That day I had the humble privilege of standing in prayer and solidarity with over 2,000 pro-lifers, young and elderly, to give witness to the power of life and love, and to oppose the atrocity of abortion which continues in their midst. Every day since Germantown's Reproductive and Health Services employed Doctor Leroy Carhart to destroy the lives of preborn babies and cause irreparable harm to the lives of mothers, pro-lifers have born witness to this immoral act against the innocent and have offered sidewalk counseling to women considering an abortion.
These prayerful witnesses truly represent a voice crying out in the desert. Like John the Baptist, nothing has impeded their witness and passion for life. Their cries for justice have not been silenced by weather, ridicule, lies or persecution. Their presence has saved the lives of many children and protected mothers from the disastrous hands of the promoters of death, like Carhart and his staff.
Since arriving in Germantown one year ago, Carhart has terminated the precious lives of 720 children, all with the aid of Maryland's recklessly permissive abortion laws. Most of the abortions performed by the "Butcher of Germantown" have been late-term abortions, performed on mothers in the second half of their pregnancy. The reality of what happens at the Germantown Reproductive Health Services clinic is quite obvious as one person shared with me as we walked along the sidewalk near the clinic. "You see a mother who is obviously pregnant, entering into the clinic on a Monday morning. On the third day she returns with her now dead baby to complete the procedure, walking out obviously 'thinner' than she had been a few days before. It is a sight you never forget. To know that the voice of this child will never be heard, or his smile ever seen, is often times overwhelming."
Maryland has had approximately 1,240,000 abortions since it was legalized in 1968, and a stunning 29% of all pregnancies in Maryland end in abortion. The reason Maryland's rate of abortion is so much higher than the 19.5% average of all states is due in large part to the fact that the State of Maryland uses taxpayers' money to pay for abortions. Sadly, Carhart and other unscrupulous doctors capitalize on this funding since there are no limitations upon this industry of death. In fact, in recognition of Maryland's liberal stance and endorsement of abortion, NARAL, the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, offers the State one of its highest rankings.
What can you do?
I have chosen to highlight the situation in Germantown this week because I am appalled by the murderous actions of Carhart and Maryland's endorsement of his activity through its laws. I am asking the good people of Maryland to contact their State's legislators and political leaders to demand a change in these laws that destroy life, and harm women. I am also asking pro-lifers throughout the country to get involved in the ongoing Germantown tragedy through prayer; we must stand together if we are to bring an end to this barbarism. You can learn more at www.prayforgermantown.com.
If you are in the area, please consider joining the peaceful ongoing protest. Every Monday rain or shine, dozens of people prayerfully and peacefully gather in solidarity against these late term abortions at the corner of Wisteria Drive and Executive Park Circle. Perhaps the strongest witness in these situations is from expectant mothers who are choosing life for their own children, and from young families. I encourage you to network with other defenders of life and establish or join similar vigils in your hometown.
The world was outraged when they learned about the horrors of Hitler's concentration camps, like Dachau and Auschwitz. The images of the graves and incinerators serve as haunting reminders of man's ability to overlook, or even participate in evil. Sadly there are "new" images of evil for us to see. The images of medical and garbage bags filled with the bodies of babies - arms, legs and heads tossed out with the trash. This massacre is happening in our own back yards, in neighborhood medical plazas and office complexes. We may not see them, but they are there.
In the Nuremberg trials the perpetrators of the Nazis' crimes against humanity claimed they were only following orders, but the world held them accountable. The outrage over the concentration camps motivated the Allied powers to seek justice for those who were unjustly killed. The voices of the unborn cry for justice.
Germantown is but one desert; there are many more. Will we raise our voices and be silent no more?
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Shenan J. Boquet
President, Human Life International
