Right To Life Monument Brings Attention To Abortion Debate
by John Stegeman
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Julie VanHoose along with Dave Ferrell and Jim Warnock work to arrange 400 white crosses in the lot adjacent to Holy Redeemer Catholic Church.
Julie VanHoose along with Dave Ferrell and Jim Warnock work to arrange 400 white crosses in the lot adjacent to Holy Redeemer Catholic Church.
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Those stopping at the stop light at Gallia and Offnere streets will likely notice a symbolic monument of sorts in the lot adjacent to Holy Redeemer Catholic Church.

Along with a large sign, are 400 white crosses.

Each of those crosses represents 10 babies who never made it into this world.

The memorial is called the “Field of Innocents” and it is sponsored by the Scioto County Right to Life, an organization that works locally to educate the public on pro-life issues.

Many churches and pro-life organizations around the nation set up similar displays to help convey the death toll abortion takes — roughly 4,000 unborn children a day.

“One day there will be a monument for the unborn, but until then we stand as that monument,” Julie VanHoose, treasurer of Scioto County Right to Life, said. “The reason that we have chosen this time to put (the Field of Innocents) up is that there is a national campaign called 40 Days for Life.”

According to its Web site, 40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign with a vision to access God’s power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end abortion in America.

The 40 Days of Life Campaign takes place twice a year, once in the fall and once during Lent.

“During the 40 days of Lent we’re partnering with the worldwide 40 Days for Life campaign...,” VanHoose said. “Its an ecumenical faith-based element. Its inviting people of faith to join in that 40 days of prayer and fasting to bring an end to abortion.”

This is the second year that the Scioto County Right to Life has put up the Field of Innocents display. On top of that, the group held its second annual March for Life locally on Jan. 17 and sent a bus with nearly 50 people from the Portsmouth, Waverly and Chillicothe areas to Washington, D.C. for the National March for Life, which was attended by about 300,000 people.

“This is the biggest genocide that has ever taken place on America’s soil...,” VanHoose said. “There have been more babies killed (via abortion) than in all of Amerca’s wars combined.”

Pro-life groups claim that more than 50 million babies have been killed by abortion since it was largely legalized with the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe vs. Wade.

To learn more about the 40 Days for Life campaign, visit www.40daysforlife.com; and to learn more about Scioto County Right to Life visit www.sciotolife.org or join the organization’s group on Facebook.

JOHN STEGEMAN can be jstegeman@heartlandpublications.com
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comments (5)
« Dtownbrown wrote on Monday, Mar 15 at 08:49 AM »
vegan, all of the choices you would make are fine for you. But they are, and should remain, your choices.
« Neutron wrote on Sunday, Mar 14 at 07:15 AM »
Right or wrong, the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe vs. Wade clearly states it is a woman's right to choose what she wants to do with her own body.

The Pro-Life political groups and their leaders talk about the subject before every election, but after the election they never seem to get anything done about it. That makes me think that pro-life candidates are using this issue to get votes, then forget about it once they are elected.

We had a pro-life President for eight years. He talked about it during campaigns, but never did anything to change it. Doesn't that make the pro-life movement feel used?

In addition, how many pro-life people support the death penalty? You can't be truly pro-life if you support the death penalty. Pro-life isn't just for babies.

Frankly, you should be trying to work with legislators instead of erecting effigy cemeteries. Fields of crosses won't change laws, and it seems fanatical. I'll obey the law, no matter what it is.
« veganlady wrote on Friday, Mar 12 at 11:01 PM »
Everyone has the right to live, no matter what the circumstance. If I became pregnant after being raped, I would carry the child to term, and if I absolutely could not stand to have that child around, I would put that child up for adoption. But, I do not think I would do so, because it would be mine, and everything happens for a reason. I would see that child as a gift, the good thing that came out of the bad situation, even if I didn't understand why that had to happen to "me" at the time. If I aborted that child, it would be for selfish reasons...just so that I wouldn't be reminded of what happened, and have a child without my choosing. That does not come close to justifying killing a baby. There's always the choice to put the baby up for adoption, so he or she can have a choice. It is not up to anyone to decide if someone lives or doesn't. Thou shalt not kill..end of story. The Bible doesn't say "Thou shalt not kill..But if you get pregnant and don't want a child, it's OK to kill that baby so you don't have to deal with life's challenges...Um, no I don't think it does say that anywhere. Also, If I was told that If I carried my baby to term, I would die, or the baby would, or we both would, well then I would just have to see for myself because doctors aren't always right. I would not kill my child, I would do whatever it took to save both of us. I would get a second opinion, or see what other options there might be, like a c-section and having a premature baby who would need the hospital's care for some time after birth. Anyways the point is, there is no acceptable reason for killing. Being handicapped, or young, or whatever the case may be..it doesn't matter. It is not the pregnant woman's right...what about the right of the unborn child? The child is completely helpless in the matter...who will speak for these innocent babies?
« TakeAStand wrote on Friday, Mar 12 at 09:40 AM »
To answer the comment left previously, less than 1% of all abortions ever performed were done so because the mother had been raped and that rape resulted in a pregnancy. Less than 12% of abortions are performed due to a risk of maternal mortality.

Citation: Finer, L.B., et al. 2005, Reasons U.S. Women Have Abortions: Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 37(3): 110-118.
« gamergirl wrote on Thursday, Mar 11 at 04:51 PM »
I understand the concept of saving the lives of children who don't deserve to die, and the parents that are irresponsible and abort their children for no reason other then not wanting children. But what these pro-life groups don't want to acknowledge in their quest for ending abortion in every single way, is the women who will die if they have the baby and the baby will die too. I had a friend who had to have an abortion for that reason and it was one of the most difficult decision of her life. Then there are also the women who are raped. I am not saying every rape should result in abortion, but what about a woman who is raped by multiple men, or raped by a parent or close relative? A woman who is mentally handicapped who is raped? Children who have just hit puberty who are raped? What about these cases?

Pro-life groups only look at the women who abort just because. Not at these cases where it should be deemed necessary or at least up to the woman or child. It's not right to deny every single person the right to abortion. It's a constitutional right and should be kept that way.

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