Aborted but born alive

Abortion isn’t just a word anymore to almost 7000 high school students across Niagara. Abortion now has a face -- that is, the face of Melissa Ohden, abortion survivor. Usually those two words don’t follow one another but God had other plans for Melissa that no attempt on her life could thwart. During the past week, international pro-life speaker, Melissa Ohden, visited our eight Catholic High Schools delivering the riveting story of the very perilous beginnings of her life.

Students were shocked as they heard the details of a saline abortion and the cruel, inhumane treatment of a helpless unborn baby in the hands of those they have been taught to trust. A comment from a Notre Dame girl was especially revealing, “I always thought that if I got pregnant I would just have an abortion, but not after hearing this.”

Initially invited by The St. Catharines Right to Life Association as guest speaker for their Annual General Dinner Meeting, one speaking engagement grew to ten as The Niagara Catholic District School Board partnered with Right to Life to sponsor talks across the board. This cooperation has left students with a new perspective on this mostly misunderstood issue. Student Veronica Arnott from Lakeshore Catholic commented, “Abortion affects more than just one person... I never thought about how there are so many people missing.”

Melissa emphasizes the generational impact of abortion on families. When she looked into the face of her newborn daughter she was overwhelmed by the realization that her precious child might never have existed.

With passion born out of suffering and conviction, Melissa spoke of how she struggled for years with the truth of her survival and how society often views children like her as unwanted, unloved, unworthy of life, somehow un-human, or simply a choice. She is using her life to highlight the pain and suffering that abortion causes for the world. With 90 to 100 thousand abortions performed every year In Canada, “If you haven’t been touched by abortion in your life, you will,” she stated bluntly.

“It is important not to judge anyone but to offer love and compassion to many who have most likely been coerced into having an abortion.” Many believe that abortion gives women the right to make a choice but for most it wasn’t their choice. Melissa stressed that it’s the parent, boyfriend or family member who convinces the girl that she needs to have an abortion so they can move on with their lives. “It’s easy to talk about choice when you are not that choice,” she said. As Melissa recently met some of her biological family it became clear to her that no one really moves on and relationships become strained and changed forever.

With graduation just around the corner for many, Melissa warned students that university will radically challenge their understanding about life, and that they must guard their beliefs and faith; those are the things that give you strength and get you through. She challenged them all to participate in increasing the culture of life. “Know the resources available for those in crisis who may cross your path and be prepared to give unconditional love and support. I encourage you to get involved, love the people around you. God has a plan for each and every one of you and even small acts of kindness and support will impact peoples’ choices.”

Aware that it was God’s grace that saved her from the terrible fate of abortion, she does not take this knowledge lightly. Melissa believes it is her life’s work to share her survival story and speak out for the tens of millions of children who have died from abortion. As more and more accounts of abortion tragedies are surfacing, it is edifying to hear that love and life is stronger than the power of death.

Joan Webb, Executive Assistant, St. Catharines Right to Life Association

St. Catharines Right to Life promotes Culture of Life in our community

As one of the founding members of the St. Catharines Right to Life Association Inc., I was delighted to attend the 30th Annual General Meeting of the association on February 26, 2011 at John-Michael’s Banquet and Conference Centre. In 1981, a small number of people from different faith communities in St. Catharines banded together to form an ecumenical association to promote respect for human life from conception to natural death through education. With modest support and numbers we successfully pursued incorporation as a registered charity to further the aims of the association in our community.

The 400 joyful members, students and friends of St. Catharines Right to Life that came together to offer support for the growing culture of life in our community enjoyed a great dinner and a powerful speaker as well as an efficient business meeting and silent auction.

The retiring treasurer and board member Verna Collini received a standing ovation for her generous volunteer service as treasurer for 25 years. Her cheerful presence on the Board and her impeccable records have been invaluable to the work of the organization.

In his annual report, President Greg Slingerland summarized the work of the past year. Because of the expanding activities both in and outside the office the Board has hired Joan Webb as an Executive Assistant, a second part-time employee, to assist Marlene Tersigni, the Executive Director of the Association.

Aside from the regular presentations in classrooms, for pro-life-clubs and church groups by regular speakers, Melissa Ohden, Guest Speaker after the dinner meeting, spoke 10 times in the 8 Catholic secondary schools during the 3 days before the dinner. The Right to Life organized, chaperoned, and subsidized a two day bus trip for 62 students to the March for Life in Ottawa. They had information displays at fairs, school and health conventions and provided materials for Brock Students for Life, teachers and pregnancy centres.

The Associations websites chooselife.ca, abortionclinics.ca, abortionmyths.ca and abortionpills.ca are easily found through major search engines and make available much information.

The city buses are carrying new bus ads with pictures and the text “Abortion. One heart beats, another heart stops ... Think hard before you let go.” “Did you know?” ads appear one Saturday a month in the St. Catharines Standard. Four different billboards have been circulating in the region.

Contact is maintained with members through the newsletter issued four times a year in print and electronically from chooselife.ca. Supporters who wish information on polls, life issues and upcoming events can request to be added to the email list. The Euthanasia Bill was defeated after the pro-life community mobilized and informed its members and friends about the issue.

The President finished his report by thanking those present for their prayers and support, urging them to remain “bold in this fight.”

The evening finished with the personal story of abortion survivor Melissa Ohden. Slated for death by abortion, she survived miraculously despite a saline infusion abortion and was born alive. Her determination to be “a voice for the voiceless” and her bold and courageous story of suffering, faith, hope and love inspired all those present.