If you want to save babies from abortion you can do this by going out to local abortion clinics and praying the rosary for Mary's intercession. You can hand out prolife literature to the women going in; offering alternatives to the women, directing them to go to nearby prolife pregnancy aid centers. It works.

Thousand of babies have been saved across the nation.

Pray and speak with love to the women or couples going into these abortion clinics, and always let them know that God loves them, but with firmness let them know that they are taking the life of their unborn child and that only God has the right to take a life. Be bold in the Holy Spirit!

HERE ARE EXTENSIVE DIRECTIONS FOR DOING SIDEWALK COUNSELING AT ABORTION CLINICS:

From Catholics United For Life:

THE BEST WAY TO SAVE BABIES

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN SAVE BABIES AND THEIR MOTHERS

SIDEWALK COUNSELING " . . . is a tactic that can bring down the whole structure of legalized abortion."

-Charles Rice, Notre Dame Law Professor

WE CAN SAVE THE BABIES WHO ARE SCHEDULED TO BE MURDERED TODAY!

Yes - anyone can do it. It is so simple that we have no excuse for not doing it. We call it SIDEWALK COUNSELING.

Near each of us there is a place where unborn babies are being murdered and no one is trying to save them.

SIDEWALK COUNSELING is:

*going to these abortion chambers;

*creating a religious atmosphere by praying the Rosary;

*asking the mothers not to abort their babies;

*offering them help and alternatives.

PLEASE GO TO YOUR NEAREST ABORTUARY AND SAVE BABIES!

This pamphlet will help you get started. The babies who are murdered each day urgently need your help. A certain number of babies scheduled for abortion each day can be saved at the last moment. What is human life worth? We know people who have saved 5 or more babies in a few hours of Sidewalk Counseling. Even if only one innocent baby is saved over many months of Sidewalk counseling it is worth our time and effort! Saving a human life and soul is a rare and joyful privilege!

Have you ever considered that the pro-life movement lacks credibility precisely because we are not responding immediately to the destruction of individual human lives? We sit at home while innocent babies are cruelly murdered only a few blocks or a few miles from us. Would we allow any other type of murder without a compassionate effort to save lives? Every life we save is a witness to the fact that each baby is fully human.

Rescue those being lead away to death, hold back those who are being dragged to the slaughter. Will you object, "But look, we did not know?" Has he who weighs the heart no understanding, He who scans your soul no knowledge? He himself will repay a man as his deeds deserve. Proverbs 24:11-12

HOW WE SAVE BABIES -- LAST MINUTE RESCUE PROGRAM

Many babies will be saved in a last minute rescue program by confronting mothers with a simple, personal, and sympathetic but firm appeal and by offering them real alternatives to abortion. We can save many more human lives in this way than in any other.

CONFRONTATION -- Sidewalk Counseling is a last minute confrontation with a woman who has an appointment to kill her baby. She may have a boyfriend, husband, girlfriend, or even her own parents with her. These people can also be influenced to help save the baby. She may be hostile, emotional, or confused but as long as she listens to you the baby has a chance. Even if she or someone with her will only take literature on their way into the abortuary one picture alone may save the baby. A woman who is confronted by your personal effort to save her baby may go ahead with the abortion but be influenced to not have another abortion in the future - this is important because many women have two or more abortions in their lifetime.

SIMPLE --Sidewalk Counseling is not a forum for debate - above all be simple. Remember: A pregnant woman is a mother and no mother is happy with a decision to abort her baby. Assume that a pregnant mother in some way knows that abortion kills her unborn child. Remind her that there never will be another baby like this one, a unique living person. You should have photographs and literature showing the unborn child and how the baby is cruelly aborted. Speak to her about why you are there, hand her some literature and if you are able, explain simply that the baby is alive, the baby's heart is beating, and he or she can feel pain. This baby wants life and the love of his or her mother more than anything else.

PERSONAL - You want to be personally involved with the mother. Tell her you want to be a friend and help her not just at this moment but throughout the pregnancy and afterwards. Unlike the abortionist, you want to know how you can help her have a living baby. When women refuse to talk with you, make your offer of help anyway and don't get discouraged - your presence and personal expression of concern will influence them more than you realize.

SYMPATHETIC - Your concern is for the mother as well as her baby. There are serious health dangers for the mother who aborts her baby - woman may even become sterile and never have another baby. Be able to talk simply with her about these dangers. But above all remind her that a mother can never forget her own baby and sometime in her lifetime she will grieve - she will look at other children and wonder with great suffering about the child she killed. Abortion never makes women richer or happier or freer, it never cures a failing relationship with a husband or boyfriend. Abortion is a violent experience - the baby dies and the mother kills her own God-given motherhood.

FIRM - Be as firm as you can. Don't be afraid to show your feelings of urgency - these are the last moments of a baby's life. The baby is innocent and deserves to live. The baby is robbed cruelly of natural life and of baptism. The killing of an innocent baby is murder, a crime against humanity worse than Hitler's crimes. For the Christian, abortion is a grievous sin. Ask the mother if she is a Christian and point out that killing an innocent baby is against God's law and that by going against God's law we lose His graces. Ask her if she is a Catholic - the law of the Church is very clear on the penalty for abortion: excommunication from the Church for the mother and all who help her procure the abortion.

ALTERNATIVES - Don't wait to Sidewalk Counsel because you think you are not prepared or because you lack resources. Your personal concern and the information you have to give will be enough to save babies. There will always be some way you can help. As you get experience, develop a directory of resources listing your local pro-life groups, any pregnancy aid services, free pro-life pregnancy test service, pro-life physicians and medical services, charitable services that can offer clothes, food, shelter, etc. Ask the Catholic Church to help either through the parishes or Catholic associations, they will help if you are persistent. It is their duty to assist you! Above all make known what you are doing and that babies can be saved - others will join you.

ROSARY - Our Blessed Mother gave St. Dominic the Rosary 700 years ago to preach to people - Albigensians - inflamed with an anti-life heresy. Pray the Rosary loud enough to be heard - the Rosary preaches the truth about life sanctified by Christ through the motherhood of a woman. "Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus".

THE BABIES WE FAIL TO SAVE NEED US TOO!

It is clearly our duty to try to save the babies. They are murdered, deprived of life, of a name, of love and finally of the dignity of burial as human beings but most important they are denied baptism. We are robbed of the opportunity to perform our duty as Christians to baptize and give a decent burial to the babies we cannot save.

In 1978, the Conference of Italian Bishops confirmed how important baptism is : "Our history records the wickedness of the human heart, the permissiveness of social morals, the iniquity of legislations in favor of abortion, the distressing reality of innocent lives that never see the light of the sun and the smile of brothers, AND WILL NOT BE REBORN IN WATER AND THE SPIRIT." "All attempts to devise a means of salvation for (infants dying without baptism) were labeled by the Holy Office on Feb. 18, 1958 as lacking solid foundation. This shows that the problem is not an open question in the usual sense of the term." (Catholic Encyclopedia, 1967, vol. 2, page 70) The Holy Office in 1980 stated in the Instruction on Infant Baptism that the Church "knows no other way apart from Baptism for ensuring children's entry into eternal happiness." We hold a pious hope in God's mercy but we must pray for the salvation of aborted babies and we must not let wishful thinking keep us from trying with all our hearts, souls and might to save these babies. Our presence gives honor and dignity to each baby at the abortuary; otherwise they are unceremoniously desecrated as garbage with no one to care! So many times do we hear the mothers say, "I love my baby so much I am sending him straight to heaven". If the woman has a doubt about her baby going to heaven she often will not kill it.

PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS

PREPARATION

Remember, Sidewalk Counseling is a religious and penitential act which depends for its success upon grace. Grace is unearned and undeserved real power to succeed! We get it by suffering, in a smaller way, like Christ, for the sins of the world. It is a sacrifice to be a Sidewalk Counselor who is performing an act of public penance that states "We humans are sinners who are involved in sins like abortion which cause all the evil in the world. This evil is the fault of mankind through misuse of free-will power. God is innocent! I proclaim God's innocence by my public and private penance; and therefore, God will insure that I succeed for I glorify Him with truth." The Church calls this unearned and undeserved, powerful help: Grace. We hear so many people say, "I've no ability or talent to save babies." We say "Good! Then it is all the more clear that God is by far the most important Savior of the innocents - let Jesus Christ be the Victor alone!" Let us show ourselves for what we are - undeserving servants working for an exceedingly generous and kind-hearted master. Remember what St. Paul said, "Whatever you do in word or in work do all in the name of Jesus Christ giving glory to God and the Father by Him alone." (Col. 3:17) Official approved and organized penance receives the greater grace, so we should all get this power by joining a penitential society such as the Third Order of St. Dominic or the confraternity of Angelic Warfare or the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary. Write us for details on how to do this. We can't afford to turn away from the best channel of grace. We need power on behalf of the murdered unbaptized babies.

HOW TO COUNSEL

Say as much as you can in the first few moments because you may have little time to catch the mother's attention. Example:

Hello. I am here to offer women alternatives to abortion. I want to help you. Every abortion kills an innocent baby and mothers who get abortions are never happy afterwards. The innocent baby's heart is beating - the baby can feel pain. If you are thinking of aborting a baby please let me help you. You won't be sorry. Everyone knows abortion is the murder of an innocent person. Please read this literature. Please tell me how I can help you.

[Mother Teresa would say to mothers considering abortion - (paraphrasing--If you don't want your child give him or her to me and my sisters; we will love the baby and take good care of the baby.) If you have enough faith that God will help you take care of an adopted baby--this would be a very good thing to say to a mother considering having an abortion.](added to original)

Many women will tell you they are not there to get an abortion, but talk to them and give them literature anyway. They may not be telling the truth or they may be there to get the pill or the IUD which are abortifacients and also kill babies -- more babies by far than surgical abortion.

You may feel embarrassed, but depend on your sincerity and you will quickly learn by experience. Don't get involved in arguments that obviously won't save a baby. This will distract you from your main objective and you will miss women who may be receptive to listening to you. People may question your motives or talk about world population or other side issues. Make a simple answer at most and return to the question of the baby's life or move on and talk to a more receptive person. Example: The most important thing is that babies are dying here today and I want to help women with real alternatives. Let's talk about how we can save these babies.

Offer to take the mother to get a cup of coffee or for lunch or someplace comfortable (even a car or van) to sit down and talk. If you get her away from the abortuary she will feel less under pressure and will be more open to reconsidering.

If you sense a woman will not speak to you about abortion offer her information on "reproductive health". Example: Please take this literature on reproductive health. Abortion is not the simple and safe solution it is made out to be. Many women experience heartbreaking reproductive health problems after an abortion. Many who decide later to have a child find that they cannot. There are also unexpected psychological problems following an abortion.

If she still will not speak with you, continue to make your offer and to point out that every abortion kills an innocent and helpless baby, and that abortion is the crime of murder. Tell her that if she ever changes her mind and wants to talk to you, that you will always be happy to do so.

Don't give up on women. Sidewalk Counselors have talked with angry and abusive women that walked away only to return and say they have changed their minds. If friends or relatives come out while she is in the abortuary, plead with them to go back and convince her to leave or to come out and talk with you. Babies have been saved in this way. Example: Please go in and talk with your wife [girlfriend or friend] and ask her not to get the abortion. If you love her show her this literature. Ask her to come out and talk with us about alternatives to abortion. You are responsible too if you don't try to help save the baby.

Ask women to wait one week or even a few days and offer to get them an appointment with a good physician during this time for alternative advice. This is especially important if she supposedly has been advised by a physician to get an abortion. Tell her she ought to get an opinion from another physician. Offer to make an appointment and to pay for it. (Ask your local Bishop for the money, remember, he is giving collection plate money to many less important and urgent causes than you own.)

Example: Please delay your abortion a week or even for a few days. An abortion today is a final decision that you can't change. Let us find you a physician that can give you advice [can give you another opinion]. This is a serious decision, one you may regret the rest of your life so give yourself and your baby a chance.

Ask the mothers if they have considered what will become of their aborted babies, and what the abortionist will do with the baby's body.

Be willing to talk with and help women who go through with the abortion. The first step of healing is admitting that they have killed their own baby. If any are Catholic, try to help them get to Confession.

Remember: Even if you fail to convince a woman not to abort a baby on the day you speak with her you may be giving her information to prevent repeat abortions. 50 to 60 percent of all abortions are repeat abortions.

If you can't approach close enough to pass out literature don't hesitate to call out and invite women to come and talk with you. Babies have been saved in this way.

In order to prove the dangers of legal abortion it is valuable to see if there are any medical malpractice suits against your local abortionist. If you have time or a friend who can do it for you, go to your local courthouse and check court files for the names of the abortionists and the abortuary under the category "Defendants in Lawsuits". Any malpractice suit can be copied and used as evidence that abortion is not "safe and easy".

THE ROSARY

The time will come when you are tired and discouraged. Your words seem to fall on deaf ears and your efforts seem to be a waste of time. Keep praying the Rosary and don't give up; be assured that your prayers and sacrifices offered to God by Our Blessed Mother will be worthwhile. Tell your Father in heaven that you depend on His grace for success.

You can offer women Rosaries and ask them to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Expect at least one fourth of the women to be Catholics.

AVOIDING TROUBLE

Don't make physical contact with anyone, even lightly or in a friendly manner. Otherwise, you may be accused of harassment.

You can try speaking to women in the "third person" to avoid hostility. Example: This is an abortion clinic and today babies will be killed here - we want to help women by offering them alternatives to abortion. Do you know someone who is getting an abortion today? Would you please help us carry these signs and help these poor women so they will not have to ruin their lives?

You can speak aloud in a monologue about the evils of abortion. People will hear you and will listen. Don't shout in an alarming or hostile manner but speak loudly so you can be heard without being accused of yelling.

If anyone, especially an abortionist's employee, is violently hostile or threatening, walk away from them. If they seriously threaten you or touch you don't hesitate to call the police. You should protect the right to free speech for the benefit of all the other pro-life workers in the world. You have a duty to save these babies. Insist that the police protect you even if they are reluctant to do so. If you do not call the police when this happens it is likely that people will grow more aggressive.

It is a good idea to keep a journal off events, number of women turned away, any confrontations, or special events. Often it is essential to do this. Send the information to us and we will publish it somehow.

Write us if you have questions and we will answer you or refer you to someone who will.

SIGNS AND THE MEDIA

Signs can be useful if they don't turn women away from speaking with you. They are essential in areas where you cannot approach women but need to be seen from a distance. Get large cardboard boxes (try a bicycle shop) and if you have time paint the signs white before you letter them. [ Or you can get poster board from an art store.(added to original) ] Use black for the lettering and make large bold block letters for the words. Make your appeal simple and clear: e.g. PLEASE DON'T MURDER YOUR BABY or PLEASE DON'T KILL YOUR CHILD, HELP IS AVAILABLE or make up a sign that you think will reach the individual. Remember you are Sidewalk Counseling - not picketing.

ANY media coverage is good! That is why it is important to have easy to read signs. If TV media shows up make your actions simple and loud because only actions that are slow and exaggerated really show well on TV. Make every statement to the point: babies are being murdered! Babies are human! Don't let news people sidetrack you to less important issues. Remember : If you are interviewed for several minutes for TV or radio, only a few seconds will be used on the air. They will always use your weakest statement so make every one strong, simple, and refer to the babies in every sentence.

He will give light to those in darkness, those who dwell in the shadow of death.

God will give us the grace - the strength and the power - to save babies but we have to do the work that cooperates with His grace and it is very little work for the reward of an innocent human life. Some have told us "I save babies by praying the Rosary in the quiet of my own home!" We would never deny the power of prayer but remember the words of St. James: "Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation...And if a brother or sister be naked and want daily food: And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit? So faith also, if it have not works is dead in itself." We should put ourselves in the right place at the right time - that is at the abortuaries when the murders are happening - there is no other logical course of action.

PROLIFE LITERATURE IS AVAILABLE FOR A FEE. PLEASE WRITE TO:

CATHOLICS UNITED FOR LIFE

NEW HOPE, KENTUCKY 40052

It can be done-it is the shame of the pro-life movement that a massive movement of this type has not been made from the beginning. Let's not be arm chair pro-lifers anymore but people who are willing to make a sacrifice of time, comfort, and resources to give little babies life.