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Youth of diocese pray for end to abortion outside Planned Parenthood

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
(Email Katie)

High school youth have lost part of their generation to abortion, said Karmen Bower, director of the Siouxland 40 Days for Life campaign, “so the prayers and witness of the youth at Planned Parenthood are especially powerful and compelling.”

“I find it to be really inspirational to see the example of prayer set by the students,” said Karmen Bower, assistant diocesan director of religious education and family life. “40 Days for Life is founded on prayer and I thought that the students exhibited this well. I am excited to see the growth of new leaders who are witnessing to the Gospel of life.”

During 40 Days for Life and at other times of the year, students from throughout the Diocese of Sioux City have prayed at Planned Parenthood for the end of abortion.

St. Mary’s, Spalding
On Sept. 28, students from Spalding Catholic in Granville traveled to Sioux City to pray outside Planned Parenthood and on Oct. 12, Remsen St. Mary’s students prayed there long with a Catholic school from Hartington, Neb.

Before going to Planned Parenthood, the students from Remsen and Spalding attended Mass at the Carmelite Monastery in Sioux City.

Allison Hofman, a senior at Spalding in Granville, said that being pro-life is close to her heart and each child should have a chance to live.

“If those mothers stop and think about if they were the ones inside their mothers, they would want the chance to live and experience life,” she said. “I think it (praying at Planned Parenthood) is a good opportunity to express my being pro-life and pray for the unborn babies and that their mothers will have a change of heart.”

Remsen St. Mary’s sophomore, Mackenzie Phillips, thought that seeing the amount of people who were praying outside Planned Parenthood was amazing.

“I am a proud advocate for the unborn. Abortion is an atrocity that needs to come to an end,” said Phillips. “All life is sacred from conception to natural death and everyone needs to speak out for it.”

Amanda Nielsen, a freshman at St. Mary’s, decided to travel with the group of about half of her school to Sioux City because she thinks it is a good choice to try to convince women to save their babies.

“Everyone deserves a right to life,” she said. “We came here so we can speak for the children who don’t have a voice.”

Mary Arens, spiritual life director and theology teacher at St. Mary’s and Spalding, accompanied the students to Planned Parenthood.

“They get to put their faith into action,” she said. “By coming down here, they get to be right here when the children are being aborted and praying for them. They really become a witness for those who drive in and drive by.”

She hopes the students learn to “always be a voice for the voiceless. Sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zones to become that voice.”

Arens would like to see other schools praying at Planned Parenthood as well. She said their presence is important so that someday Planned Parenthood will be closed down.

“Hopefully if others see us being a witness, that will stir them to become a witness,” she said. “At this age it is rooted in them. When they leave the safe walls of St. Mary’s and Spalding they will head to colleges, universities and other cities and continue to spread the word that someday abortion will come to an end.”

Gehlen Catholic
Students from Gehlen Catholic in Le Mars have been praying on Monday evenings during 40 Days for Life at Planned Parenthood.

Gehlen seniors, Rachel Heuertz and Erica Gengler, have prayed at Planned Parenthood two Mondays during this 40 Days for Life to cover the spot that Gehlen Catholic had signed up for.

“It is an empowering event, and we feel that we could make a difference in people's lives by praying outside of Planned Parenthood,” said Heuertz. “We want to help end injustices to the unborn and bring awareness to the community about what Planned Parenthood does. We need people of faith to stand up and be active so we can change our society.”

Heuertz and Gengler also participate in prayers and Masses at school for pro-life issues.

Maria Valen, Gehlen Catholic English and theology teacher and Students for Life moderator, began recruiting students to go pray at Planned Parenthood when she became a teacher there three years ago.

“So few people out there really understand what Planned Parenthood is promoting and the general ‘culture of death’ atmosphere,” said Valen. “They think you can get a pregnancy test there, but they don't realize the other ‘services’ Planned Parenthood is really promoting. By getting students actively involved in praying at Planned Parenthood, I am able to explain more of what Planned Parenthood does, and they can discuss it with their parents and friends.”

She said that the more active they are in high school, the more active they will be in college, and later in life. 

“The youth are the future, and they are the ones who have the power to change the future,” said Valen.

She hopes the students gain awareness and respect.  They need to understand that it's about more than “just the baby.” 

“Of course, we want to save the life of the baby, but we also need to be concerned with the mothers, fathers, siblings, grandparents, etc.– abortion affects each one of them differently,” said Valen.  “I also hope it strengthens their faith and that they will pass on the importance of this experience to others.”