Life Chains held in several communities of diocese

By JoANN AMMANN, Globe Intern
October 5, 2004

This past Sunday, pro-life supporters participated in a National Life Chain in over 1,200 cities across North America, including Sioux City and several other towns in the diocese.

Terri and Dave Prenger of Carroll have been involved with pro-life organizations for most of their 32 years of marriage and were participants in Sunday's event.

"Most people don't realize that abortion is legal and available throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy, even in Iowa," said Terri Prenger. "We must keep praying and trying. Praying for the birth mothers, fathers and families, and also for the doctors, nurses and clinic workers who are mindlessly throwing away their own souls on a daily basis. They truly need our prayers."

The Prengers began their pro-life support with a not so typical start.

"We started out as foster parents working with Catholic Charities in the newborn adoption area," said Terri Prenger. "We would care and love the babies as if they were our own, until the final decision was made on who would be parenting the child. We did this for 14 years and loved every child deeply."

Participants from across Sioux City also gathered on Hamilton Boulevard to show their pro-life support.

Cathy Martin, a member of Immaculate Conception in Sioux City, has been involved for 10 years.

"I have adopted three children. I thank God everyday that their mother loved them enough to give them up for adoption," Martin said. "My children mean the world to me and it's important that people are willing to let them be adopted. Life Changes is a way for people to be witnesses to the unborn children as a way to stand up for them, and that every life is precious."

Also supporting pro-life and attending the event was Bonnie Hickman from Blessed Sacrament Parish of Sioux City. She is also this year's president of the Sioux City branch of the organization Right-to-Life.

"Through Siouxland Right-to-Life, I have been involved with this about 15 years. After my husband and I retired we wanted to get involved in Right-to-Life," said Hickman. "We are trying to promote everything we can to save the babies."

Robert and Sandra Pigott of Immaculate Conception were also on hand for Sunday and have been participants for the past 10 years.

"We first heard about it through the parish," said Robert Pigott. "We used to have a large number of people out here filling almost the entire block."

The Pigotts, grandparents of seven, say that this event makes them feel like they are doing something to save the children.

"A lot of people have been positive and wave in support of what we are doing, even a lot of young people," said Robert Pigott.

"A gentleman walked by and said 'Thank you for doing that and God bless you'," said Sandra Pigott. "I wish we could get more people involved, I think it really makes a difference."

Algona also 82 participants at their event. Father Victor Ramaeker, pastor at St. Michael Church in Whittemore and St. Joseph Church in Bode, was also there.

"I was very pleased. The numbers were not as high as they were in the past but one does what one can. There are people, to my great surprise, who still don't get it that this is what abortion does," said Fr. Ramacker. "You just can't believe that they are still saying that. People drive by and honk and give thumbs up and wave and encourage, but I'm saying just stop and spend and hour with us."

Also participating on Sunday was the Respect Life group from Fort Dodge. The event had about 120 participants, many were students from St. Edmond's. Carroll also had a large group of participants with around 175 people, with over half of them teenagers and grade-school students.

"This experience shows that abortion is not just a "grown-up" issue," said Katie Little, junior at St. Edmond High School. "It affects all of us from babies to the elderly."