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October 6, 2008

Life Chain participants pray for end to abortion

Demonstrators link annual event to presidential race

By DAN HEATH

PLATTSBURGH -- About 140 people lined the southern portion of Smithfield Boulevard for an hour Sunday to show staunch support for the anti-abortion movement.

Life Chain participants held slogan signs such as "Abortion Kills Children" and "Abortion Hurts Women" as they lined the side of the road from Route 3 to near the entrance to Champlain Centre. Numerous car horns honked in support as traffic passed on a cloudy but pleasant afternoon.

Champlain Valley Right to Life Co-Director Wanda Gaffney said the local Life Chain is in its 15th year. It is even more important this year due to the upcoming presidential election, she said.

"On a personal basis, I support the pro-life candidates, whoever they are and whichever party they are in," Gaffney said. "If you're Christian, you should support the life and teachings of Christ."

She's concerned that if Sen. Barack Obama is elected, measures such as the Freedom of Choice Act could become law. The act's supporters seek to make the provisions of Roe v. Wade federal law, and prohibit any level of government from interfering with a woman's right to bear a child or terminate a pregnancy.

That would eliminate measures since enacted to require parental notification for abortions for women under the age of consent and the ban on partial-birth abortions, Gaffney said.

Contacted at their annual gala celebration, Northern Adirondack Planned Parenthood CEO Kathie Wunderlich and Director of Public Relations and Marketing Martha Stahl said the Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act is a similar act that has been introduced by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

It would codify the protections found in Roe v. Wade in New York state law, so they would remain if the Supreme Court decision was overturned. Stahl said it would also take New York abortion law out of the penal code and update it to reflect modern medical practices.

"It is somewhat weird for what should be a health code to be in the penal code," she said.

Wunderlich said she believes the issue goes beyond abortion.

"It goes to the ability to have control of one's reproductive health and reproductive decisions."

It's important to note that those opposed to abortion should be supportive of contraception and education, she said, but that is often not the case. She said women should have access to medically accurate information so they know about their bodies and are able to control their fertility.

Josephine Garrant of Plattsburgh said taking part in the Life Chain is something she has to do.

"I believe very deeply children must be protected. If there aren't any children, there isn't any future," she said. "We'll never see what these little ones could become. They could be our future lawyers or even president -- you never know."

Mary Ellen Cleveland of Plattsburgh said she was there to stand up for all the rights of the unborn. She said while people talk about stopping the genocide in Darfur, more should talk about stopping the infanticide taking place in the United States.

"Someone needs to come forward and stand up for the unborn, who can't speak for themselves."

The upcoming election is one of her main priorities, and she supports the Pro-Life Republican ticket.

"I'm really pleased with Sarah Palin and her stance for life," Cleveland said.

She wants to see abortion abolished, whether that's done at the state or federal level. Cleveland said voting for anti-abortion candidates increases that likelihood.

"By voting pro-life, we are apt to put people on the Supreme Court who will clean up this act."

dheath@pressrepublican.com

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