23 May 2011

By Raymond Billy | Resonate NewsSteve Curry, a deacon at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler, has been staging anti-abortion demonstrations outside of Tyler's Planned Parenthood office for two years.
                                  Photo By Raymond Billy/Resonate News

TYLER, Texas — Two days after Texas ratified a bill requiring women seeking abortions to receive ultrasounds, some East Texas opponents of abortion weren't resting on their laurels. Instead, a group of them protested on the sidewalk Saturday along Broadway Avenue in front of Planned Parenthood, the organization which provides contraception, medical services and abortions at nearly 1,000 locations nationwide. The group has held demonstrations on the third Saturday of each month for two years.

John Powers, 34, drove for more than an hour from Maydelle, Texas, to participate in the demonstration. He said people have underestimated the seriousness of abortion for too long and he hopes to be a part of changing that reality.

“My parents' generation dropped the ball on this and my generation did nothing. Maybe the next generation will do better,” said Powers, who took his children with him to the demonstration.

Steve Curry, a deacon at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, initiated the protests. He said he hopes to disabuse people of the notion that life begins at birth.

“When abortion was legalized by the Supreme Court, I didn't understand the implications. I didn't believe abortion would become common because I didn't think many people would do such a thing,”  said Curry, 52, as he took a break from his protest to be interviewed by Resonate News. “When I was a kid, I was taught that life begins at conception as basic biology.”

Curry said even though most Tylerites likely share his opinion on abortion, he believes his protests are worthwhile because most people give tacit approval to the procedure by their inaction. “Why has abortion gone on for 30-plus years? It's because we've become complacent,” Curry said.

Diana Pritchard, 48, agreed that many would-be supporters of the anti-abortion cause have not joined the campaign against the practice.

“We're all so busy with what we're doing that I think many of us overlook the fact that babies are being killed while we go about our lives,” said Pritchard, a caseworker in Tyler for the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services.

But, even in Christianity-dominated Tyler — which is also politically conservative — some residents are hostile to the abortion activist's efforts, said Richard Hurzeler, 76, a retired university professor.

“I've had women stop and yell at me. Not everyone agrees with what we're doing. Some are very angry,” he said.

Anti-abortion demonstrators stand outside Tyler's Planned Parenthood office on Saturday.
                         Photo By Raymond Billy/Resonate NewsBut, Hurzeler said, the opposition doesn't bother him so much as the people who are apathetic to abortion.

“I want to make people begin to think about the fact that human life counts,” he said. “I'm praying for the people who believe abortion is no big deal.”

Pritchard said she became involved with the demonstrations after learning of them from Curry at the Catholic church. She said her faith is not what motivated her to take part in the initiative. The value she places on human life, she said, is what galvanized her to participate.

“I'm focused on women facing the decision of whether to have an abortion. I want them to know there are other alternatives,” Pritchard said.

Pritchard said she knows a woman who had an abortion in high school. She said the woman suffers from depression and mourns for “the baby she doesn't have.” Pritchard said she hopes her demonstration doesn't add to the sorrow of women who have had abortions.

“I don't want anyone to feel shamed by this. I hope any woman who has had an abortion would be able to come to terms with what they've done. But, we're not trying to condemn anyone,” Pritchard said. “This is a prayerful gathering.”

Hurzeler said he's pleased with the ultrasound bill that was signed into law by Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday. He said he hoped seeing images of a fetus would cause some women who are leaning toward abortion to change their minds. But, he said he isn't counting on administrative hurdles to put the kind of curb on the procedure that would bring its demise.

“Some people try to stop abortion by changing the government or by changing the law. But, we want to change hearts and minds one person at a time,” he said.

---