Operation Silence for Life is dedicated to getting its mission out to the public. Standing on Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue, members of the Cardinal Newman Center on Temple’s main campus wore red tape over their mouths and arms holding signs such as “Your Mom Chose Life.”
As students and residents of the community walked by, the organization’s members who kept their voice of the group explained their purpose of protesting.
“We are silenced and have tape over our mouths to be voiceless, to be in solidarity with the unborn and being aborted.” said Tim Judge, a Catholic missionary.
The Newman Center organization members stood on Broad Street from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Thursday, raising awareness about abortion and the emotional traumatic effects placed on a woman.
The group stood in a straight line passing out fliers, brochures and pamphlets giving out statistics and information about post-abortion effects and abortion rates within minority and poor communities.
Temple sophomore student Danielle Stanford felt that is was necessary to raise awareness not only about abortions but other alternatives.
“I think that people, especially women, should know that they have resources and people that they can confide in to help with them with such a touch decision,” said Stanford. “Broad and Cecil B. Moore is a great place to let that be know because we not only to we get to speak to Temple students, but we get to reach everyone.”
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2004 Hispanic women had 211 abortions per 1,000 live births while white women had 161 abortions per 1,000 births. African-American women’s rates of abortion were significantly higher than all over races with 472 abortions per 1,000 births. With resources and programs such as Planned Parenthood that helps many minority women prevent pregnancy with contraceptives in jeopardy with government funding, pro-life advocates fear that abortion may increase to an all-time high.
” Every life is worth living. Every life has dignity every life should be loved. Abortion should not be the alternative or solution,” said Tim Judge.
However, the group doesn’t want to just spread the message of pro-life, but it also wants to offer support to those who have had abortions as well.
“The handouts that I am passing out are from an organization called ‘Silent No More’ that is ran by a group of women who have had abortions,” said Ian VanNueson, a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. “They offer support groups to those in need.”
The handouts also stressed the importance of practicing safe sex as well as sexual education and clinics to plan for parenthood.
Despite the many onlookers and the skeptics of their cause, Judge said he feels that there overall message isn’t about judgment but instead compassion.
“The message that we want to communicate today is a message of love. We want people to know that mothers to be have there options besides abortion. They are not alone.”
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