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Heartland Christian Church Demands Peaceful Pro-Life LifeChain Participants Leave

 By Kathleen Gilbert

ROCKFORD, IL, October 6, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In a sad irony, the huge stretch of over 500 Rockland, IL pro-lifers participating in the annual LifeChain met the fiercest opposition, not from the infamous Rockland abortion mill nearby, but from the area's largest Christian church.  The Heartland Community Church of Rockland attempted to prevent the participants in this year's LifeChain from spending one hour of anti-abortion protest near its property. 

Part of the LifeChain extended past the new Heartland church, which recently bought a facility in close proximity to LifeChain's usual position on Alpine Road. Lifechain had spread its members along the sides of the road, peacefully and quietly holding non-graphic pro-life signs with slogans such as "abortion kills children."  The Rockford pro-life community has participated in the national Lifechain witness for fifteen years.

One of LifeChain's coordinators, Kevin Rilott, told Lifesitenews.com about the rainy Sunday afternoon, relating how the black rainclouds suddenly parted and the sun broke through at 2 p.m., just a few moments before the hour-long protest officially began. 

Unfortunately, said Rilott, "one dark cloud remained."

An employee of the nearby church, Mr. Walter Scott, approached one section of the chain and demanded that they leave the premises.  The protesters responded that they had only gathered to quietly oppose the actions of the Rockford abortion clinic just a few miles down the road.

"The pro-lifers explained they were simply praying for one hour for the lives of God's children in danger," said Rilott.  But Scott responded that Heartland "does not support your message," and continued to insist that the pro-lifers leave, despite the fact that they were standing on public property.  Mr. Scott "also had had some unkind remarks about 'abortion protesters,'" said Rilott.

Some pro-life advocates left the area, unaware that Mr. Scott's accusations of trespassing were false. 

Repeated attempts to contact Heartland Community Church for comment were unanswered by press time.

"The silence and fear of Churches like this is the reason the holocaust of child killing continues in our city," said Donna Modica, a member of the Lifechain.  "They are silent and try to silence those who work for life as children are killed in their own backyard." 
 
"One day the leaders of Heartland Church will be asked by Jesus about the thousands of children who have been murdered at Rockford's abortion mill just down the street from their mega-mall Church," added Rilott.

"As they remain silent and attempt to silence pro-lifers the question does not go away - 'Whatever you do to the least of My people, you do unto Me.'"

Rockland's Northern Illinois Women's Center (NIWC) is now notorious for its extreme harassment against pro-life advocates.  LifeSiteNews.com has reported several disturbing incidents involving NIWC, including the display in the abortuary's window of a toy chicken "crucified" next to a nun figure in a coffin.  (See http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/may/08050717.html).

To contact Heartland Community Church:
1280 S. Alpine Rd.
Rockford, IL
61108
Phone:(815)395-8000
E-mail:

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

Sacrilegious Display Continues Disturbing Pattern of Hate at Rockford Abortuary
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/may/08050717.html

Rockford Pro-Lifers Sue City for "Arbitrary, Capricious and Invidious Censorship" of Pro-life Message
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/apr/08041405.html

Pro-Lifer Violently Assaulted Outside Abortion Clinic, Police Take Time After Repeat 911 Calls
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/aug/07082310.html

CAUGHT ON VIDEO: Abortion Clinic Escorts Sexually Abuse Praying Pro-Life Activists
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/nov/07113002.html

Abortionist Inflicts Demonic Psycho-terror on Pro-life Protestors in Vienna
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jan/08012515.html

Learn more about the situation in Rockford:
http://www.prolifecorner.com

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