October 10, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) — When the videos exposing the dealing in baby body parts came out last year, many of us thought Planned Parenthood’s time had come. Surely, Congress and the states would act upon what appeared to be indisputable evidence of wrongdoing. Surely, the mammoth abortion provider would be defunded, and its reputation irreparably destroyed among decent people.
And yet this demise did not happen. The whole liberal establishment kicked in to defend the abortion provider and “kill the messenger.” Much of the media looked the other way and treated it as “non-news.” Courts came to its aid and even restored some of its funding. Today, Planned Parenthood carries on its grisly business as usual.
In the face of such an outcome, it is easy to be discouraged. It seems we have hit a dead-end street. Planned Parenthood does not bow before anyone. It appears no power on earth can dislodge them from their nefarious work.
However, there is a power that can: God and His Blessed Mother.
Countless pro-lifers have experienced little miracles that unexpectedly happen during their struggle against the abortion giant. They have seen babies suddenly saved and clinics inexplicably closed. To us, they appear as indirect “miracles” that are believed by souls with faith. But miracles, when Planned Parenthood was defeated directly by the Blessed Mother, are hard to prove.
There was an incident involving Planned Parenthood and Our Lady in which it can be more easily proven that she did win. That story needs to be told so that we might believe such interventions possible. It is taken from accounts of eyewitnesses who were there.
It happened in May 1978. Planned Parenthood distributed a small comic book called “Abortion Eve,” which promoted and abortion. On the back cover of the booklet was a cartoon drawing which mocked Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the United States. It was a distorted portrayal of the Blessed Mother in an advanced state of pregnancy, with the face of the character from Mad Magazine with the caption: “What? Me Worry?”
Offended Catholics soon took notice of the booklet, and the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) started to organize a protest against it. The plan was to mobilize people on Saturday, May 13, for a massive street protest at Planned Parenthood’s main headquarters on Seventh Avenue in New York City.
On the appointed day, Catholics gradually trickled in for the protest. The first arrivals were apprehensive, but as people arrived, they became more confident. Eventually, some 1,500 Catholics gathered to hear speakers denouncing the booklet and demanding an apology. The militant Catholics could also be seen praying and kneeling in front of Planned Parenthood’s offices as if they owned the street. There was a certain grace and joy present that comes from doing one’s duty and defending the honor of Mary Most Holy.
However, as the protest developed, people noticed a lot of activity inside the PP office. The staff was clearly agitated and concerned. At a certain point, people from Planned Parenthood came out and started to distribute leaflets to those in the crowd. Of course, the worse was expected: they were going to defend their blasphemy.
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However, what happened was exactly the contrary. Mighty Planned Parenthood issued an unqualified apology to all Catholics for the offense they had given in spreading the blasphemous comic. To the jubilant crowd on busy Seventh Avenue, one of the speakers read the apology printed on the flyers that said: “We offer an unqualified apology and restate our public repudiation of the cartoon itself and the philosophies underlying it.”
That is to say, Planned Parenthood was defeated in this case and forced to bow before the power of Our Lady. Our Lady clearly won.
This victory clearly stands out as a lesson for us all. It needs to be remembered during times of discouragement. It needs to be imitated when all other recourses are exhausted. It teaches us that we are not alone in our fight against all odds, against this giant of seemingly limitless resources and political power.
Indeed, even Planned Parenthood can be defeated if we call upon stronger forces. However, we must storm heaven with our prayers and protests. We must be out there on the Seventh Avenues, Fifth Avenues, or wherever God’s honor is offended. We must be the Catholics that we should be, boldly defending God’s law.
John Horvat II is a scholar, researcher, educator, international speaker, and author of the book Return to Order, as well as the author of hundreds of published articles. He lives in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania where he is the vice president of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property.