At 84, Pro-Life Leader Nellie Gray Marches On ("mother of the March for Life.")

HeadlineBistro.Com ^ | Dave Jolivet

[GonzoII]

by Dave Jolivet FALL RIVER, Mass. (CNS) -- Boston Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley once said some consider Nellie J. Gray the "(Rev.) Martin Luther King Jr. of the pro-life civil rights movement." "But to me," he added, "she's ... the Joan of Arc of the Gospel of life."

There are many other words to describe this 84-year-old champion of the unborn, but none are more accurate than "mother of the March for Life." For more than 35 years, Texas native Nellie J. Gray has been working unceasingly to end the slaughter of unborn children in the United States. And like any good mother, she sacrifices everything to protect her children.

Gray served as a corporal in the Women's Army Corps during World War II. She later earned a bachelor's degree in business and a master's in economics. She was an employee of the federal government for 28 years, working for the State Department and the Department of Labor, while attending Georgetown University Law School. Gray found herself practicing law before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a telephone interview with The Anchor, newspaper of the Diocese of Fall River, Gray said she wasn't a Catholic as a child, but "I had elements of the Catholic faith in my life." As a young woman, she encountered a priest who brought to light what the Catholic Church was about and he tutored her until she joined the church.

Gray said that in 1973 when the Supreme Court handed down its Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion virtually on demand, "I knew abortion was wrong, but I really didn't pay much attention to the ruling. ... I didn't think anyone would take it seriously."

[GonzoII]

Quite the lady!

[GonzoII]

"I received a call from the Knights of Columbus," she recalled. "...they explained their stance against abortion and needed a place to meet to discuss plans for a march. That place was my living room."

I didn't know the Knights started the March for Life!

[gopalingo]

what a wonderful person, there’s a special place for her in heaven!

[Elvina]

20,000 at the first march. So it has grown quite a bit. I am so impressed that Nellie is still out there every year!

[Sun]

I heard Nellie on EWTN Shortwave, and she sounds sooooo energetic. She probably has more energy than I do. :)

[mlizzy]

"Cirignano also credits Gray's efforts for inspiring other pro-life leaders, such as Judie Brown, president and founder of American Life League, and "every person who has ever prayed outside an abortion mill or worked in a center and saved a baby" --from the article.

Rock on, Nellie, rock on! What a wonderful woman indeed. I received an e-mail with a quote from Judie Brown (originally inspired by Nellie J. Gray) today regarding the pro-life cause:

"The most powerful position in defense of the human being at any time during his life, from the beginning of his biological beginning, is that of defending him as a person. In order to do that, however, one must be consistent. Pro-life people who described Scott Brown as pro-life are lying; they sold out to the political establishment long ago and no longer uphold the consistent principle of human rights due every single human being. This is the real tragedy. Scott Brown can be educated, but those with political blinders on, who are an integral part of the so-called pro-life movement, cannot because, apparently, they have chosen to deny truth. That is the biggest tragedy of all. We should pray for them.--Judie Brown

[GonzoII]

"Pro-life people who described Scott Brown as pro-life are lying"

Scott Brown certainly is more favorable to the prolife cause than Coakley. Any Catholic who voted for him (in order to satisfy his/her conscience regarding prolife) can certainly claim that he or she followed an informed conscience regarding the choice of two candidates who are both supportive of abortion but one less than the other.

[mlizzy]

[Judie Brown quote] "Pro-life people who described Scott Brown as pro-life are lying"

[GonzoII] Scott Brown certainly is more favorable to the prolife cause than Coakley. Any Catholic who voted for him (in order to satisfy his/her conscience regarding prolife) can certainly claim that he or she followed an informed conscience regarding the choice of two candidates who are both supportive of abortion but one less than the other.

[mlizzy] Judie Brown is simply saying that Scott Brown is not pro-life, and that those pro-lifers who voted for him, cannot attest to the fact he is (some have!). Of course, being a Catholic, it is fine if you vote for the lesser of two evils, and one should not feel guilty if that's the reason they voted for him. She does not repudiate that.

Judie Brown (all.org) writes a great deal as you probably know. She will no doubt have a fuller piece on this shortly. I look forward to reading it.

My daughter is on her way home from the Pro-Life March on Washington along with her cousin. It's a real shame EWTN was, for the most part, the only news outlet that seemed to know all these tens of thousands (was it hundreds of thousands?) of people gathered there. /sarc

[Coleus]

There were, I’d say, over 300,000 people at Friday’s march. It’s grown considerably and will continue to grow.

[Coleus]

Scott Brown on Abortion

Ninth Norfolk Republican (MA State Rep)

2005: Conscience-based opt out of post-rape contraception

Coakley's campaign ad says Brown "favors letting hospitals deny emergency contraception to rape victims."  It's true that in 2005, when the MA state Legislature was considering a bill to require hospitals to provide emergency contraception to rape victims, Brown introduced an amendment that would have let doctors and nurses opt out based on "a sincerely held religious belief" and refer patients elsewhere. It was similar to "conscience" provisions in federal legislation that would avoid forcing Catholic hospitals to provide abortion or contraception against the teachings of the church. Here's the language:

Brown amendment, Apr. 2005: "Nothing in this section shall impose any requirements upon any employee, physician or nurse of any facility t the extent that administering the contraception conflicts with a sincerely held religious belief. Said treating facility shall have in place a validated referral procedure policy for referring patients for administration of the emergency contraception." 

Source: FactCheck "Bay State Battle" AdWatch: 2010 MA Senate debate Jan 13, 2010

Provide info about emergency contraception to rape victims

Brown voted for a 2005 amendment to deny emergency contraception to rape victims, but Coakley's ad [on that subject] doesn't mention that when the amendment failed, Brown voted for the underlying bill anyway.  The most misleading part of the ad, though is not what the narrator says, but what appears on screen. As the contraception amendment is mentioned, viewers see the words, "Deny rape victims care." Emergency contraception is certainly a type of care. But the language on screen implies that Brown would support denial of even, say, treatment of injuries sustained in a rape.

That's far from the truth. The bill required that rape victims be provided with accurate information about emergency contraception and that they be offered it. Brown voted for the bill after unsuccessfully trying to carve out a religion exception. And there is nothing in the record that we are aware of to suggest that Brown ever supported denying any other type of care to victims of sexual assault.

Source: FactCheck "Bay State Battle" AdWatch: 2010 MA Senate debate Jan 13, 2010

Support legalized abortion, but not partial-birth abortion

Brown pointed out that he and Coakley both support legalized abortion. "Yet we have a very real difference," Brown said, "and the difference is I'm against partial-birth abortion, you're not."   "That's not right," Coakley shot back.  "Martha", Brown said, "with all due respect, you wrote an editorial that anyone can go online and find where you actually criticized partial-birth abortion, the fact that it's in fact not allowed. And we also have have a difference in that I don't believe that federal funding of abortion should be allowed, and I believe in a very strong parental consent notification law." In a 2007 op-ed article in the Quincy Patriot-Ledger, Coakley called a Supreme Court decision upholding a ban on late-term abortions "tragic." Source: WBUR article on 2010 MA Senate debate Jan 12, 2010

Supported by right-to-life groups for stem cell stance

Brown picked up the support of the Massachusetts Citizens for Life in this race, based on his position on issues including abortion, stem cells, and federal health legislation. He also opposes federal funding for abortion, supports strong parental consent rules for minors, and supports the ban on what opponents call partial-birth abortion.  "We're behind him,'' said John Rowe, chairman of the group's federal political action committee. "The pro-life vote is very important at this point. It can make a big difference.'' The group did not support Brown in 2004, when, during his campaign for state Senate, he noted his support for Roe v. Wade. But Rowe said he believes that Brown's position has evolved. "We always welcome people coming over to our side,'' he said. Brown issued a statement through a spokesman: "While this decision should ultimately be made by the woman in consultation with her doctor, I believe we need to reduce the number of abortions in America,'' he said. Source: Boston Globe on 2010 MA Senate debate Jan 4, 2010

Authored bill for 24-hour waiting period for abortion

Brown has angered abortion-rights groups with acts like his cosponsorship of the Women's Right to Know Act, which would require a woman to wait 24 hours before having an abortion and to review pictures and information detailing the developmental progress of her fetus.

Source: Boston Globe on 2010 MA Senate debate Jan 4, 2010

Abortions should always be legally available

Rep. Brown indicated he supports the following principles concerning abortion:
• Abortions should always be legally available.
• Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
• Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.

Source: Massachusetts State Legislative Election 2002 NPAT Nov 1, 2002

• Click here for definitions & background information on Abortion.
• Click here for a profile of Scott Brown.
• Click here for SenateMatch answers by Scott Brown.
• Agree? Disagree? Voice your opinions on Abortion in The Forum.
• Click here for a summary of Scott Brown's positions on all issues.
• Click here for issue positions of other Ninth Norfolk politicians.

[Coleus]

 

 

    

 

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[Dr. North]

Scott Brown: "Abortions should always be legally available"

That renders him unfit to hold office.

[dcwusmc]

No, it means he needs to be educated some more to complete his transformation to the light. He seems to have evolved some already. He appears to be a work in progress. Unlike Coakely, Brown seems willing to learn. You want to toss THAT away? Especially in Taxachusetts??? Get real, pal.