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Ravens' Matt Birk speaks up for life
The Catholic Review ^ | March 16, 2011 | George P. Matysek Jr.

Posted on 03/16/2011 6:09:28 AM PDT by MDJohnPaul

Planned Parenthood almost seemed like a permanent fixture in the Minnesota community where Baltimore Raven Matt Birk grew up. Located just two miles from his home in St. Paul, the abortion clinic operated for three straight decades.

Then, the godfather of one of Birk’s five children opened a pro-life pregnancy resource center across the street from the clinic. People of faith began praying regularly for women and their unborn children – participating in sidewalk counseling and providing help for women to bring their children to term. Adrianna, Birk’s wife, volunteered at the center.

Thanks to their efforts, the abortion clinic closed.

For Birk, a six-time Pro Bowl center who has not missed a game during his two seasons in Baltimore, the episode demonstrated the power of prayer and pro-life outreach. It confirmed his longtime support for the pro-life cause.

Birk was a featured speaker at the Maryland March for Life, held March 14 in Annapolis. In his talk and in an interview with The Catholic Review, the 34-year-old Harvard alum said his Catholic faith and his own fatherhood are two main reasons he is pro-life. He remembered being overwhelmed when he held his first newborn child.

“It was unbelievable the love that I felt for her,” he said, “and any parent knows exactly what I’m talking about. At that point, you know it’s not a choice. Life is a gift that’s given to us. We are supposed to accept it. It’s not our choice whether we decide a baby lives or not.”

Birk, who attends Mass at Sacred Heart in Glyndon and the Catholic Community of St. Francis Xavier in Hunt Valley, said he has “done a lot of cool things," but participating in the March for Life is “one of the coolest things I’ve done.”

(Excerpt) Read more at catholicreview.org ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; General Discusssion; Moral Issues
KEYWORDS: abortion; catholic; nfl; prolife; ravens

1 posted on 03/16/2011 6:09:32 AM PDT by MDJohnPaul
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To: MDJohnPaul

Thank you for sharing this bit of good news with us this morning.


2 posted on 03/16/2011 6:15:05 AM PDT by constitutiongirl (Forgive me, a sinner.)
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To: MDJohnPaul
his Catholic faith and his own fatherhood are two main reasons he is pro-life.

God Bless Matt Birk. I share those reasons, and, in fact, can't imagine why any parent would not be pro-life.

3 posted on 03/16/2011 6:16:02 AM PDT by End Times Sentinel (In Memory of my Dear Friend Henry Lee II)
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To: MDJohnPaul

Nearly 1000 people (and I believe more than one Bishop) and the Baltimore Sun gives no mention of the Maryland March For Life except in the sports section because Matt Birk was there.

Mr. Birk was awesome! No big entourage-just drove himself there. Stayed till the very very end to take pics with everybody.

Was first very upset that the union goons were able to take away the normal (for 30 years) location but then was happy as the new location near the water is awesome!


4 posted on 03/16/2011 6:23:29 AM PDT by icwhatudo ("laws requiring compulsory abortion could be sustained under the constitution"-Obama official)
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To: MDJohnPaul

Ping for later


5 posted on 03/16/2011 7:28:35 PM PDT by BlackElk (Dean of Discipline, Tomas de Torquemada Gentlemen's Club: Burn 'em Bright!!!)
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To: MDJohnPaul

For a lot of years, we Minnesotans have seen much to admire and be proud of in Matt.


6 posted on 03/21/2011 2:59:26 PM PDT by rhema ("Break the conventions; keep the commandments." -- G. K. Chesterton)
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