Recently, I was asked to speak at the Church of St. Joseph of the Holy Family. After setting up a recruitment tabletop during the children’s and adult Masses, I spoke about my pro-life story and work at Students for Life of America (SFLA) at the end of Mass announcements.   

Unsurprisingly, six to eight people got up and walked out of the church. This is to be expected, given that abortion is a sensitive and hot topic for many people, even religious churchgoers. After my speech, the congregation applauded, and I sat down in the pew. While people were inspired to get involved, speeches like mine inspire pushback. When this happens, it is an opportunity to change hearts and minds.   

Two women asked how they could support and donate to SFLA online, and three women bravely shared their abortion stories with me and the regret they carry. One woman gave me a big hug and told me that it was her son’s birthday, who died 13 days after he was born.  

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Another lady confided in me that she had an abortion 50 years ago, and she still thinks about her baby every day.   

As I said, there are those who oppose the message of life due to their hurt, their upbringing, or their immoral convictions. While speaking to a choir member about the dangers of eugenics, a woman in a mask and dark sunglasses looked eager to talk to me.   

When we went to the back of the church, she lectured me on how “inappropriate” it was that I came to “her church.”   

I chuckled and asked her, “What exactly was inappropriate about me attending church today?”    

She shot back. “I don’t know if you noticed, but you made multiple women cry during your speech, and they walked out of the church.”   

As emotional of a topic as abortion is, it can’t be a reason for not speaking the truth about the horrors of this barbaric practice. However, my speech wasn’t about putting women down or shaming them for having abortions.   

My goal is simple: to let people know that there are resources in their community and that if they want to get involved in the pro-life movement, I am here to assist them.   

This made the woman even more furious. She raised her voice, insisted I should’ve given a warning, and even went as far as to say I was condoning incest and rape.   

I looked at her in absolute shock.   

Still, I remained composed, reminding her that the women crying was because of the hurt from abortion and not from me. I even asked her, “What do you think Jesus would say about abortion?” She refused to answer and threatened to report me to the parish priests despite them permitting me to speak.   

My question to those who want to walk on eggshells with the truth is this: How are we supposed to help abortion-minded women if we are too afraid to even speak about it?  

Being a Christian is not easy. It requires major sacrifice and self-reflection. Following Jesus requires following His teachings and taking ownership of our sins and their consequences. Christians can’t just pick and choose what parts of Christianity they want to follow.   

It makes me frustrated and sad that many Christians are like the bitter woman I encountered. Christians must be at the forefront of the pro-life movement. Churches should be a safe place for women who have found themselves in an unintended pregnancy.   

Although this woman irritated me, my heart broke for her. I knew she could have some shame and guilt on her end that she took out on me. If that is the case, I hope she heals.   

At SFLA, we provide abortive resources for women without judgment. We want women to know that there is forgiveness and healing after abortion. We can try to cover up evil, but it will still be there. God sees and hears everything that we do and think. This encounter inspired me to keep going to these churches and speaking up for the voiceless, and I hope to return to St. Joseph’s and other churches across New York.   

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