All ages attend anti-abortion event
By Lee Ann Gill - editorial@nwherald.com
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| Hernando Tapia (right), 11, stands with a sign Sunday outside St. Mary Catholic Church in McHenry. Tapia was at a Life Chain event with his aunt Elsa Boettcher and her children Richie, 10, and Faith, 5 months. (Nick Dentamaro – ndentamaro@nwherald.com) |
McHENRY – Richie Boettcher admitted that he would rather have been watching the Bears game Sunday.
But at age 10, he said he wanted to help get out the anti-abortion message.
“I don’t like abortion; I want people to be happy,” said Richie, walking up and down Route 120 carrying a sign that read, “Abortion Hurts Women.”
Dozens of anti-abortion supporters lined the intersection of Route 120 and Richmond Road on Sunday, carrying signs and hoping to get their message out.
The Life Chain event was part of National Life Chain Sunday to honor Respect For Life Month.
“People see that we’ve got our kids, and that we really want life,” said Richie’s mom, Elsa Boettcher of McHenry, with her 5-month-old daughter Faith asleep in a baby carrier next to her.
The event is one way to get the word out about their cause, said Karen Verr of McHenry.
The Life Chain went on without dissension – only random honks of support by some passers-by.
“It does change the hearts and minds of people,” Verr said. “People come and tell us, ‘I was going to abort my baby, and I didn’t [after witnessing the Life Chain].’ ”
“The pro-life movement – that’s my passion because each baby who’s born is unique,” said Betty Davis of McHenry. “It is a baby that’s in there – it’s not just a thing.”
Other Life Chains in the county went on in Harvard, Crystal Lake and Richmond on Sunday.
“I don’t think that anybody ever regretted keeping their child,” said Stephanie Diedrich of McHenry. “It always works out.”
Pregnant women in crisis can turn to First Way Life Support in Johnsburg for assistance, Verr said. The center counsels, educates and supports pregnant women.
“Maybe their parents say, ‘You can’t do that; you have to abort,’ ” Verr said. “We believe in placing them in families. We’re trying to develop the whole moral attitude through the kids.”
First Way offers classes and counseling and can provide shelter for a pregnant mom in an abusive situation, she said. Information is available by calling 815-385-2999.
Although they did not protest the Life Chain event, McHenry County Citizens for Choice was out at a recent Diversity Day event educating people about abortion rights.
“There are very vocal anti-choice groups in the county,” Chairwoman Mary Ewert said. “It’s a local voice for choice, and I think it’s time we had a voice on this side.”
