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Monthly Respect Life Mass/Rally Revived

While Washington, D.C., area pro-lifers are regularly picketing abortionist Earl McLeod’s Bethesda neighborhood, trying to pressure him to quit his murderous trade, Baltimore pro-lifers have begun a monthly picket in front of a Belair Road abortion mill at which McLeod is medical director.

On the morning of August 21, fifteen pro-lifers lined the roadway in front of Belair Beltway Plaza, which houses the Baltimore Women’s Medical Center.

Dark clouds threatened rain, but the rain held off until the sign-holding pro-lifers had recited the Rosary, led by Herb Haevler, and the Divine Mercy chaplet, led by Cathy Keller, of St. Steven’s, Bradshaw.

The reaction from passing motorists was overwhelmingly positive.  Many honked their horns or gave thumbs up in approval, and one driver shouted, “God bless you!”

Prior to the Rosary rally, the pro-lifers attended an 8:15 Respect Life Mass at nearby St. Joseph’s, Fullerton, celebrated by Pastor Kevin Schenning.

“I know some of you will be going to the Baltimore Women’s Medical Center,” said the homilist, seminarian Patrick Peach.

“You are doing it, not to be seen, but because it is a service for the Church and the community at large, but also for the men and women going into the center.

“Keep in your thoughts and prayers those men and women who are going in there; pray for their conversion,” he urged.

The Belair Road abortion mill, which is hidden away in a building in the rear of the shopping center, came to the attention of local pro-lifers when pro-lifers from Harrisburg, Pa., began coming down to picket it back in 1999.

They were specifically targeting McLeod, who performed abortions at Harrisburg’s Hillcrest abortion mill.  

The Harrisburgers also demonstrated in front of McLeod’s home, which was then in Potomac, Md.

Their leader, Ed Snell, helped Tony Magliano, pastoral associate at Shrine of the Little Flower Church, to begin a monthly Respect Life Mass and Rosary rally, which was held first at Little Flower and the Belair Road mill, then moved each month to a different church and nearby abortion mill.

After 2001, however, the monthly Mass and rally died out.

Mr. Magliano and Mr. Haevler recently decided to try to revive the practice, but stay at one church and one abortion mill.

Mr. Haevler, who is a member of St. Joseph’s pro-life committee, received permission for the Respect Life Mass from Pastor Schenning.

The August 21 Mass/rally is the third one since the event was restarted.

The Mass and rally are held on the third Saturday of every month, beginning with 8:15 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph’s Church, 8420 Belair Road.

For more information call Tony Magliano at 410-483-1700.