Conflicting Strategies and TacticsWithin the Pro-Life Movement

Purity (“no exceptions” vs. pragmatism).Single issue vs. multi-issue.Being “nice” vs. being direct.Violence vs. non-violence.Abortifacients and contraception.Sanctions against aborting women.

The Definitions of“Stress” and “Strain”

Stress is the external or internal pressure on a person.

Strain is the tension the person suffers in response to stress.

Sources of External Indirect Stress

• Pro-abortionists• Self-styled “women’s rights” groups• Bogus “civil rights” groups• Organized homosexuals• Euthanasiasts• The “arts community”• Pornographers• Legislatures and courts• The biased “mainstream” media• Indifferent or hostile clergy

Sources of External Direct Stress

• Family members.• Well-meaning friends.• Co-workers.• Pastors and fellow churchgoers.

Sources of Internal Stress

Unrealistic self-imposed deadlines and standards.Doubts about one’s own ability, qualities and

motivations.Doubts regarding the philosophy, goals and

methods of the pro-life movement.

Temporary burnout.Strained family relationships.Irritability and impatience.Excessive fatigue and/or problems getting to

sleep.A persistent sense of doom or impending

disaster and/or preoccupation with abortion-related subjects.

Symptoms of Temporary or Less Severe Strain

• Increased low-level chronic illness.• Loss of perspective resulting in one or more of

the following:– The “Messiah Complex.”–A feeling of personal worthlessness.–Belief that the pro-life movement is failing.–Anger or irritation at uninvolved churches

and individuals.

Symptoms of Temporary or Less Severe Strain

Symptoms of Permanentor More Severe Strain

Flameout (permanent burnout).Hostility towards former movement and pro-life

friends and, in very rare cases, conversion to pro-abortionism (politicians only).

Seeking approval or solace outside established norms of Christian behavior (i.e., adultery or fornication).

How to Beat Stress and Strain

Pray and contemplate the eternal context.Decrease the time spent on pro-life activism.Transfer to a less stressful activity.Take a short vacation from pro-life activities.Cultivate a sense of humor.Spend time on an unrelated hobby.Consult with a pro-life spiritual advisor on a regular

basis.Have social get-togethers with pro-life friends.Annual pro-life retreats.

The Third Foundation Stoneof Christian Activism:

Information

Information AllowsPro-Life Activists to;

• Answer objections to the pro-life philosophy.• Rebut the most common pro-abortion slogans.• Know the principles of the Church’s teaching on

abortion.• Outline and understand the pro-life mission.• Know the strategies and tactics of the pro-life and

anti-life movements.• Know how to deal with stress and strain.

What Information Must You Know?

“I have six kids. The Church doesn’t care if I get sterilized.”

“We want to have more kids, but my husband had a vasectomy.”

“80 percent of all abortions are for rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.”

• “Vatican II said we can use our consciences now on birth control and abortion.”

• “The birth control pill is a contraceptive. It doesn’t cause abortions.”

• “We can’t have more kids now because we’re forty. There’s a 30% chance of Down’s Syndrome.”

What Information Must You Know?

What Kind of InformationMust You Be Able to Find?

Where does the Red Cross stand on abortion?How much does a vasectomy reversal cost? What are the

chances of success?What is Planned Parenthood’s involvement in eugenics?How have native peoples of North America, Africa and

Australia been decimated by aggressive population control programs?

Is it true that abortifacients such as Norplant and Depo-Provera were tested on poor women in developing countries before they were approved for use by European and North American women?

Leading Pro-Life Periodicals

The Importance ofGathering Intelligence

“I have studied the enemy all my life. I have read the memoirs of his generals and his leaders. I have even read his philosophers and listened to his music. I have studied in detail the account of every damned one of his battles. I know exactly how he will react under any given set of circumstances. And he hasn’t got the slightest idea of when I’m going to whip the hell out of him.”

Anticipate and counter anti-life initiatives.Take advantage of anti-life weaknesses.Surprise and confuse opponents during formal debates,

litigation and political campaigns.Write appealing letters to newspapers.Write interesting newsletter articles.Use in testimony regarding legislation.Use in lawsuits against anti-life groups.Share with other pro-life groups.

The Many Uses of Intelligence

Strategic and Tactical Intelligence

Tactical intelligence is specific pieces of time-sensitive date about particular anti-life groups and individuals that, when pulled together, provide information that you can use to defeat them on the local level.

Strategic intelligence is knowledge that will never go out of date. It includes information on how the anti-life groups organize and operate, where their support lies, where their money comes from, and how they motivate people to take action.

Sources of Tactical Intelligence

Anti-life newsletters, Web sitesand gathering places such asleft-wing bookstores.

Local newspapers.Anti-life organizations. Other pro-life/pro-family groups and individuals. Compile dossiers.

An Example of Anti-LifersGathering Intelligence on Us

Sources of Strategic Intelligence

The Fourth Foundation Stone of Christian Activism:

Prayer

What is the Interior Life?

“The state of activity of a soul which strives against its natural inclinations in order to regulate them, and endeavors to acquire the habit of judging and directing its movements in all things according to the light of the Gospel and the example of Our Lord.”

–– Father Jean-Baptiste Chautard.

What is Prayer?

“[Prayer is] the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God out of the depths of a humble and contrite heart ... A battle against ourselves and against the wiles of the tempter who does all he can to turn man away from prayer, away from union with God. ... The “spiritual battle” of the Christian’s new life is inseparable from the battle of prayer.”

— Catechism of the Catholic Church, ¶2558-2559, 2725].

The Four Types of Prayer

AdorationContritionThanksgivingSupplication

How to Pray

With undivided attention.With reverence.With humility.With a great thirst for God’s graces.With complete trust in God’s goodness.With perseverance.With sincerity.With a worthy objective.

Some Possible Prayer Intentions

General IntentionsFor the pro-life movementFor wisdom and strength for officialsFor a spirit of courage for the ChurchSpecific IntentionsFor personal fortitude and prudenceFor wise leadership for your groupFor clarity of vision from GodFor conversion of population controllers and specific

pro-abortionists and abortionists“Not for a lighter load, but for a stronger back”

Fortifying Your Interior Life

Above all, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Sacrament of Confession. Eucharistic adoration. Avoid near occasions of sin! Practice custody of the heart. Have a good spiritual director. Make a prayer schedule. Do frequent pious reading. Daily examinations of conscience. Retreats. Penance and self-mortification.

The Benefits of aHealthy Interior Life

Stronger defense against Satan.An increase in God’s grace.Compete transformation of soul.Resignation to the will of God.Increased spiritual strength.Fulfillment of our duty towards God.More effective action.Sanctification of others by our example.

Satan’s General Attacks

Dread

Disorder/Disorganization

Discouragement/Despair

Deception

Diversion/Distraction

Division

Satan’s Particular Attacks

“The conduct of our enemy may be compared to the tactics of a leader intent upon seizing a position he desires. A commander of an army will explore the defenses of a stronghold, and attack at the weakest point. In the same way, the enemy of our human nature investigates from every side all our virtues, theological, cardinal, and moral. Where he finds the defenses of eternal salvation weakest, there he attacks and tries to take us by storm.”

–– Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises.

Am I Making Progressin My Interior Life?

An increase in proper desires for...

The Gospels and holy books. Mental prayer and the spiritual life. The Sacraments. The truth. Picking up our daily crosses.

Rigorous custody of the heart. Active spiritual combat. Frequent self-examination. Penance and self-mortification. Mistrust of self.

Am I Making Progressin My Interior Life?

… leads to an increase in proper actions ...

Peace of soul and true patience. Willingness to defend the Faith. Pardon of all transgressions. Unwillingness to compromise with evil. Practice of the cardinal and theological virtues.

Am I Making Progressin My Interior Life?

… leads to an increase in proper results.

... be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that, in the Lord, your labor is not in vain.

― 1 Corinthians 15:58.

Brian ClowesHuman Life International4 Family Life LaneFront Royal, Virginia USATelephone: (540) 636-1106E-mail address: bclowes@hli.orgWeb site: http://www.hli.org