Valor in the Line of Duty?

I was blessed with the opportunity to attend a Chicago City Council meeting today. The meeting began with Mayor Daley presenting awards of valor to a Chicago policeman and firemen for performing above and beyond the call in the line of duty, saving lives during particularly dangerous situations. I give thanks for the men and women who serve our City in this manner each day.

Later in the City Council meeting, however, demonstration of valor was replaced by fear when Chicago's aldermen voted 27-11 in favor of a "Disorderly Conduct" ordinance proposed by aldermen Tom Tunney and Vi Daley. The ordinance is meant to create a "safety bubble" around workers and clients at Chicago-area abortion clinics so that they are "protected" from pro-life prayer teams and counselors who try to engage them in conversation about life and choice when they enter or exit abortion clinics.

This ordinance clearly violates the first amendment rights of abortion counselors and prayer teams, but it also minimizes the valor of what these pro life activists are trying to do - - save lives! Like the policemen and firemen who were recognized at the top of the City Council meeting, these men and women are "peace officers" and "life savers."

Clearly the fear of having the difficult discussion about abortion in a public place, and the fear that these counselors and prayer teams are actually hurting Planned Parenthood's business is what has driven this ordinance to a vote today. And that is just plain sad. What if the same fear caused our police and firemen NOT to respond to a call in a dangerous situation or a bad neighborhood. Would we find those actions worthy of valor?

It is sad that this ordinance was passed by the City Council today, but it's even sadder that the valor of the "life-saving" efforts of the men and women who pray and council women considering abortion are not honored by our City, but instead are looked down upon and fearfully restricted by our government and powerful businesses lobbies like Planned Parenthood. If we don't look out for the least of our brothers and sisters in Chicago, who will? Abortion and the protection of abortion "rights" is not the answer. Love, mercy, compassion and valor in all its "life-saving" forms is the answer.

Please call Mayor Daley at 312.744.3300 and ask him to veto this ordinance so that it does not become law.