In a January 23, 2025 article in the New York Post titled “Trump pardons ‘peaceful’ pro-lifers imprisoned for protesting outside abortion clinics” states:

” President Trump pardoned nearly two dozen pro-life activists Thursday who were convicted under a federal law of illegally trying to block abortion clinic entrances or otherwise keep women from undergoing the procedure.

The pardons, Trump said in the Oval Office, will go to 23 “peaceful protestors” who were prosecuted under the Biden administration. He did not reveal the names of those who will be pardoned. 

“Twenty-three people were prosecuted who should not have been prosecuted. Many of them are elderly people. They should not have been prosecuted,” the president said. “This is a great honor to sign this.”

The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, enacted in 1994 by former President Bill Clinton, prohibits use of physical force, threat of physical force, or physical obstruction to injure, intimidate or otherwise interfere with “any class of persons [in] obtaining or providing reproductive health services.”

The law also has the same stipulations allowing free access to places of worship — but conservatives say Democratic administrations have been more interested in prosecuting abortion clinic obstruction.”

MY FIRST TIME AT AN ABORTION CLINIC

I was a new nurse when Roe v Wade legalized abortion.

I was shocked and saddened while my other medical colleagues thought this was great.

“What would you do if you found out you were pregnant?”, they asked.
I told them I would have the baby and consider adoption. They thought that was crazy.

I later joined the St. Lous Archdiocese Pro-Life Commitee, the first in the US, and donated items to the Birthright organization that offers “free, confidential resources to any woman regardless of age, race, circumstances, religion, marital status or financial situation.”

In 1987, I was invited to join a group holding signs outside the Planned Parenthood Clinic in St. Louis offering information and help to the women entering. I was nervous walking with my then 2-year-old daughter but there were strict rules about staying on the sidewalk and I was relieved to see the signs with phone numbers and offers to help the women entering the clinic.

But suddenly my 2-year-old daughter dropped my hand and ran to play on the grass in front of the clinic. I panicked, picking her up and running to the sidewalk. I had heard that we could be arrested. Luckily, we weren’t.

CONCLUSION

I am glad President Trump pardoned those peaceful pro-life people but being pro-life is about more than picketing.

Every pro-life person I know is also a person who reaches out to anyone in need.

I know I have been blessed by helping single moms in difficult circumstances, families caring for children with disabilities, people considering suicide, women regretting their abortion, older people facing their impending death, and others.

Being pro-life is not just about ending the horror of legalized abortion but rather about cherishing and caring for all lives!

That is why I am so proud of the National Association of Pro-life Nurses’ button that simply says “I care”.