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Pro-life vs. pro-choice


Truth came face to face with people in Boulder and some just hate it when that happens. Perhaps they'd rather believe a lie since embracing the truth requires repentance and a change of worldview. Some would love being set free by the Truth but fear holds them back. Please pray for the lost in Denver and Boulder as we speak the truth in love. Read this well-written article describing OSA's activities and response in Boulder Tuesday.

Pro-life vs. pro-choice
By STEPHANIE OLSEN Colorado Daily Staff Writer

As President Bush was gearing up Tuesday to announce his nomination for the Supreme Court, a decision which could have implications on a women's right to abortion for years to come, the battle between pro-life and pro-choice groups heated up in Boulder.

Operation Save America (OSA), an anti-abortion group, held demonstrations across town, displaying graphic signs and handing out literature.

Its stops included the Boulder Abortion Clinic, Boulder Valley Women's Health Center and the CU-Boulder campus.

"What we are is simply the wheels that brings the theology of the church house into the streets," said Flip Benham, director of OSA.

A couple hundred people gathered wearing t-shirts reading, "Truth is hate to those who hate the truth."


"We're not here for hate, but for tough love to wake people up," said Kenneth Scott, a member of OSA and resident of Denver. "People don't want to hear the truth so they think it is hate."

Benham said abortion is not a political issue, but rather one of the Gospel.

Benham said Boulder is especially "bold" in rejecting the teachings of God, and said everybody has their own God and does not want to be judged.

"They'll tolerate any religion, anything, but not this," he said.

Benham said OSA is not a hate group, but rather a group that speaks the truth.

"When light comes into evil it exposes the wickedness," he said. "Truth always seems like hate."

Some do not agree and do view OSA as a hate group.

Tuesday morning Dr. Warren Hern, director of the Boulder Abortion Clinic, issued a statement in which he said he is appalled OSA spends its time targeting his patients.

"OSA's mass demonstration accomplishes nothing except to add pain to an experience that is already painful beyond their comprehension," said Dr. Hern in the statement. "OSA is an arrogant, bigoted, hate-mongering, demographic attempt to destroy the idea of an America that tolerates different ideas, beliefs and cultures."

Tuesday morning, two protesters stood among a group of about 100 members from OSA.

"I trust women and I want to oppose hate," said Noah Schabacker, a Boulder resident. "I think it's too bad that they (OSA) have to try to intimidate people. Their ideas aren't strong enough to convince people on their own."

Schabacker was accompanied by his mother, Beth Winteroub, who said it is troublesome that OSA's opinions are so strong but do not allow a difference of opinion.

"I can respect their opinion if they can respect mine," she said.

Rob Coppolillo, a Boulder resident, said the graphic signs depicting aborted fetuses at different stages - 10 weeks to 30 weeks - should be rated NC-17.

Brad Lynch said his 2-year-old son was "terrorized" by the signs earlier in the morning. Lynch said he thinks the group's message would be more appealing if there was more "love" portrayed in the message.

"What I see here is a perpetuation of violence," he said. "Problems like this aren't going to be resolved without engagement."

Bill Shanks, a pastor from New Orleans and member of OSA, said the graphic pictures help people to see the harmfulness of abortion.

"Some things are so horrible words cannot accurately express it," he said. "Maybe if something is so horrible that we can't stand to look at it, maybe we shouldn't be tolerating it."

Scott said the group decided to go to CU to confront Ward Churchill about his political beliefs concerning Sept. 11, but were told Churchill would not be back on campus until August.

Therefore, the group marched around campus and received mixed reactions from students.

"I hate when they do this," said Brittany Horvat, a senior at CU. "I understand people's point of view, say what you want, but don't throw it in my face."

Susan McClanathan, a junior at CU, also said he does not agree with OSA's demonstration.

"Every time I see something like this I want to ask these people how many adoption centers they've opened, how many children they've adopted," she said.

McClanathan said the money OSA put into the protest and signs would be better spent preventing abortions donating the money to adoption centers.

Preston From, a junior at CU, held his own counter-protest on campus holding a sign reading "Protest Christianity: THINK," on one side, and "Keep Mythology Out Of Law" on the other.

"If they can express their opinion, I don't see why I shouldn't express mine," he said.

Contact Stephanie Olsen about this story at 303-443-6272 or at olsen@coloradodaily.com .

http://www.coloradodaily.com/articles/2005/07/19/news/news02.txt