July 6, 2015 at 2:41 p.m.
Cemetery of Innocents raises awareness of abortion
Cemetery of Innocents raises awareness of abortion
By Kayla Thomason-
The 300 crosses represent the 3,000 abortions performed daily in the U.S., according to information supplied by the Knights of Columbus volunteers who erected the display.
"We're not pointing fingers or shaking fists at people that had abortions - I have friends that had abortions - this is about a prayer for the unborn and bringing the sanctity of life - recognition - to people who see (the crosses)," said Robert Ornberg, Culture of Life coordinator for the Knights of Columbus Council in Hayward and is a member of a Sawyer County Pro-Life Wisconsin affiliate.
"It's just to bring awareness. We're not pointing a finger at anybody, nothing, it's just to bring awareness that there are 3,000 abortions a day just in the United States," added Gary Johnson, a volunteer with Nativity of Our Lord and the Rhinelander Council of Knights of Columbus. "This will help people think (about) other options. Adoption is another option."
"Bob, who came from Hayward, has been taking (the Cemetery of the Innocents) all over," Johnson added.
Johnson learned of the crosses at a Knights of Columbus meeting.
He asked to display them now because of the uptick in population caused by the Hodag Country Festival.
"This is the perfect, perfect time of the year to put it here because almost everybody of those 30,000 people (who attend Country Fest) will drive by this spot next week," Johnson said.
It took 29 people just over an hour to assemble and place the crosses, which have been to various types of churches. Cemetery of the Innocents displays have been erected a total of 39 times in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota.
"We don't think silence is the answer; we think it's more information, education, prayer," Ornberg said. "We don't believe in pretending it isn't happening, so that's why we're out here."
Both men said, so far, the display has elicited more positive comments than negative.
"Life's God's gift," he said. "I remember a minister or priest said one time 'Without life what is there?'"
The crosses will be removed July 13, the men said.
Kayla Breese may be reached at kayla@ rivernewsonline.com.
Comments:
You must login to comment.