New Jersey Pro-Life Sign Across From Church Victim of Pro-Abortion Vandalism
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 16, 2008
Milltown, NJ (LifeNews.com) — A pro-life sign sitting in a lot across from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in this central New Jersey town has been victimized by pro-abortion vandals. The sign read "Abortion Stops a Beating Heart" but vandals covered the words and image with red and blue spray paint.
They also spray-painted the message "free choice" in the lone part of the billboard that has available white space.
The two-sided sign that stands about seven-feet tall was vandalized at some point last week and Deacon Robert Gerling, who runs the Our Lady of Lourdes pro-life group talked with the Courier News about the incident.
"It’s not a surprise," he said. "The pro-life community is not terribly respected in the broader (national) community, if you will."
"The issue of course does touch nerves," he added. "Obviously it’s a constantly debated question."
Gerling said the current sign was put in place after vandals defaced a hand-painted sign in the same spot years ago. The current sign has been up without incident until last week.
A man working outside the church first noticed the vandalism and reported it to police on Saturday morning. Officials are treating it as a case of criminal mischief.
The back side of the sign has the words "Choose Life" and they were also covered in paint and a new message sprayed on it saying "women’s choice."
"It’s generally a quiet, prayerful voice and we stand up for what we believe in," Gerling said of his pro-life group’s work. "That is certainly our first amendment right."
He told the newspaper the sign will eventually be replaced.
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