Teachers Saving Children^® Inc. of Ohio

Saturday October 5 was a BEAUTIFUL autumn day - one which I would typically like to be outdoors enjoying the refreshing sunshine following a long week at school. Doing yard work, setting up my fall lawn decorations with pumpkins, etc. for my grandchildren to enjoy is how I would usually try to spend at least one lovely Saturday in October. However, I learned that being indoors for the Ohio Pro-Life Convention had so much to refresh and renew me that being inside wasn't bad at all.

All that was offered in the various sessions was most informative and beneficial to our cause for protecting the life of the unborn. It was a true blessing to hear the message of Dr. Bernard Nathanson, the keynote speaker. It was intriguing to learn that he was a co-founder of the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws in 1969 (now the National Abortion Rights Action League) and in the early 1970's he was director of the largest abortion clinic in America where he was responsible for the killing of over 60,000 babies.

In his soft-spoken manner, Dr. Nathanson explained that he changed his mind about abortion based purely on scientific data. With the new technology then introduced providing the ultra-sound, fetal heart monitoring, etc., which gave a window into the womb, he concluded "the fetus is a human being just like one of us, with the rights that a human being should have, all the protection that every human being should have, and there is nothing mysterious about it." "We spend the first 9 months of our lives in the womb." "I'm always amused," he said, "that when some pro-choice person says 'I've seen a 14 day old embryo and it's just a cluster of cells - it doesn't look like a human being.' Of course the answer to that is: that's what all human beings look like at 14 days and that's the long and the short of it. You and I were there - we all looked like that. So that is no argument at all." He added "I remind you that at that time, I was a stiff-backed Jewish atheist, AND remained an atheist for many years thereafter." Like many others, after a lifetime of worldly endeavors of acquisitions, ownerships, cars, etc., he found that it was all empty. He finally understood that he could not enter the next world with the moral baggage that he was carrying - the responsibility for wiping out 60,000 lives. With a 2 minute warning he was received into the Catholic Church and has made a complete turn about with his life. He admitted he was assisted by no less than six priests including John O'Connor.

He gave a short state of the union speech on abortion. "Abortion is now institutionalized in this country," he said. "It is part of the social and cultural texture of our society." He explained that a whole generation of physicians, nurses, etc. has grown up with abortion as part of their background. "It is going to be exceedingly difficult to root out this institution, but not impossible." He compared it to slavery in the middle 19th century and said we must root it out as slavery was finally rooted out of our society. It is going to take a MIGTHY EFFORT.

He expressed how important that all violence be avoided in our efforts against abortion. Prayerful vigils and silent demonstrations are all wonderful, he said. We don't need any more violence. "Abortion itself is a violent act; we don't need any more violence than we already have."

He gave us a briefing of the danger of the current genetic engineering now in progress in our laboratories. He stressed that we must educate ourselves of this horror and be prepared to battle this unethical, immoral action that can threaten humanity.

In conclusion, he added what is to be done by us: education; political activity by supporting pro-life candidates; non-violent, silent protests; letters to the editor of media, newspaper, and television. We have one NUCLEAR WEAPON in our arsenal, one thing the pro-choice people will never have, and that is CONSISTENT, POSITIVE PRAYER.

My thoughts after his wonderful presentation were this: If this intelligent human being could be converted from his pro-abortion beliefs and now be a staunch supporter of our pro-life cause, so can many others. Wasn't it the prayers of many that turned his heart to Jesus and brought him to the reality of the deeds for which he was responsible? Let us continue our prayerful vigil and we shall overcome the insanity of abortion that haunts our nation.

1. The Board of Trustees accepted the resignation of TSC Board member Ron Can who has served the Ohio Board of Trustees since its inception in 1991. The Board of Trustees approved the name of Judy Bruns to fill the open seat on the Board of Trustees. (See related article).

2. The Board of Trustees discussed various ways of getting the word about TSC out to more individuals. Each Board of Trustee member will be working on having a Saturday morning coffee hour with local/regional pro-life educators sometime during the next year.

3. The Board of Trustees approved the 2002-2003 fiscal report and the following 2002-2003 Ohio budget:

		Awards & Gifts	$ 50.00
		Legal & Accounting	350.00
		Office Administration	400.00
		Postage	1300.00
		Public Relations
		Printing	1200.00
		Promotion	700.00
		Telephone	100.00
		Total	$4100.00

She is married, has three children, and at the present time there are 4 grandchildren. Judy is very active within her church having been a former member of the Worship Commission and Folk Group choir. She has been to Haiti three times and to Appalachia five times as a part of a mission team.

Her pro-life involvement has been extensive. She is the former president and newsletter editor of the Mercer County Right to Life, and a current member of the Mercer County Right to Life speakers' bureau. Judy also served on the original steering committee to start the Harbor House Maternity Home in Celina Ohio. In 1983 she received the Pro-Life Volunteer of the Year Award for her Congressional District and in 1991 received the Lady of the Year Award from the Coldwater Knights of Columbus for her pro-life activities.

Judy is also a writer. She wrote the book "Donnie, Lost in the Cornfield" that was distributed to over 500 individuals during the recent NEA Expo in Dallas Texas. In addition she has written poetry, articles, and song lyrics that encourage a respect for human life.

One of her references states the following: "Judy Bruns is a remarkable lady who has done much work for the pro-life movement and she has touched many lives while doing so. She is one of the most dedicated individuals I have ever met. She is a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, long time English teacher, and a dear friend to all who come in contact with her. She has a deep Christian faith...much love and God has bestowed on her much talent that she uses to the fullest." We welcome Judy Bruns to the Ohio TSC Affiliate State Chapter Board of Trustees.