Wonderful - a sign of hope - "yes we can!"

Lila, keep up the great work. You actions (and results) stand in stark contrast to those who would have us believe that we are powerless to change our culture.

As a Catholic who thinks abortion is an abomination and needs to be removed from this earth, some ethical issues are starting to arise with pro-life tactics. Last week on EWTN's open Line, Patrick Madrid took a call where the person asked if being deceptive, refering to Ms. Rose, is any different than the actual abortion. It was interesting because Mr. Madrid said he had been waiting for someone to bring this up. In the end, he said he has been wrestling with this for some time now too and said moral theologians really need to start looking at this.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
PJC

PJC,

There is no way that Patrick Madrid suggested that the possible sinfulness of this duplicity might be similar to the clear, mortal sinfulness of the abortion providers. Or at least I find it highly unlikely that a man of his education would consider Lila Rose to be a mortal sinner.

PJC,

This is a very good point. While I'm no moral theologian, it seems like this would be different than police officers who try and catch sexual predators in online chat rooms by pretending to be under age.

tour86rocker,

I never said that she was. I hold a lot of respect for Ms. Rose and her desire to expose this abomination. I only brought up what he addressed on his show because he was asked. Please, go back and listen to it. Last Thursday I believe.

Thanks

I have no problem at all with what Lila Rose did at the Planned Parenthood clinics. Neither do I have any trouble with those men and women who disguised themselves to penetrate ranks of Nazi officers to gather the intelligence needed by the Allies to end WWII. Similar examples are many, such as the police and detectives who have risked their lives pretending to be drug smugglers, etc., in order to break up organized crime. Evil is not something you can fight according to Marquis of Queensbury rules -- it requires cunning, the "wisdom of the snake," to capture the bad guys. It may require deception simply to protect the innocent. This sort of Kantian, "I cannot tell a lie attitude," needs to be challenged with the following dilemma: A women comes to your house asking you to hide her from her husband who, she says, is trying to kill her. She already has bruises on her face. You let her in, and she hides in the basement. Minutes later, a man knocks on the door asking if a woman, his wife, is inside your house. What do you do? Do you tell him the truth?

I believe it was okay for Abraham to lie and say his wife was his sister to protect his life and things would go well for him. This seems to me to be about the same sort of deception.

Are you really comparing abortion to the actions of this girl? I understand the ethical question, but come on! This young girl is exposing an evil industry by doing sting operations, how is that the same as murder?

Rahab.

Need anyone say more about the morality of lying for the sake of the innocent?.


"she entered the Catholic Church on March 15 of this year"

Deal,

Thank you for highlighting Miss Rose's work. Somehow, I knew you would not fail to mention this as well ;-)

Kamilla

If a person called in and truly wondered if what this brave young woman is doing is the moral equivalency to the butchering of an unborn human being, then that person is suffering from a sort of moral relativism more frightening than any of which I have ever heard.

Is lying in a case like this wrong at all, much less the moral equivalent to abortion? I'm sorry but even asking that question is almost enough to make my head explode. Was it wrong for Schindler to lie, or any of the priests and other Catholics who hid Jews during the Holocaust? Do you suppose for one minute that none of them were asked questions by Nazis to which they responded by lying? The covert is often the best and only way to achieve a goal. The idea that the end can not justify the means is important. However, this is not a case of say, ESCR, where she is destroying human life to attempt to provide some perceived good. She is exposing evil. Would you question military intelligence operatives who infiltrate terrorist organizations and stop a bombing of say a hospital, school, or the Vatican? Would you question police officers who infiltrate inner city gangs or drug cartels? I certainly would not, and I see absolutely no difference in what Lila Rose is doing.

Lying to cover up personal wrongdoing is a sin, but not all lies are. The Ten Commandments forbid only bearing false witness. If she were making stuff up, then she would not only be wrong, but lose all credibility. She is doing the right thing. If she walked in and simply asked them, in order not to be deceptive, we would only think she was naive or even an idiot. Thank goodness she is not.

Lila Rose is a hero. May God bless her and keep her safe.

......"The right to the communication of the truth is not unconditional. Everyone must conform his life to the Gospel precept of fraternal love. This requires us in concrete situations to judge whether or not it is appropriate to reveal the truth to someone who asks for it."

Also, "No one is bound to reveal the truth to someone who does not have the right to know it." Doesn't murdering the defenseless compromise one's right to know the truth?

I applaud Lila for her work with the unborn. God's most vulnerable human beings. I also congratulate Lelia on her becoming Catholic on March 15, the Church needs more young people like her. I also, pray that Fr. Jenkins hears of her and follows her example and does NOT allow President Obama speak at the University of Notre Dame (named for Jesus Christ's Mother). An honorary degree should also NOT be awarded him.

I really need to learn to type faster and stop being distracted while I try to post. I just repeated what so many others beat me to. Well, it bears repeating.

I really do enjoy this site.

How is this young girl any different from the priests throughout history who disguised themselves during times of persecution, to protect their lives enabling them to shepherd their flocks?
We are under no obligation to be truthful to those who have no authority or business over us. For sound doctrine on this topic read "Hunted Priest" an autobiography of a Jesuit in England in the 1500's.

Lila,

You rock girl! I will use your story in my Faith Formation class of High School Junior and Seniors in the next couple of weeks.

Make no mistake that you are not alone in this fight. My father does not live too far from you in Sun City Ca. He has been a prayer warrior and side walk councilor in front of a clinic (San Bernardino) every day that clinic has been opened for the past 22 years (when he is not in jail for false arrest). He has access to some very holy Pro Bono Lawyers they you may need sometime in the future. He is a rather feisty old man that won't put up even a dime bail. As I write this I looked down at the clock and realize he is just arriving at the clinic. He likes to get there well before they open so that the doctors see the pictures on the side of his van on their way to work. The police love him! I think they enjoy picking in up so they can spend time with him. He says that is part of his ministry as well and takes is all in stride. They never have convicted him, as they alway drop charges prior to going to trial.

Email me if you need some information on the probono Lawyers that help him. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Great piece, Deal. I immediately forwarded it to my 15-year-old daughter as a profile in real courage (and entrepreneurship!).

What struck me most directly from the article is the reaction of PP to Rose's "ministry." Deal notes, "each clinic has a poster with Rose's picture on the wall." Clearly the only thing the PP hierarchy regrets is being caught, not the actions themselves. A more appropriate response might have been posters admonishing staff to behave correctly and legally.

Too much to hope for, no?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says.......
March 26th, 2009 | 9:55am
......"The right to the communication of the truth is not unconditional. Everyone must conform his life to the Gospel precept of fraternal love. This requires us in concrete situations to judge whether or not it is appropriate to reveal the truth to someone who asks for it."

Also, "No one is bound to reveal the truth to someone who does not have the right to know it." Doesn't murdering the defenseless compromise one's right to know the truth?
Written by RK

Bravo RK for droping the nuclear option on some pretty, let's say challenged, arguments. In our own work in Catholic media, (shows and spots)we're banned from many so-called Catholic stations for being too Catholic and too politically incorrect. I submit that many of those in the industry of non-profit Catholic radio bow to the God of the IRS and the Mighty Dollar and regrettably refuse to unequivocally call a spade a spade - especially if it will cost them donations and percievably threaten their 501 c 3... Been there, done that, got the tee shirt too many times to say differently.

Regardless, your refreshing look at the Catechism trumps any self engrandizing show host and thank you Mr. Hudson for highlighting this great American patriot, who, like us, believes that every true American right is an unalienable God-given gift and begins with the right to life.

I was waiting for information about when PP would put this girl's photo up in their offices.

Thank you for telling us!

Lila is an inspiration to the many of us who know in our hearts that the abortion industry 'specializes' in only one thing: killing babies. Lila proves that the abortionists do not care about young women and turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to sexual predators who repeatedly devalue the lives of young women. Lila is doing the very courageous work of any good police person: exposing an illegitimate and illegal practice and catching the perpetrators red-handed, all while putting herself out there. Perhaps someday the police will actually do their job and go after this shameful, immoral, greedy industry.
Then we wouldn't need the Lilas of the world to expose these crimes. As far as her being deceptive, were the Angels who freed St. Peter from prison being deceptive? Or, were they doing the Lord's bidding?
I'll pray for Lila always.

I think that was very smart of her to notice that no women on campus at UCLA were pregnant, therefore receiving abortions. She not only noticed, she did something about it. She inspires me me to do something too. Thanks Rose!

I don't see this so much as a situation of lying or deception as it is of Ms. Rose playing a role. She is an acturess, if you will, portraying a situation that has happened time and time again at abortuaries. It's not like she's making any of this up for yellow-journalistic purposes - she is portraying actual people in actual situations. I don't see it as deceptive at all - JMHO.

Lila is already a saint in my eyes. I wish she could meet my son and marry him. He is 23. Keep up the good work Lila.

Lila, keep up the good work! You are wonderful and brave!

What a wonderful mirror of Christ! Lila, keep up the great work and exposing the truth. Your courage, work to defend the innocent, and love of God are a blessing. We're praying for you and will spread the word on what you are doing.

We pray for more Lilas among our children and young people. They are the future of the pro-life movement. And all the anti-life actions Obama has already done shows that we are in for a tougher battle. Go here to see all the damage he has already done in the LIFE arena.
http://www.lifenews.com/obamaabortionrecord.html

Pick up your Rosary, put on the Armor of God and ask St. Michael to battle with us every day in this war. This young woman has more courage than many priests and bishops and certainly more courage than many young people I know. I applaud her and will continue to pray for her. Thank you, Mr. Hudson for this uplifting, very hopeful story.

God bless all those who read this story and comment here! And remember St. Padre Pio's words: Pray, hope, and don't worry!

GREAT JOB!!!

Maybe you should go talk to the president of Notre Dame........

Whatever it takes to stop the infanticide being done every hour.
I commend this very brave woman....She is using a very creative and safe way to try and stop abortion.

Your saying "yes" to God was very powerful - He will watch over you.

Linda

I am inspired by this young lady. I am fit to be here mother but I have a lot to learn from her. Lila has been graced by God to remain steadfast in her relentless determination to expose all those acts that destroy life in the womb. You certainly are a young, brave voice for the defenceless. May God bless your efforts. Welcome my daughter in Christ, to the Catholic Church. In spite of all the sinners that belong to it, you have found the richness and fulness of faith. You have discovered the Bridegroom of the Church, Jesus Christ. May His Spirit shield you from the darts of the enemy and may our Blessed Mother guide you as a mother does her child.
Love and prayers
Marianne, Sri Lanka

I'm sure Judas thought his lieing and spying for the Temple priesthood was also justified.

Here's another true Planned Parenthood story. 16 year old girl comes in with her ever so Mormon father. PP refused to allow him to force his under age daughter into an abortion. He now has a granson he loves.

Ineptitude and moral turpitude are found in all organizations. Catholicism itself has recent experience with this phenomenon. Won't we all be pleased and paranoid when all of us are spying on each other in the name of our moral convictions.

What's interesting about Lila's work it that she exposes PP for what they really are. Maybe some of us nice Christians think that PP organizers and doctor have some misguided sympathy and good will toward young unwed mothers. They think they are trying to help someone out of a bad situation, right? Clearly not! Thanks for the eye opener, Lila. These people have No good will toward men, or women.

Hi Rose, please contact me via my website and I will provide free web design for your work if needed. I am happy to help in whatever small way The Lord wants. God Bless You, and keep up the Good work. +JMJ+

I'm a bit worried about the tone/implications of some of the responses. They seem to be espouses an "ends justifies the means" reasoning which, without some qualifications, would also justify bombing abortion mills. And I am a bit surprised Madrid didn't come up with a better answer than wondering about moral theology.

Shouldn't a good answer to the quesion of lying in service of a good cause (exposing abortion) start with the question of evils? The Church teaches that abortion is an intrinsic evil while lying is not.

That's where the justification for deceptions like those of Lila Roses investigation must begin.

Kamilla

Keep up the good work Lila! You have the courage and conviction that many of us wish we had. May our Blessed Mother smile on you and place you under her mantle. I will say a rosary for you and the good work you are doing.

Incredible! I love this girl. I aspire to be like her. So brave and truly a soldier of Christ. FIGHT ABORTION!

Good for you Lila, Show up the cowardly so called Gods ministers. Didn't Christ say a CHILD will lead them. I am proud to live when you are in the world..We are with you all the way. God bless

Somtimes scripture has a perfect fit. "Behold I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents but innocent of doves." Matthew 10: 16 or from the book of Dueteronomy 30:15-20 "Choose life then that you may live in abundance." How can this Masquerade possibly be compared to the murder of an unborn child?

P.S. I wish all the pro-lifers would call abortion what is really is, pro-death or murder.

Lila Rose, God blesses you in your efforts. Maybe you should consider recruiting a young 18 year old woman or two who look 12 or 13 years old to help in the uncovering the treachery of these death camps. Wouldn't that send shivers up the spines of Planned (Death) Parenthood cronies knowing there are more of you out there.

Interesting comments on this article. For those having trouble with Ms. Rose's "deceit" about her true identity and condition, I offer this comment. Ms. Rose's methods to test compliance with law are not without precedent. "Testers" were widely used to detect discrimination in the rental and sale of homes, and in employment practices. I knew a white, young male who worked fulltime as a "tester" for Housing Opportunities Made Equal, posing as a renter or buyer where illegal housing discrimination was suspected. Not only did he "pose" to test the situation, he then enjoyed standing to sue based upon the contrived experience. I have no expertise in this area and that law may have changed since then, but it appears that Ms. Rose's methods have precedent in the civil rights' legally recognized and encouraged means for enforcing protective laws whose breach is otherwise difficult to detect and prove. Maybe Ms. Rose will expand her work, create a nonprofit named ... say, "SAFE" (Saving under-Aged Females from Exploitation") ... and hire and deploy testers nationwide. Then, Planned Parenthood will have to start a national data base of mug shots!

While I understand what PJC was trying to say, and while I appreciate that he referenced in this forum the comments I made on my show, I must clarify something that came across incorrectly in PJC's comments.

First, on my "Open Line" radio show (Thursdays at 3:00 p.m. ET), I DID say that I have wrestled with the question the caller asked about the morality of the undercover videotaping that has gone on recently at abortion clinics.

Also, I DID say that I think Catholic moral theologians should indeed add this to their list of questions they should consider. That would be a very interesting, not to mention timely and necessary, issue for their analysis.

However, I definitely did NOT in any way equate abortion with deception. I appreciate Tour86rocker's comment doubting that I had actually said something like that.

Again, I did not say or imply that one could equate abortion and the simulation of being an underage teen for the purpose of these hidden-camera videos.

For those who are interested in the specifics, the archived audio file of that show is located at the EWTN site:

http://tinyurl.com/dy4app

Thanks for letting me clarify this.

As ever, you have provided a brilliant ray of sunshine in an otherwise very oppressive day in the life of...

God Bless Lila Rose!

Speaking of appropriate scripture, how about "Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

First, Thank you Mr. Madrid, for clearing up the word struggle that was going on over what you did or did not say. It was kind of distracting to the basic understanding of what important work Ms. Rose is doing. I watch your show on EWTN, every time I get a chance, because you have awesome interviewing skills.

Second, I am a counselor in training. Ethics are important, and it is what keeps us from putting our own bias into how we serve. I am also candidly and openly pro-life, and tell my clients that I am not here to let my pro-life bias get in the way of their choice. I work and pray in our outreach and pregnancy resource center next door to a planned parenthood in NE. What Lila Rose is doing is meritorious and I have often thought about disguising myself to discuss the unethical practices that the counselors next door (that's right they have trained "counselors" with state licenses at PP, too.) seem to like to do. From my understanding, and from the posts I have seen of this girl on You Tube it appears that these counselors are more bias than I am. Of course if they want their precious paychecks, they had better keep the girls coming, and continue to destroy innocent human life, and the girls' psyche, as well, right? Where I work, it is not the money that keeps me coming back. It is the hope that the place will shut down so that I can go and get a regular counseling job, one day! That sidwalk stuff is HARD; Lila Rose, you are welcome to come to Nebraska anytime you want, girl! keep up the good work, deary.

Lila Rose is doing what undercover reporters or police officers some times have to do, to go into an organization to learn about crimes. FBI agents have gone undercover into the klan, to build a case against those who have been protected by anonymity and privacy. Lila Rose is a hero, and an example of someone working to reveal the truth. Young girls and women are mislead, and lied to, pressured to abort, they are shamed and ridiculed at times for considering not having an abortion. They are told that they'd be foolish, and would be inconvenienced if they carried the baby to term and gave it up for adoption. These Planned Parenthood clinics take taxpayer money, and are not complying with the law. They are refusing to report, as they've promised to do, when a minor reports being taken advantage of by an adult. What's more, they show they do not care for what they believe to be a minor, who has been victimized. They don't view her as a human being, with rights, merely as some sexual thing. I don't like the idea of any organization, or medical professionals feeling entitled to reduce human beings to little more than things. Consider the dangerous precedent that sets.

This young person is surely doing God's Will, by defending the innocent unborn. She is risking a lot by doing this. God Bless her and protect her as she does His Work.

Lila Rose, when you were born, heaven smiled. I thank your mom and dad for having you. You are an inspiration to all with your childlike trust in God. Roses are Our Lady's special flower. Be careful and my prayers go with you every day.

Deal writes,

"Evil is not something you can fight according to Marquis of Queensbury rules -- it requires cunning, the "wisdom of the snake," to capture the bad guys."

RK quotes the Catechism with an addition of his own:

"No one is bound to reveal the truth to someone who does not have the right to know it." Doesn't murdering the defenseless compromise one's right to know the truth?"

With respect to the Catechism, I hate to rain on the parade here but there is a pretty big different between withholding truth, and deliberately deceiving someone. I've asked myself how a just war doctrine can even exist since lying is always a part of war. It sure is easy to say "this case is the exception to the rule".

Where does it end? Today we justify lying - tomorrow, what will we justify? I used to think John Brown was the greatest American who ever lived, and that the Civil War was as holy as the Crusades. But Jesus Christ would not have gone to those cabins in the woods in the middle of the night and hacked those pro-slavery boarder ruffians to pieces with a broadsword.

It is telling that the "wisdom of the snake" was invoked here. The snake! The wretched embodiment of Satan himself, the prince of all lies. Doesn't this bother anyone?

If love and truth cannot overcome abortion, then nothing can. Take it from someone who left behind revolutionary ideology and politics - slowly, painfully, and with many regrets and setbacks along the way - to move closer to Christ. I would have been the first person cheering this young woman on not too long ago. I would have suggested a nationwide campaign of it. But a victory won through lies will simply turn to ashes in our mouth. I am convinced that nothing is more important to God than our faithfulness to Him - that it would be better for the entire world to perish in truth than to be saved by a lie.

Joe H. I understand this sentiment so well. But sinful lying is something more than an uttered falsehood. I made a confession once about a falsehood I told. The priest asked the circumstances, I told him and he responded, "Sorry, but that was not a sin." That got me to thinking about lying. I was lied to quite a bit by my empoverished criminal defendant clients, particularly the prostitutes. I never found their lying as culpable as, say, elected government representatives. Too, I think about deceitful exaggerations or omissions, often more harmful than actual misstatements of fact. I'm sure there are volumes written on this subject - which tells me, even without reading them, that an uttered falsehood is not necessarily a sin. Maybe someone with expertise on this will weigh in here.

I even found a Bible passage where God "permits" deception, 3 Kings 22:22. So perhaps I was wrong. But I'm still not sure. Something about this campaign just doesn't seem right to me. The phone calls add entrapment to systematic, pre-meditated deception.

Is this really what God wants? Or will we be punished when the world comes to think of Christians as liars?

We all know about Reverend Walter Hoye, right? He is in jail for speaking the truth to women in front of abortion clinics outside the "free speech zone" - offering them alternatives and options.

This man and his example is what we ought to be emulating. Without compromising a single Christian principle he is both fighting abortion and bringing more attention to the movement by suffering for his beliefs.

And he's not even Catholic! My prayers are with Rev. Hoye tonight. We have doubts about where God stands on Lila Rose, but can there be any doubt as to where He stands on Rev. Hoye?

And he's not even Catholic?!?!?!

Come on, Joe, that's not the sort of insult I expect to read here. I know many of the faithful pro-life witnesses in Blooming, IN (where Miss Rose did one of her sting operations)and am privileged to call them my friends - and they just happen to be Presbyterians. In fact, one of their pastors was the only man to be arrested (that I know of) for actually trying to feed Terri Schiavo while she lay dying of starvation.


Kamilla, another who is "not even Catholic"

Kamilla,

I guess that came out the wrong way. But in case you didn't notice, I have nothing but the highest respect for Rev. Hoye! If I really had a big problem with non-Catholics, do you think I'd write in praise of one?

I stand by the spirit of the remark, in any case. The Catholic Church is the one and only Church created by Christ, ergo, its members ought to be the first to arrive at the battle and the last to leave. If it is offensive that I have higher expectations of fellow Catholics than I do other Christians, so be it. This isn't a social club. It's serious business.

I applaud you Lila Rose for having the heart of a child and the mind of a warrior. May your Love For Jesus grow stronger and fill your soul with His Strength. For I believe when Jesus looks down at you He's saying,"Well Done Thy Good and Faithful Servant". It takes a village to raise a child, but the child has to have a chance to be born, in order for the village to have a chance to raise this child too. Remember,"Evil flourishes when good men do nothing". This is the time of the separation of the sheep and the goats, ask yourself which one are you? God Bless You Lila Rose and May The Angels Walk Beside You. "In All Thy Ways Acknowledge Him And He Shall Direct Thy Path".

Your reward will be in heaven. All the saints,all aborted babies,and specially the Holy Family will welcome you in their loving arms once your mission here on earth is done. Fear no one my dear, all in them in heaven are at your back. What you are doing is your passport in paradise!

The Holy Mother is truly shining upon Lila! Maybe the Holy Mother is looking back to the time when she was 20 and an angel came to her and told her that the lord was pleased with her and that she would do great things.

I admire this young woman for her courage. In my book she is doing the right thing, Why shouldn't these people who murder on a daily basis, be exposed? Television shows do this all the time--expose crooked companies, sending someone inside to do so.
Not long ago they showed how auto repair shops cheat, another on appliance repair cheating... and so on. The abortion industry has no "watch dog". They do as they please. I am glad Lila is taking action, what a brave person!!!! Wish we had MORE like her!! God bless you child!

I've "clipmarked" the title and first paragraphs to make it publicly available through Clipmarks.com There should be a Digg option at the end of this article.

I would like to say thanks for the input and especially for Mr. Madrid's clarification. I never intended, directly or indirectly, to say that Mr. Madrid equated what Ms. Rose is doing with what abortion is-- murder. I thought that I made that clear when I responded to tour86rocker, but just saw that I used the word "she" when I meant to say "he" referring to Mr. Madrid assessment of the situation. The whole reason for even bringing the issue up is because those of us who are pro-life are going to hear of these "all things are equal" as more and more of the tactics of PP are exposed.

I regret any confusion or offense to Mr. Madrid.

Thanks

For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie
Thess. 2:11

King Solomon said he was going to cut in half the baby when the two women were arguing over whose child it was. If he was not willing to kill the baby, then wouldn't he have been lying? Scripture goes on to praise king Solomon for the wisdom he displayed in that action.

Another example is Rahab the Harlot who lied to the soldiers about the whereabouts of the Hebrew spies. Scripture also seems to praise her on account of this action.


Luke 24:28
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
2 Kings 16:14-20
Josh. 8:3-8
etc...

Yeah! YOU GO GIRL

Keep ur stance on the frontline. Ur way is much better than blowing these things up at night, keep on soldiering ,ur priority in my prayers no! man i hugg the crap outta ya for ur devotion, and i soo wanna meet ya! GOD BLESS YA SOLDIER of Christ the King!

I really wasn't going to get into this debate, but it's been weighing on my mind.

Firstly, I want to make very clear that I have absolutely nothing against Lila Rose. I loved the article and learning about her courageous efforts against one of the country's most evil organizations. Her work does seem very similar to that of police and military efforts, and I think the comparision to acting may be the easiest way to understand these efforts to protect society.

I am troubled by Mr. Hudson's comment above, though, as well as those of others who have "no problem" with lying. Without passing judgement on those who regularly must deceive others to accomplish their work, the casual acceptance of lying as "not necessarily sinful" seems to me very wrong. I thought the Catechism very clear on this: "Lying is the most direct offense against truth. To lie is to speak or act against the truth in order to lead someone into error. (2483)...By its very nature, lying is to be condemned. Is is a profanation of speech, whereas the purpose of speech is to communicate known truth to others. (2485)...Charity and respect for the truth should dictate the response to every request for information or communication. The good and safety of others, respect for privacy, and the common good are sufficient reasons for being silent about what ought not to be known or for making use of a descreet language. (2489)"

I don't want to take away from the good that Miss Rose is accomplishing, but to dismiss debate about the acceptability of falsehood in a Christian life is unfair. And in response to Mr. Hudson's rhetorical question - it seems to me the same kind of straw man that the ubiquitous "what if the Nazis came to your door looking for the Jews in the basement" puts up. The somewhat obvious "Don't open the door to a strange man after hiding an abused wife" is only the first of a few options that come to mind. In the end, though, I would hope that I would be more willing to give my own life defending someone than to sully the truth with my speech.

Way to go, girl! Keep up the good work in protecting the unborn!
May ALL our bishops finally get strong enough morally to protect and defend the rights of the unborn instead of acting so wishy-washy about it when speaking to their flocks. So many are trying to be politically correct that it is hard for those of us in RCIA to keep stating the obvious. I find that most of my young converts call abortion just what it is - legalized murder of those who cannot defend themselves and they see the same happening with euthanasia too!
May God continue to bless your work, Lila Rose, and I will add you to my prayer list!

Lila,

I am praying for you. May God bless you mightily.

Michael

Joe,

You're reply isn't entirely unexpected -- but I have to warn you that the last man who spoke to me like that about the Catholic church did so over a very nice dinner and a fine bottle of red.

The difference between us is that I don't hold Christians to different standards based solely on their Church or, if you prefer, ecclesial community. I do occasionally get myself into trouble that way.

Nevertheless, thank you for the reminder about Rev. Hoye's sacrifice and I think both of our communities (Catholic and Protestant) can take pride in Miss Rose's work.

Kamilla

I saw some of those quotes too, I stayed up late last night searching the Douay-Rheims online to get some perspective.

My sense is that there a lot of things that take place in the Old Testament that are not acceptable for Christians, for those living in the time of Christ. I don't fully understand why God approved of violent wars and, as you show, even some cases where he allows deception (though He never deceives anyone Himself, for "he can neither deceive nor be deceived"). But I trust that they were necessary at that time, before our redemption and salvation through Christ.

Since then, however, we are under some rather different expectations, wouldn't you say? I can't believe you cited Luke 24:28 - that is hardly worth comparing to what we are talking about here.

I don't think God wants us to win this way. When I consider this whole project, the eagerness with which so many are rationalizing and celebrating mass deception, as if they didn't have to struggle with it for a moment and had been waiting to do it all along, the zeal and the enthusiasm for it, to me these are all red flags. They signify points of danger.

I think the fruit of this strategy is that Christians will no longer be trusted and their example no longer followed. I think people will see that Christians are no different than any other secular movement in history, willing to sacrifice principles for victory. Christianity will not only be another flavor among other philosophical flavors, but one which will taste increasingly sour in our globalized, consumer society.

On the other hand, if more Catholics were willing to go to the mat like Rev. Hoye and spend a month in jail for teaching only the truth, I think people would see that we mean business. We would be the ones who do not waver, who do not sell out, who remain solid and true even in the face of great evil. And that is the kind of attitude that really changes whole empires and the course of history, as we've seen once before.

You and people your age are the future of our world and when I see and hear what you are doing regarding standing up for what is right and good, I get a very deep sense of hope. I will keep you in my prayers that you be given the strength, hope, peace and love of the Holy Spirit and also the protection of our Blessed Mother to continue on.

This girl is doing something quite remarkable. I believe God is using her and helping us. We should try to follow her example!

If I were a total innocent and someone was willing to tell a "lie" in order to save my life I sure hope they would do it!

Great job, Lila!!

JMJ
AMDG
Just to let you know that Lila Rose entered the Catholic Church about 10 days ago. It is awesome! We need more committed Catholics like her.

That is because you believe Lila is wrong and being deceptive and I do not. Jesus (always the teacher) uses actions to bring out a response from the apostles. I believe Lila is acting. Planned Parenthood is free to respond and it is they who choose to respond with deception.

Lila - Thank you!!!

As to whether Lila Rose's deception is warranted by the circumstances, or not:

Killing a human being sometimes has a warrant, usually not.

Lying sometimes has a warrant, usually not.

Taking another's property, especially food, sometimes has a warrant, usually not.

In each case, so far as I'm aware, the warrant extends to the defense of innocent life; and in each case, so far as I'm aware, existing Church teaching is not so narrowly-defined as to exclude the possibility of gray areas about which the Church has given no bright line between right and wrong.

It seems to me that Lila Rose's deception falls into a light-gray area: It seems pretty likely to be warranted, but there is some question. The safety of innocent lives is at stake, and thus some warrant for unusual action is present.

I am reminded of the housewife who learned Arabic and began lurking in jihadist chatrooms to capture Al Qaeda terrorists. She certainly practiced deception; she certainly also thereby saved lives.

I think the only issue is to monitor whether such activity remains wise as circumstances change. Lila Rose's prank comes across as smart when it works. If she were caught violating some law in the process, public opinion which admires her for the moment could turn the other way. (Secular news media could scarcely be counted upon to relate the story in a friendly manner.)

So I think in this case, "Be ye harmless as doves, but wise as serpents" applies in the following manner: Go ahead and defend the innocent, and even be crafty while doing so. But keep your head and don't get carried away; don't keep pushing the limits indefinitely. Be sensitive to when that tactic is no longer prudent, and when that time comes, give it up and revert to more traditional tactics."

Having said that: Kudos to her, for taking on Planned Parenthood in its very den.

And as for the folk who staff Planned Parenthood, a formal malediction: May their bank accounts go down, their mortgage rates go up, their waistlines go sideways, their neighbors' children take up drum lessons, their shoes accumulate dog feces, and their bothered consciences chase them so far over the hills and fields that the Lord God Almighty can't find them with a radio telescope, Amen.

Shouldn't we let God be the Judge? Way to go Lila may your
guardian angel protect you as you move forward. God Bless!

I am a college student just like Lila, and for one of my classes I wrote a research paper on the side effects of abortion. It was amazing to me to see in much of my research that pro-abortion sites like Planned Parenthood and the National Abortion Federation (NAF) downplayed so many real side effects, both physical and emotional, that many women have recently brought to light after they experienced an abortion. These websites played the effects off has "anti-choice propoganda." It is obvious to me that these organizations are not out to help or protect women at all, as many of them claim. Lila proves this with her on-going investigations.