As with any controversial issue, verbal opposition is expressed at GAP as well as, in a minority of cases, physical opposition (at UBC our first display was torn down by pro-abortion students).  That should not be looked at as a sign of ineffectiveness.  It could be a sign of effectiveness; after all, if one’s opposition is so vocal it could be due to a fear that the approach is a threat to the status quo.  The opposition faced by Church martyrs shows that criticism does not necessarily mean one is doing something wrong. 

Furthermore, those who criticize us may one day have a conversion of heart.  In the fall of 1999, GAP was displayed at the University of Oregon.  That was a particularly tough campus where pro-abortion students held up huge “walls” of sheets to try to prevent the GAP signs from being seen.  A few months ago CBR received an e-mail from a student who was there at the time:

I was looking on your web site at the various university displays, and came across one of the worst things I have ever seen. Myself.  If you look at the University of Oregon [coverage], there I am holding up a sheet trying to cover up the blood that was on my hands.  I am so sorry for my work in the pro-choice (child-killing) movement and ask for your forgiveness. 

Since your display came on campus, I have converted to traditional Catholicism, repented of my sins, and am involved with a pro-life crisis pregnancy center, and prayer vigil against Planned Parenthood.  If you ever come back to the University of Oregon campus, please contact me.  I would love to help out in any way possible. ... I would also love to help you in any other way that I can.  God bless and thank you.

GAP workers have not only been inspired by such a beautiful conversion, they have received endorsement from influential religious leaders. 

Pastor Clenard Childress, Jr., is the senior pastor of New Calvary Baptist Church in New Jersey. In November of 2000, Pastor Childress was awarded the Community Service Award by the Montclair Chapter of the N.A.A.C.P. for his dedicated work in the community and in January 2004 was appointed president of the Montclair African American Clergy Association (MAACA).  Pastor Childress sits on the board of the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform and is a strong supporter of GAP.  On L.E.A.R.N.’s website it says, “Members of L.E.A.R.N. New Jersey have participated in every single GAP exhibit by joining the CBR staff in offering a rationale to all interested passersby.”

Father Frank Pavone is a well-known pro-life leader who supports the Genocide Awareness Project (GAP).  In 1993, with the permission of Cardinal O’Connor, Fr. Pavone became national director of Priests for Life.  He was asked by Mother Teresa to address the clergy of India on the life issues. Norma McCorvey, the “Jane Roe” of the Supreme Court’s abortion decision Roe vs. Wade, called Fr. Pavone “the catalyst that brought me into the Catholic Church.”  In 1997, he was asked by the Vatican to help co-ordinate pro-life activities throughout the world as an official of the Pontifical Council for the Family.  In April 2000, Fr. Pavone wrote a letter to pro-life supporters stating,

Enclosed please find a report on one of the most exciting new pro-life projects I have ever seen.  It is called the Genocide Awareness Project and it is conducted by The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform (CBR), on whose board of directors I sit with Gregg Cunningham...

...please write a check in the largest amount you can possibly afford to support this extraordinary venture.  It is saving babies like nothing the pro-life movement has ever undertaken and is worthy of our heartiest support.

Archbishop Raymond Burke, formerly bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin and now archbishop of St. Louis, also supports GAP.  Archbishop Burke is most recently known for his public statement that “... Catholic legislators, who are members of the faithful of the Diocese of La Crosse and who continue to support procured abortion or euthanasia may not present themselves to receive Holy Communion...”  In April 1999, he wrote a letter endorsing CBR’s staff member Paul saying, “... I highly recommend him and GAP and support fully his work with the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform.” 

Given all that has been described, why would some pro-life people oppose this powerful project?  The reasons should not be that the project doesn’t save babies; that is false.  The reasons should not be that the project is controversial; otherwise, Christian churches would be silent on all moral teachings that are controversial.  The reasons should not be that people may misinterpret the message; after all, were misinterpretation to be the fear, clergy would not preach against sin for fear that sinners think their religious leader “hates” them. 

Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of the Christ, graphically depicts the suffering our Saviour endured for us.  The movie was extremely controversial, with critics falsely accusing it of being “anti-Semitic.”  I did not see most leaders in Christian churches run to the side of the critics so as to avoid being falsely labeled as well; instead, I saw them rightfully embrace the film as an accurate portrayal of the suffering and death of our Lord. 

GAP faces similar criticism, falsely being labeled as “racist” or “anti-Semitic” or even “anti-woman.”  Those labels are completely dishonest.  Some, however, believe that such accusations will hurt the pro-life cause and that pro-lifers should not participate in the activity.  I am reminded of a quote by Justice Clarence Thomas who said,

...by yielding to a false form of ‘civility,’ we sometimes allow our critics to intimidate us.  As I have said, active citizens are often subjected to truly vile attacks; they are branded as mean-spirited, racist, Uncle Tom, homophobic, sexist, etc.  To this we often respond (if not succumb), so as not to be constantly fighting, by trying to be tolerant and nonjudgmental—i.e., we censor ourselves.  This is not civility.  It is cowardice, or well-intentioned self-deception at best.[8]

Being bold and controversial is evident in the spirit of the early church, where Christians proclaimed a message the world needed to hear, even though it was a message the world didn’t want to hear.  Dr. King once wrote,

There was a time when the church was very powerful—in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed.  In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society.  Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and immediately sought to convict the Christians for being "disturbers of the peace" and "outside agitators."  But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction that they were a "colony of heaven," called to obey God rather than man.  Small in number, they were big in commitment.  They were too God-intoxicated to be "astronomically intimidated."  By their effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contests.[9]

With the grace of God working through each one of us, we can be mere instruments to bring an end to the modern-day evil of abortion.  But that requires capturing the sacrificial spirit of the early church.  It involves recognizing and welcoming the different talents and approaches people will bring to the table. 

The crisis of abortion has reached massive proportions and we need a sense of urgency in our response.  The death of the unborn is paid for by our government, through our tax dollars.  Doctors are the ones killing these babies.  Parents are the ones turning the babies over to be killed.  The babies are killed because they are deemed to be a burden.  Many in our society, even in our churches, are living as though this is not happening.  Abortion isn’t about strangers turning over strangers, but parents turning over their own children.  It isn’t limited to a certain part of the world, but is rampant throughout.   The victims have absolutely no ability to run, scream, or resist.  GAP is one way that CCBR is trying to address this abortion crisis.