Randall Terry planning hostile takeover?
The Washington Post featured an interesting profile on pro-life activist Randall Terry July 15. Here are excerpts:
Leaders of the antiabortion movement are cringing at Terry’s sudden return. They say his incendiary rhetoric and showy tactics turn off ordinary Americans and reflect Terry’s struggle to regain his glory years.
“It’s sad in a way,” said Fredericksburg antiabortion activist Patrick Mahoney, who was close to Terry at one time but, like others in the movement, is now estranged from him. “It’s almost like a heavyweight boxer who’s past his prime. The movement has gone by him.”…
“The pro-life movement is getting its hind end kicked,” [Terry] said, “because we think that we can literally upend the social order as it is now with a few phone calls, letters and ‘We’re going to sell a rose once a year and march once a year on the Capitol.’ It’s ludicrous.”
He laughed. “I drive them crazy.“…
“If child killing is going to be ended, the road goes though this capital, and I intend to be a part of that movement,” he said. “And I intend to lead – to be a key leader of that movement. And I am.“
Terry dropped out of the pro-life movement for years and years. When he suddenly bounded back it was in a time warp, not unlike Adam emerging from the bomb shelter in Blast from the Past, proceeding to mischaracterize and malign the efforts of pro-lifers who never left the scene – even taking glee in being the pro-life movement’s red-haired stepchild. And for all this Terry thinks he commands a “key leader[ship]” role?
The one good thing I think Terry has accomplished these past few months is to engage Norma McCorvey to become an activist. Her arrests at Notre Dame and the Sotomayor hearings got lots of press and brought much embarrassment to the pro-abortion movement that used her in its Roe v. Wade case and then spit her out. I only hope Terry isn’t replaying history on the flip side. But Norma’s a big girl.
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
Before the “Pro-Life Movement” starts getting a pretentious, they should remember that these are babies being killed. I for one find it difficult to stand back and ask “please” when someone is considering/committing murder.
That was an incorrect interpretation of my post, Rebecca. Of course no one needs ask to become involved. That is ludicrous.
Expressing glee one is aggravating the rest of the movement one abandoned for over a decade while boasting one is a “key leader” of that same movement upon one’s abrupt return is the point of the post.
Having watched Terry for years – I’m from Western New York – I think his tactics help to undermine the cause.
Maybe the phone call campaign strategy is not ideal. But popular opinion is steadily moving toward a pro-life view. And Arkansas just made it law that you cannot abort due to sex selection (which has been documented in the U.S. as of 2000 google “edlund almond” and you will see references to their U.S. census-based study). Minnesota proposed this law, but it did not get turned into law. Lila Rose project, showing PP personnel systematically ignoring state laws regarding mandatory reporting of statutory rape has translated into strong actions, such as closing PP clinics or cutting funding, and continues to do so. The absolute number of abortions is declining. So, there is a lot of change happening. It is wrong to say nothing is happening.
How can you say “undermine the cause” when it is the immense silence and inaction of Christians that allows the murder to continue daily? The murder of babies and the spiritual loss of souls in the parents who are caught in the abortion lie.
I think some of us agree his tactics during the Notre Dame scandal was wrong. I prefer peaceful methods with pictures of fetal development in pamphlets and the occasional real image of abortion (like the truth truck) to baby dolls with blood on them pushed around in strollers.
I don’t have any problem with his tactics at Notre Dame, or his grandstanding in general. I do have a problem with some of his attacks on others in the movement, who unlike him have a solid and well earned reputation for doing the right thing.
A politician (or was it an entertainer) once said “I don’t care what you say about me, as long as you spell my name right”. The prolife movement is a little bit that way, anything that keep abortion in the eye of the public does us some good, even if has questionable effects on public opinion. It stimulates thoughts and debate on abortion, and that’s always good for us.
So bring on Terry, and anyone else who wants to “make a splash” and upset the status quo. Let’s have a good old fashioned free for all.
If Christians need the perversion of their faith made flesh in Randall Terry to take action against a gross inhumanity, then something is seriously wrong.
To you Terry supporters – do you interact with anyone who holds a pro-abortion view? Do you know how much they thrive off of him? He may energize a few lazy “Christians” to do something, but waving bloody dolls and saying the ridiculous crap he says inspires wishy-washy pro-aborts to donate to Planned Parenthood and get involved with pro-abort organizations.
His ego is disgusting, the way he’s treated his family is disgusting, and his attempt to make waves just to get his name back in the media is disgusting.
Doyle, Terry’s “grandstanding” is PRIDE. He does it so people will pay attention to him. That is a SIN. If you are a Christian, how can you not see a problem with that?
Having “a good old fashioned free for all” will NOT end abortion. It will excite people, bring enthusiasm on both sides, and raise funds for individuals like Terry (is he still having people give him money directly?). Do you understand how absolutely bonkers most people think he is? If he is leading, people are going to associate his followers and the rest of the movement as crazy like him. If your goal is to “make a stand” rather than actually save lives, then follow Terry.
Jill, thank you for keeping your eyes on Terry. Its hard to hear just how pathetic he is in his attempts to steal the limelight, but its important we know about them.
Terry tried his tactics for 25 years. It didn’t work.
It is entirely possible that he is in this for the money. He has no charitable organization and no public record as a charity. That means people who give him money may NOT take a tax deduction and by law he has NO obligation to spend the money on pro-life work. He can take as much as he wants as personal income.
Marketing 101 tells us that in order to win people you need to attract them to the goodness of your position not spend all your time trying to “prove” the evil of your opponent. When Coke wants you to by a cola, they don’t spend all their time saying “Pepsi sucks.” They attract you (not reason you) to the goodness of their product.
The Pro-Life movement will never reason the people in the middle into being pro-life. They will attract them with a positive message on the beauty of life. Change hearts not minds.
Randall Terry, it’s time to retire and stop taking people’s money.
PLA, thanks, and thanks for your input.
I can see where your reservations about Terry come from. But I can never say anything negative about a man who has been arrested as many times as he, brought financial ruin on himself through these actions and has saved as many babies as he and his movement have.
Any pro-lifer who criticizes Terry should have been arrested at least once for a peaceful disobedience before they can speak. I have not.
I have never met Randall Terry, never been in the same room with him.
But I do not believe Mr. Terry could possibly embarass the ‘pro-life’ movement more than the cold dead corpses of the fify million dead chilren who were summarily executed in this country in the last three decades.
That is a staggering thing to consider and comprehend.
I do not mean to pass condemnation on any person, I just want you to pause and reflect on where we have been, where we are and where we are going.
Whatever GOD has given ‘YOU’ to do, do it whole heartedly and after you have filled up the full measure of your devotion, then you can take some time to nit pick the motives and tactics of others.
yor bro ken
Operation Rescue with Terry’s flawed leadership helped create the Webster and the Casey decisions. Cornell law argued that Casey surpassed Roe and was now the dominant opinion on abortion. For the first time, ever, states could take steps, short of banning abortion, to challenge the abortion right. So, parental consent, notification, making it a murder if a fetus was killed, all became possible.
Tragically, most pro-lifers do not know the truth about their own movement. We now have the legal right to demand that students be given a pro-life curriculum.
Terry will not hurt…he will help. His way is not everyone’s…but there are twenty paths to victory.
By the way, what did he do wrong at Notre Dame? Because of the excellent reporting of Jill Stanek I saw Christians respectfully stand for life for blocks as Obama drove toward the university. I saw several hundred parents and children that made me proud, who had a separate graduation.
We always complain about the media. Stand up to them…if they complain about Terry, he must be doing something right. And I don’t know of a pro-choice zealot who doesn’t dislike Randall. Says something, doesn’t it. Let’s toughen up.
Outside of pro-life media, the pro-life response at Notre Dame was ridicule and mocked.
Really, I think a lot of you that are defending Terry have a limited view as to what his impact is outside of pro-life circles and are fooling yourselves into thinking that the old line “any news is good news” still holds true. We’ve moved into an age where a million bloggers can pick apart and expose even the smallest foible.
And how can you folks defend Terry with religious sentiment when the man is a mockery of your religious views? He is a scam artist with a history of treating his family in a despicable manner….
Randall Terry’s rhetoric will NOT be successful in bringing about the masses to a pro-life viewpoint, because the bulk of the American public rejects the fire and brimstone he talks about, and even a large number of religious individuals are turned off by the way he talks. Like I said before, if all you are interested in doing is irritating “the enemy” and “making a stand for God,” then Terry is your guy. If you want to actually make a difference, convert minds and save lives, then go back to the drawing board OR join up with the numerous other pro-life efforts that are effective, but just don’t have the massive publicity that Terry does because they aren’t media wh*res who will say anything to get attention.
PLA,
I don’t know the man, but from what I’ve read, I’m not sure anything that anyone says about Terry is going to have any effect on him and what he chooses to do… No one here is elevating Terry to “god status”. We need to concentrate on doing what we can – each and every one of us as individuals. Maybe the less said about him, the better. He’s only one man after all.
Randall Terry has more innovative ideas than most people in the movement. I wouldn’t discount him at all. Besides, he has a softer side that is really emerging with age. He is an accomplished musician and does great impersonations. Listen to his podcasts sometime. He was MADE for new media.
We ARE talking about infanticide, right?… especially now, with this clown in office and with gov’t healthcare on the way. So, NO ONE could be more presumptuous than Barack Obama when it comes to this subject. I love the passive-aggressive style the media takes with abortion. It really shows how afraid they are to face things head on. So, the people they fear most are the ones who point their heads DIRECTLY at the issues we are dealing with.
My dream is to build a holocaust museum in an abortion clinic in Dallas TX with all the bells and whistles. I want everyone to remember these babies and their demise. We need to face off with the truth, together, as a country and repent.
To Pro-Life Atheist:
There was only one media outlet that gave a true impression of what happened at Notre Dame: Jill Stanek’s blog. There is a reason the truth of Notre Dame was not presented accurately to the American people: it would have had a positive impact for life.
We can judge by what actually occurs, or follow the lead of the mainline media….few of which are concerned about the 50 million unborn dead.
Can’t say how glad I am you take a pro-life stand. I know you make some great contributions.
Stop fretting over ‘the movement’ and let your concern be with the victims of elective abortion.
yor bro ken
“Randall Terry planning hostile takeover?”
The pro-life movement does not have a board of directors of which I am aware.
So, how can any human ‘takeover’ the movement?
None of the constituent organizations has an exclusive title to the movement.
None of the constituent organizations are publicly traded so how can any human hijack control of the movement?
yor bro ken
Cort, baby dolls with red paint is not an innovative idea. Terry didn’t create the tactic of clinic rescues, either – it was already going on across the nation before he stepped in. If you could only talk to some of the people “on the other side” and see what they think of Randall. You’re not going to win them over with him and his boorish tactics, and the military analogies Randall Terry uses are based upon a false premise. If the whole abortion debate was a battle, then its one in which the ONLY way pro-lifers can win is not by using proverbial weapons, but by converting every single person on the other side to our views.
Dr. Beasley:
Several blogs, news shows and podcasts discussed the pro-life response at Notre Dame, including The McLaughlin Group. Almost all ignored the massed demonstrating and instead focused on Randall Terry and his antics. Almost none of the coverage was good.
PLA:
You say several outlets talked about Notre Dame but ignored the mass demonstrations.
Why was that? Because focusing upon the truth helps pro-life. Terry was not a diversion for them….otherwise there would have been silence. If a pro-choice media wants pro-life to diminish Terry’s role, that tells me by definition that his ability to generate the support and action of hundreds…or thousands…is something they do not want.
We must stand up to the media and defend our own. I will never forget receiving a letter from Terry around 1990 encouraging people to come to NY. I was amazed….Only his name and picture were on the material…but 7000 showed up (I did not). I owe something to Terry and those 7000.
I see some great comments here and I know that everyone who takes the time to write cares about those who cannot speak for themselves. God Bless you.
i believe that this pro life movement has gone on way too long. what is needed is a differant approach and those with a passion to end abortion. At this point I have to agree that what terry says and is doing will be more effective.
I find it disheartening that those who say they are pro-life are attacking the motives behind someone who is merely trying to disclose the absolute truth of abortion—an evil, ugly act of violence. What purpose is being solved by judging his motives? What do his motives matter anyway?
Although I am not called to follow his brand of activism but rather, thru the sheer grace of God, am called to do all I can to stop it in other ways, I admire that he is willing to risk ridicule and reputation to bring full attention to the horror of abortion. Some may call it grand-standing, but then anyone in the public eye can stand accused. Even Mother Teresa was accussed of drawing too much attention upon herself.
Only Terry Randall will have to answer God with his motives. How do we know that God is not calling him to what-we-perceive-as over the top tactics? How do we know God didn’t call him away from the limelight for a number of years to concentrate on other things, like prayer?
God is calling each of us to end this evil in different ways and thru different means. This evil will be defeated by many fronts. Like I’ve learned in sidewalk counseling, some people may respond to the truth delivered with a more direct approach. Some, need the truth enveloped by gentle love. Terry without question is using the former method…and some people seem to be responding.
I do know that Terry’s little book “A Humble Plea” is re-energizing many in our local community against the abortions happening in our own town. It is disturbing and quite in-your-face, (vintage Terry Randall) but it is also challenging and extremely perceptive and is touching the heart of many who read it.
Dr. Beasley, I beg to disagree. There was another “media outlet” there, Pro-Life Unity / prolifenews.tv. & I believe we covered the grounds with our media extensively.
We have a dozen videos from the day Obama was there.
http://www.youtube.com/user/prolifenews#play/search
search for notre dame inside our group.
Peter
Sandy, I’m not a supposed pro-lifer, I’m a committed one.
We can’t take a “oh well nothing is working so lets try anything new” approach. What Terry does is NOT new; its a rehashing of the tired old “We’re Christians, God says abortion is wrong, we’re gonna do what God wants us to do.”
What he does turns people off who aren’t Christian and play into stereotypes.
If you want to try a new angle, why not try the secular/non-religious approach? Why not listen to me and the other pro-life atheists, non-atheists, agnostics. It worked with with, it worked with several of my friends, and its worked with the dozens of people I’ve got to change their minds about abortion.
Randall Terry is not a leader because he hung around long enough, nor is it because nobody cares whether he hung around long enough. It’s this simple: A leader is a leader because others follow him.
But that’s not really what bothers us about Randall Terry, is it?
The thought that people can seriously consider the mass killing of a generation, and then sleep pretty well at night, is an overwhelming prospect. If we thought about it for what it was long enough and hard enough, it could drive some of us crazy, it could force some of us to leave our jobs and our families, and not stop fighting until the madness was ended. Randall Terry annoys us because we don’t do that, and people who get in our face about it, if only the way he does, are obnoxious.
Now, maybe you’re reading this and you’re thinking, hey, I’m sufficiently outraged, thank you very much, and I don’t need Randall Terry coming out of the woodwork and getting in my face. Well, maybe you don’t. But maybe others do. After all, look at who 52 percent of us made President, including a lot of self-professed “pro-lifers.”
If he can stop the madness, who cares how long of a break he took?
If someone else feels that they are the rightful “leader” of the prolife movement, then stand up and be counted. But stop spending the time and money on these little intramural squirmishes.
Fact is the prolife movement is in disarray. Fact is that nearly 40 years of “playing nice” and “seeking dialogue” has done nothing.
Some of the more aggressive elements of the movement have become a little more concerned about their organization’s continued existence than the ending of abortion.
Randall Terry isn’t perfect, but maybe we could stop the ship from sinking and then throw out the people we don’t like.
Pro-lifer atheist,
It’s not easy for some Christians to “see” that there is another way to express pro-life views. Many are realizing that religion is not needed to prove that abortion kills a human life, and that abortion is not good for society in general.
I believe God has given you the job of bringing more atheists to the pro-life position. (You are blesses whether you believe it or not.)
Terry is making your job harder, but it sounds like you are doing a great job yourself!!! Keep doing what you are doing.
I’m curious, can you summarize how you present the case against abortion to a pro-choice atheist friend? What do you say? It may help those of us who are Christian understand your viewpoint better. Thanks.
First, as Christians we are called to faith, hope & charity. As Saint Therese of the Child Jesus says, that her vocation “was to become love itself.” If we are to win this Crusade for Life, our vocation must become “Love itself”. Welcome Randal Terry back with open arms & support him with the love that is required for sanctity. His pride will become humility and then and only then will all the other virtues flow.
I am not saying that we can’t constructively criticize one another’s methods. We must if our fellow Christians are doing harm to the Body of Christ. We must do it firmly and with conviction. Love and truth will work.
I remember being on a train down south and an elderly woman (with a beautiful hat & gloves on-a true southern lady) was telling me about her six children that she raised on her own after her husband died.
All six graduated from college were faithful,active Catholics and were in great careers. When I asked her what her secret was, she leaned over and with a twinkle in her eye she said, “People are like a tough piece of beef, you have to marinate them to get them tender. So I marinated them with the love of God 24 hours a day”!
Enuf said…