\tHe had no idea that it was the beginning of a new chapter in Chicago\u2019s pro-life movement and the birth of the St. John Cantius pro-life teen group in which a significant role is played by Chicago Crusaders for Life.<\/p>\n
\tAs he loaded 15 kids into the van for the 2004 march in D.C., he hadn\u2019t dreamed that a few years later this group would organize \u201cpro-life flash mobs\u201d around the entire country; honor pro-life leaders in Hollywood style by unrolling the red carpet for them; pray on a gigantic rosary made of balloons in the middle of the city for numbers of occasions or turn a formal political rally on Federal Plaza in Chicago to a swing dance festival to \u201cswing public opinion\u201d on the HHS mandate.<\/p>\n
\tNor could he imagine the impact of yellow balloons with a black imprint: \u201cLIFE.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tThe first March for Life surprised everyone with its stillness, McCoy said.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cPeople walked, prayed and left. There was no intensity or urgency,\u201d said McCoy.<\/p>\n
\tHis group broke the silence by rallying on Capitol Hill shouting: \u201cWe love babies, yes we do! We love babies; how about you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\u201cWe lost our voices again and again,\u201d said McCoy. Subsequent trips involved teens from public and private schools as well as homeschooled kids. Soon the trip required a bus.<\/p>\n
\tSince then, about every two years, Brother McCoy has to charter an additional bus to transport everyone who wants to go to the rally.<\/p>\n
\tDramatic and good<\/b><\/p>\n
\t\u201cI haven\u2019t ever experienced anything this dramatic in a good way,\u201d said Aaron Brown, the president of the McHenry County College pro-life student organization in Crystal Lake, who has been with the Crusaders for the last five years.<\/p>\n
\tBut going on Marches for Life wasn\u2019t enough for McCoy, who said, \u201cEverybody went home and as a group we weren\u2019t doing a lot for the culture of life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tAs a result, the St. John Cantius leaders created a rule that \u201ceveryone who goes on the March for Life should be involved in any pro-life causes, not only the antiabortion (cause), but generally life-affirming causes,\u201d said McCoy.<\/p>\n
\tMany prayed in front of abortion clinics, some visited hospitals, others fasted and signed up for the 40 Days for Life initiative.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cWhen you see that after your prayers, women change their minds, you know that you are saving babies,\u201d said Julia Wool, 14, a freshman at Downers Grove North High School, who calls praying in front of the abortion clinics the highlight of her pro-life experience.<\/p>\n
\tThis rule bore fruit.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cEveryone had a more mature understanding of the reality of abortion,\u201d said McCoy.<\/p>\n
\tBalloons earning fame<\/b><\/p>\n
\tThe idea of carrying balloons surfaced when the group wanted something positive, happy and cool to carry.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cWe wanted to show the joy of kids who have the Holy Spirit and are fired with love for the Lord and the truth,\u201d McCoy said.<\/p>\n
\tHe asked what would symbolize all of that and the group shouted an answer: \u201cBalloons, balloons!\u201d<\/p>\n
\tThe color yellow came naturally. \u201cIt goes back to the time when after the election of Pope Benedict XVI, we countered the group of protesters in front of Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, wearing the pope\u2019s gold and yellow colors,\u201d said McCoy.<\/p>\n
\tThe balloons made an enormous impact during the March for Life.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cIt was not just one balloon per person but clusters of balloons. It became our symbol,\u201d said McCoy.<\/p>\n
\tThey earned more fame with the pro-life flash mob in February 2011 at Daley Plaza. The group was peacefully protesting a Walk for Choice.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cWe transported the helium balloons in black garbage bags and as the sound of the Lord of the Rings played from a stereo system built into a backpack, they popped out all around the plaza,\u201d McCoy said.<\/p>\n
\tThe whole event was recorded and uploaded online.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cBefore we knew it, all Catholic media were picking it up,\u201d said McCoy. They received requests for yellow balloons and help organizing pro-life flash mobs all over the country.<\/p>\n
\tThey have been involved in pro-life rallies in Michigan, Ohio, California, Texas and Ireland. They have sent about 25,000 printed yellow balloons to different pro-life groups.<\/p>\n
\tCrusaders for Life is the official pro-life St. John Cantius group but the pro-life teenage group includes many youth from surrounding parishes as well. They are committed to being educated on all life issues.<\/p>\n
\tOnce a month between 30 to 60 people show up to pray, play, dance, listen to a speaker, save time for confession, soccer, bonfires, sledding and ice skating.<\/p>\n
\tLuke Drong, a recent graduate from Lockport High School who is thinking about an engineering career, said the Crusaders made him a better person over all but the mission alone inspires him.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cThe people who are in it know what they are doing, and they get the job done,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\tFor more information about the Crusaders for Life, email Brother McCoy at babiesmaketheworldgoround@gmail.com or call (312) 243-7373.<\/p>\n
\tPosted with permission from the Catholic New World<\/a>. Officials newspaper for the Archdiocese of Chicago,\u00a0Illinois.<\/p>\n