From Ann Marie Tomlins.

I would like to respond to the letter written by Smyth and the Tuns', regarding Show the Truth. Although I take issue with numerous statements made in the letter, I will focus on four main points: the dismissal of Amy Gordon; the statement concerning the Magisterium of the Catholic Church; the issue of children seeing the signs; and testimony from aborted women.

I was shocked and saddened to read Smyth and the Tuns' dismiss Amy Gordon's view as that of a young, inexperienced girl from an "atypical" family. Amy Gordon is a mature, intelligent and articulate young lady with a well-educated and well-formed conscience, a myriad of various experiences in pro-life work, and several years of experience in showing the truth. As for her "atypical family," as shown in the latest addition of The Interim, large pro-life families are to be applauded, rather than being dismissed as "atypical." I am a 58-year old woman from a family of three. I hope my age or small family does not cause my opinion to be dismissed.

The statement that "many Catholics loyal to the Magisterium oppose Show the Truth" seems to imply that those who participate in Show the Truth are not loyal to the Magisterium. First of all, I challenge Smyth and the Tuns' to produce any statement from the Magisterium against showing the truth. Secondly, I hope Smyth and Tuns realize that they have just implied that the following people are acting against the Catholic Church: Father Frank Pavone, Father Tony Van Hee, Father Tom Lynch, Father Ted Colleton, just to name a few of the many priests who join us in showing the truth. Add to that the priests who host us and allow us to use their churches for our daily Masses and their church halls for accommodation; the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Women's League groups and Right to Life groups across Eastern and Central Canada who provide our meals, serve us and often join us in our presentations; the faithful Catholics of all ages and various stages of health who join us year after year; and even the Archbishop of Halifax, who e-mailed a welcome to us on our recent visit to his city.

Now to the most important issue of all, the issue that causes great concern to so many people. When I joined Show the Truth, it was with great hesitation. In the end it was two religious experiences that led me to join the group of three who started the movement in 1997. My hesitation was because of the children. So my focus, from that first presentation in Windsor, Ontario onward, was the faces of the children.

It only took one presentation to convince me that Show the Truth does not hurt children. Our first presentation was at the Freedom Festival in Windsor. There were dozens of children amongst hundreds of adults at the Festival. I watched children as they went by. Small children glanced and then looked around to take in some more interesting sights. Small children driving by in cars would look, very unconcerned, then glance around at other things. One woman stopped with her three preschool children in front of the picture of Malachi, aborted at 21 weeks. She explained abortion to her children. To my surprise, they did not flinch. The youngest, in a carriage, wasn't interested. The two toddlers looked and listened. The mother thanked us for being there.

Since that first night, I've watched the faces of thousands of children, over the past nine years. I am convinced, beyond the shadow of a doubt, based on experience, that the pictures do not hurt children, in particular small children, who hardly even notice the pictures. Simply put, those who are too young to understand don't understand, so there is no problem. On the contrary, showing the truth helps children. Those old enough to notice the pictures and to understand their meaning will not succumb to pro-abortion propaganda. They will know that what is killed by abortion is not merely a 'blob of tissue' and that 'termination of pregnancy' means termination of the life of a living, growing human being. When faced with an unexpected or unwanted pregnancy, they will not be fooled by abortion slogans. Many of them will choose LIFE because we showed them the truth.

One final note on the issue of children seeing the pictures. Although The Interim (of which Paul Tuns is the editor) fully endorses 'GAP' [the Genocide Awareness Project], it gives limited negative press to Show the Truth. Is Paul not aware that most universities have daycares?

Smyth and the Tuns stated that we are unlikely to receive any testimony from those damaged people whose pain is re-triggered by their unwitting exposure to Show the Truth. The reality is that we do hear testimony from these women.

I will not deny that some women are upset and angry when they see our pictures, but I believe that women need to face what they have done in order to receive forgiveness and healing. The interesting thing is that many women who have had abortions do stop and speak to us, many talking about their abortion experience for the first time. One woman in particular who spoke to us in Montreal told us that she had three abortions; she added that she would not have had any if she had seen these pictures first. This was the first time that she had told anyone about her abortions. She thanked us for being there. She may not be typical, but she serves as a reminder that our service is also to women. If a woman is upset we always try to offer her counseling. Many women accept.

Should women see these pictures? We often criticize the Catholic Church for not speaking out from the pulpit. The priests tell us that they do not want to hurt aborted women. The longer they are silent, the more women will suffer from abortion. Should they be silent? Should we shield aborted women from the truth, allowing more and more women to suffer the physical and psychological consequences of abortion, or should we speak and show the truth for the sake of the hundred and five thousand a year women and children that need to be saved from abortion.

I am a mother of three, grandmother of three; I am employed as a Special Education Teacher at Our Lady of Grace Catholic School in Angus, ON; I love my job because I love children. As long as there is breath within me, I will continue to Show the Truth, for the children, for the women, for my country and for God.

New Lowell, ON