Musicians rockin' for those in utero Rob Cullivan/Catholic Courier You don't expect to hear "rock star" and "pro-life activist" in the same sentence, but former Van For Life Web site at www.rockfor- Halen lead singer Gary Cherone can life.org. features a list of bands Rock describe himself as both. for Life says support abortion. Some Cherone, who also sang for the^iit of the performers listed are sup­ band Extreme during the early porters of Rock For Choice, which 1990s, said he felt he had to take a was formed in the early 1990s by the pro-life stand because "sitting on the all-female band L7 and has staged Photo courtesy of Rock for Life Fans listen to a pro-life teanddurin g the Rock For Life 2003 summer tour. fence is absurd." benefits for pro-choice groups. Rock That's the attitude taken by the or­ For Choice supporters have includ­ sistant director of Rock For Life. tion to his letters ganization for which Cherone advo­ ed Paula Cole, Melissa Etheridge and "We would encourage kids to boycott to Vedder, Cher- cates, the Stafford, Va.-based Rock Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder. bands that are supporting the abor­ one's other pro- For Life, a coalition of pro-life bands "We want the kids to know what tion industry" life work includes and activists that is affiliated with the bands they are listening to are McKalips also urged listeners to recording a new the-American Life League. The Rock supporting," said Sara McKalips, as- send letters to performers, letting two-song CD ti­ IfltiE them know why they aren't buying a project of tled "Perfect American Life League their CDs. She dismissed the argu­ World." Proceeds from the CD's sale ment that pro-life listeners should be will benefit Rock For Life. able to separate their social concerns Just as Cherone entered the pro- from their musical choices. life camp from the secular-music THERE'S A "I would just say that there are world, Rock For Life has ventured some things that are more important beyond Christian-music festivals in­ than entertainment," she said, noting to the world of secular rock 'n' roll. she only buys CDs made by Christ­ For example, McKalips said vshe GREAT DAY ian rockers. "Then I can be pretty manned a Rock For Life information Confident that they're pure," she booth at a Washington, D.C., secular- said, adding that Rock For Life also music festival. COMING! maintains a list of links to pro-life "I was surprised by the number of bands -on its Web site. people who came up to us and en­ Few listeners would be familiar couraged us in what we're doing," On WORLD with many of the bands listed there she said, adding that at least one unless they're also devotees of Chris­ woman said she had been converted MISSION SUNDAY, tian music. However, along with to the pro-life movement after visit­ October 19, our Holy Father, Cherone, Rock For Life has enlisted ing the Rock For Life booth at the a couple of well-known names from same festival the previous year; Pope John Paul 11, calls every the secular world, including P.O.D., a Rock For Life has several chapters Catholic to celebrate, at the metal-rap band familiar to MTV across the country. Comprising teens viewers. and young adults, these chapters Eucharist, our vocation to be Cherone earned his pro-life cre­ have, organized pro-life festivals, missionary and to help the dentials, in part, by penning two open sponsored pro-life talks and raised letters to Vedder a few years back in money for groups that help single Missions... an attempt to engage the pro-choice mothers. The chapter nearest to the ftPRAY for the Church's grunge star in a dialogue on abortion. Diocese of Rochester was founded "If the unborn is not a human per­ three months ago in the Albany area, worldwide missionary work son, no justification for abortion is according to Paul Troiani, a 21-year- COFFER fi nancial HELP necessary," Cherone wrote Vedder. old pro-life activist. through the PROPAGATION "However, if the Unborn is a human "Rock For Life is great because person, no justification for abortion they are youth-oriented and music is OF THE FAITH. is adequate." a big part of my life," said Troiani, Vedder never responded, but who noted that he enjoys both Chris­ Cherone's public stance earned him tian and secular hard-core rock. He The So, ittv (.,, THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH "a little hell" in the form of hate mail, added that his chapter has counseled ...a Pontifical Mission Society he said. women contemplating abortion and Please mail coupon to: Fr. Robert C. Bradler, "The issue is so divisive, but I picketed abortion clinics. 1150 Buffalo Rd., Dept. C, Rochester, NY 14624 thought I'd approach it as carefully "Probably the most disturbing and sensitively as I could, and the re­ thing I find from our activism is the Enclosed is my World Mission Sunday gift for the Missions... sponse from some fans has been number of girls who tell me that if D$100 D$50 D$25 D$10 •$ (other) near violent," he said. "I wouldn't call we were at the clinic the day of their them fans anymore," he added with abortion, then they may have con­ Name a chuckle. sidered not having an abortion," Yet Cherone also had the consola­ Troiani said. "That is a wake-up call Addres tion of receiving letters from women to these complacent churches that Citv. .State. -Zip. who told him they reconsidered we need to get involved in the pro- aborting their unplanned children af­ life movement and sacrifice our time www.worldmissions-catholicchurch.org ter reading about his views. In addi­ to help these girls in need."