CV NEWS FEED // Planned Parenthood announced April 2 that it is closing three Michigan locations in Petoskey, Jackson, and Marquette by the end of the month, citing funding cuts by the Trump administration.
Michigan news outlet MLive reported that in addition to the three closures, Planned Parenthood is consolidating two facilities in Ann Arbor.
The news of the Petoskey closure was especially meaningful to a group of young pro-life advocates who had spent years praying and protesting outside the facility. For the past seven years, high school students from St. Michael High School — an independent school in the Catholic classical tradition in Petoskey, Michigan — have prayed outside the clinic.
The school’s headmaster, Kevin Weed, told CatholicVote in an April 7 phone call that every Friday, a group of about 10 students and a few staff members sacrifice their lunch hour to pray the Rosary outside the abortion facility.
“Many people are attributing the closing to the Trump administration’s cutting of funds, which I’m sure makes a big difference,” Weed said. “Our students have been praying there, and those prayers have been answered. However that came to be, we’re just happy that this facility is closing.”
As CatholicVote previously reported, President Donald Trump temporarily froze Title X funding to Planned Parenthood due to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, effectively withholding tens of millions of dollars from the abortion giant.
CatholicVote also spoke with graduates from the high school, as well as a current student. The student, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated, “This shows how vital and effective prayer truly is. How we can make a difference for the better when we reach out to Mary and act in line with God’s will.”
Three graduates, Annie Mercer, Madilyn Wieman, and Grace Broz, shared with CatholicVote in an April 6 email interview that they are grateful to God for the victory.
CatholicVote: When did you first become involved in praying outside the clinic?
Mercer: I became involved in praying outside of my town’s Planned Parenthood my freshman year of high school. Every week on Friday a cohort of students would load up in the school’s car during our lunch period, and one or more of our teachers would chaperone. Initially, I would go once or twice a month, but after a short while I began to go weekly. Since then, and until my high school graduation, I joined my friends and classmates in praying the Rosary outside the Planned Parenthood building every Friday, even if it was raining or snowing and even on days when only a couple of us went.
Wieman: Throughout all four years of high school, I never missed a single opportunity to pray in front of Planned Parenthood. People yelled and cursed at us. Some folks even threatened to call the police.
CatholicVote: Did you ever encounter violence, opposition, or counter-protestors? If so, why did you decide to continue praying there?
Mercer: Every day we kneeled in front of that awful building we faced opposition! At first it greatly bothered my friends, but after some time we grew used to it and prayed for every single person that opposed us. It truly is shocking just how many people took time out of their day to flip off or scream at a small group of high schoolers praying — for the end to the murder of millions of innocent children, no less! Despite all of the backlash we received, we knew that what we were doing was pleasing to God. Even though we endured a sometimes endless onslaught of evil rage from those opposing us and risked our safety kneeling near the highway, we all understood the importance of public prayer in today’s times.
Wieman: Keep in mind, we were a completely peaceful protest consisting of teachers and students, kneeling on the grass to pray the Rosary. Despite all of the hostility we received, many drivers gave us a thumbs-up or honked at us with a smile.
CatholicVote: What’s the most inspirational encounter you witnessed when praying outside of the clinic?
Mercer: One Friday during my senior year, a woman who had previously had an abortion approached us and began to ask all sorts of questions — who are we, what school or organization are we a part of, and how could we oppose abortion, when sometimes the woman’s life is in danger? My philosophy teacher, who at one point was the head of our Pro-Life Club, calmly engaged with her in polite conversation — brilliantly defending the pro-life positions, especially with regards to ectopic pregnancies. She seemed to take what he said to heart and walked away soon after. I hope that the witness my philosophy teacher gave changed her mind, even if only a little.
Wieman: A few women even approached us to ask when we’d be out there next because they wanted to join us in prayer. It made me very happy to see that Planned Parenthoods across Michigan are closing.
CatholicVote: What was your reaction when you heard the clinic was closing?
Broz: I am glad to see another location where the foot of Mary is crushing the head of the ancient serpent. I have been praying there for five years, and I am absolutely elated that despite the inclement weather and the hostility we sometimes dealt with, we are seeing our efforts flower by the grace of God. To know that even one life may be saved makes the countless hours worthwhile.
Mercer: I learned about the clinic’s closure a few days ago from my younger brother who chose to break the news to me by declaring that our school would be “discontinuing the tradition of praying outside of Planned Parenthood soon,” to which I, understandably, responded with outrage, thinking that he meant that no one at our school wanted to pray the Rosary for the unborn anymore. Clearly — and thankfully — I was wrong! All praise to God for this victory!
This interview was edited for brevity and clarity.