October 29, 2004

Marion Hite is 98 years old. He never married and lives alone in a small apartment in the Northwest section of Portland, Oregon. He spends most days quietly sitting in his chair. When he's not reading his well-worn prayer book or praying his rosary, he's probably dozing. He admits most people don’t stop by to chat, but he doesn't seem to mind. His sitting and his praying is his work.

According to a recent article in “The Oregonian” by reporter Tom Hallman Jr., Marion Hite is a man with a mission. Every day for almost a quarter of a century, Mr. Hite has spent sitting - alone and outside in the street - on the corner of Northwest Lovejoy and 25th Avenue. He sits in a lawnchair quietly holding a sign which reads; “Please let your baby live. We will help you; give him or her to us”. Written below is an 800 number for an adoption service. It is terribly ironic that the abortion “clinic” is named after the street, “The Lovejoy Surgicenter”.

In his article, Mr. Hallman reports that despite Marion’s many years of keeping his lone silent vigil which often begins before sunrise, he can point to only one woman who decided to turn around after seeing his sign. That woman now has a 9-year-old daughter who he has never met and will probably never see.

In his own words this is why Marion Hite has been silently sitting outside all day and every day for the past twenty five years: "They're killing babies. The Lord said what we do to the least of His brethren we do to Him. Those babies are human beings created by God, and one of the commandments is that we should not kill. And we are killing those babies."

If someone from Portland Oregon reads this, please do me a favor. Go to the corner of Northwest Lovejoy and 25th. If you see an elderly man sitting in a lawnchair silently holding a sign, please thank him - for every American. If he is not there, I know where he is - in heaven - happily watching a young girl grow up and awaiting her arrival. Either way, Marion Hite, pray for us!

Fr. Glenn Sudano, CFR
Community Servant (superior), residing at St. Felix Friary in Yonkers

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