HR0241 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY


  
 

 
HR0241LRB102 18030 LAW 24907 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of pro-life 
4activist Joseph Scheidler, who passed away on January 18, 
52021; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Joseph Scheidler was born to Matthias and 
7Kathleen (Pursley) Scheidler in Hartford City, Indiana in 
81927; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Joseph Scheidler served in the U.S. Navy as a 
10military policeman at the end of World War II and  earned a 
11bachelor's degree in communications at the University of Notre 
12Dame and a master's degree at Marquette University; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, Joseph Scheidler first worked as a teacher at 
14Mundelein College, a women's school in Illinois, where he met 
15his wife, Ann Crowley; and
 
16    WHEREAS, During his time at Mundelein College, Joseph 
17Scheidler chaperoned a group of students on a pilgrimage to 
18march with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. from Selma, Alabama 
19to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Following the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, Joseph 
 
 
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1Scheidler decided to leave his professional career to dedicate 
2his life to protecting the rights of the unborn and was known 
3by many as the godfather of the Pro-Life movement; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Joseph Scheidler founded the Pro-Life Action 
5League, a nonprofit organization, in 1980; its purpose was to 
6recruit and equip pro-life Americans to be a voice for unborn 
7children in their own communities throughout the country and 
8around the world; and
 
9    WHEREAS, A victory before the U.S. Supreme Court in a 
10landmark case entitled NOW v. Scheidler, involving the 
11exercise and defense of First Amendment rights of freedom of 
12speech and freedom of assembly, has helped to maintain the 
13availability of these rights for Illinoisans and all 
14Americans; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, Joseph Scheidler is seen as a true inspiration 
16and teacher to many current pro-life activists; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, Joseph Scheidler is survived by his loving wife 
18of 55 years, Ann; seven children; 26 grandchildren; and one 
19great-granddaughter; therefore, be it
  
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
21HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
 
 
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1we mourn the passing of Joseph Scheidler and extend our 
2sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all knew and 
3loved him; and be it further
  
 
4    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
5presented to the family of Joseph Scheidler as an expression 
6of our deepest sympathy.