Letter from Prison from Joan Andrews Bell

Joan Andrews Bell (2nd from right) with fellow Garland 9 rescuers.

Joan Andrews Bell was among the Garland 9 carted off to jail as they await sentencing for putting their bodies between the babies and their murderer. I once rescued with Joan over thirty years ago, before she was married, on a rainy Good Friday that happened to be my birthday. There were 33 of us which seemed appropriate since Jesus suffered his final passion when He was 33. I wonder how many babies have been saved by Joan and her sacrifices. How many years has she spent in jail for rescuing babies? What a hero who glories in the cross of Christ!  

I received an email from her husband a few days ago. Please pray for Joan and the other seven prisoners. One older lady who is ill, took a plea and was released. The others remain in jail in Alexandria awaiting sentencing. Why were they not released until sentencing? Because the draconian system called them violent for simply sitting and offering women help to carry their little ones to term. They are committed to non-violence and none of them lifted a finger to physically hurt anyone or defend themselves against the violence of the angry abortion workers.

As a result of this evil against peaceful pro-lifers, Texas congressman Chip Roy has introduced a bill to repeal the FACE Act (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances). According to LIVE ACTION:

Rep. Roy told the Daily Signal that “Biden’s Department of Justice has brazenly weaponized the FACE Act against normal, everyday Americans across the political spectrum, simply because they are pro-life,” adding, “Our Constitution separates power between the federal government and the states for a reason, and we ignore that safeguard at our own peril. The FACE Act is an unconstitutional federal takeover of state police powers; it must be repealed.”

God brings good out of every bad situation. No evil takes place that He does not use it in His Divine Providence to work a good. The suffering of the pro-life activists will contribute to the ultimate defeat of the demonic practice of abortion.

Here's Joan's message from prison sent by her husband, Chris Bell. 

Joan just called (she has called each day so far) and wants to share this message:

 I am so very grateful for everyone who would want to send me commissary money, or write me a letter (letters are most special gifts), or visit me in prison. But I hope you will be able to understand why I am pleading with you not to do any of these. Please! The short explanation is that I want my prison stay to be a time of un-distracted prayer, as well a time of penance – for myself and our nation. I want to make my cell as it were a cloistered monastery cell. In a Carmelite monastery the nuns are only allowed  2 visits a year from family, and depending upon the specific monastery, they are only allowed 2 – 4 letters a year from family. Therefore, that is what I want to emulate.  My family will visit when they are able and will write. So I will have that.

I love each of you so very much! We in the prolife movement are as much family as could possibly be. At this point I cannot be on the front lines with you, but in my prayers and in my heart I am with you and our precious unborn brothers and sisters who are suffering martyrdom.

I am afraid that the only way I can bear not being with them and you at the killing places is by making of my life behind these walls a time of constant prayer, and whatever little additional sacrifice I can embrace.

I join my prayers with yours. We are united in Him Our Savior and Our Blessed Virgin Mary.

Thank you, and may God bless you beyond measure!

Yours in the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary,

Joan Bell

9/18/2023 AD