Ed Mohs' Faith Journey, By John Wolcott, Jan. 7, 2009
Progress – Jan. 22 Pro-Life Issue - Ed Mohs’ faith journey
Jan. 7, 2009
By John Wolcott
A child of rape, Ed Mohs’ strong
pro-life stance has been a part of his deepest beliefs since his early teens.
Through his family and friends, he knows the value his life has had and he’s
seen God’s spirit guiding him in his life of faith.
He knows, too, that even in states
where there are strong anti-abortion laws, exceptions often are made for babies
conceived through rape or incest. That would include his life, a life he’s
deeply thankful to be living.
“In my pre-teens, I learned I was
adopted. Later, I learned about my mother’s rape and her mental problems. For
me, my past has led to my strong pro-life faith,” said Mohs, 53, a Boeing Co.
engineer for more than 20 years, resident of Marysville and parishioner at
Immaculate Conception church in Everett.
A participant in Forty Days For
Life vigils at Planned Parenthood’s abortion clinic in Everett, a familiar face
at January March for Life gatherings in Olympia and a frequent writer of
pro-life “letters to editors” in area newspapers, Mohs is preparing for a Jan.
31 Walk For Life from Immaculate Conception to Planned Parenthood as yet
another opportunity for witnessing to pro-life views.
“I’m not really an out-front type
of person, but I just can’t help but be a witness, to offer reminders to people
of those values, particularly in today’s society,” Mohs said. “I could say ‘no’
to these things and it’d be easier, but this becomes part of you. I can’t say
‘no’ to God when there are opportunities to witness for those views, even
though it takes a great leap of faith every time to say ‘yes’ and get
involved.”
Mohs first stepped out when he
invited Human Life of Washington to participate in his high school family
living classes, balancing presentations by Planned Parenthood speakers. In
1970, he gathered signatures to oppose Referendum 20, the ballot issue that
made Washington the first state to endorse a woman’s right to abortion by a
vote of the people.
Looking back, he attributes his
years of pro-life witnessing to his family’s influence. His father and mother,
Ray and Mary, provided strong Catholic standards for their family of eight
children, including Ed and a brother who were both adopted. His late father was
a grand knight of Lynnwood Council 5816 and brought Ed into the fraternity,
where he later served as the council’s pro-life chairman.
“I was young enough to be molded by
my family’s faith and I accepted that mold,” he said. “I was involved in
pro-life symposiums and other Knights’ activities. It seemed just natural to
me.”
A member of St. Mary’s Knights of
Columbus Council 7863 in Marysville, Mohs said both the Knights’ and the
Catholic church’s respect-life activities were positive influences.
“The pro-life movement helped to
revitalize awareness of those issues in the 2008 presidential campaign. It was
good to see our own Archbishop Alex Brunett and other bishops speaking out for
life issues. Also, I saw the 40 Days For Life events attract more people to
witnessing, including priests such as Rev. James Northrop and Rev. Bryan
Hersey,” Mohs said.
The eldest of the Mohs family’s
eight children, he remembers several foster children as well, including three
Native Americans who lived 12 years with the family. He said he was deeply
influenced by his father’s work with Catholic Charities and St. Vincent de Paul
in Everett. In Mountlake Terrace, his mother continues to be involved with St.
Vincent DePaul and Catholic Daughters of America at St. Pius X parish.
As a pro-life chairman for the
Knights’ Lynnwood and Marysville councils at various times, he helped to
sponsor many baby showers and supportive events for Pregnancy Aid of Snohomish
County, which now operates from the Everett Knights of Columbus Hall beginning
this month. Throughout the 28 years since his marriage to Donna, he credits her
with being a strong supporter of the Catholic faith and many pro-life events.
Today, Mohs is an electrical
planning engineer on Boeing’s 747-8 program in Everett, the father of four and
grandfather of six. But he hasn’t forgotten his birth mother, Ann. After more
than 20 years of searching for her, he located her in 2002. Because of head
injuries suffered at birth and as a young girl, his mother had no idea she was
meeting her son. He was introduced by one of his newly found aunts as a “friend
of the family,” but he had an opportunity to see her and know she was secure
and well cared for in a group home.
“I’m grateful that my birth family
welcomed me and grateful for my mother. I’m also grateful for my own family, my
parents, extended family and friends. All of them have stood by me in prayer
and loving support. I’ve been blessed,” Mohs said.
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John Wolcott and his wife, Roberta, are freelance writers, owning their own business Features Northwest, and are on the board of Pregnancy Aid. John is a member of Knights of Columbus Council #7863, Marysville, WA.
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