You can’t tell him, ‘that is not a person’

By Dave Jolivet, Editor

SEEKONK, Mass. — At the sight of the sonogram image of a two-month-old fetus several years ago, David Creamer said, “You can’t tell me that is not a person.” That glimpse of his sister-in-law’s child made a lasting impression on the parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Seekonk; it made so much of an impact that Creamer has been deeply involved in the Pro-Life movement as part of his parish’s Pro-Life Committee, become a member of the Seekonk Knights of Columbus No. 5018, joined the Attleboro Serra Club, worked with the 40 Days For Life campaign, made the annual March For Life in Boston each October, and assisted in efforts to establish a Women’s Concern center in the Attleboro area.

With a Pro-Life resume like that, it’s no wonder that Creamer was the 2010 adult recipient of the Diocese of Fall River’s John Cardinal O’Connor Pro-Life Award, presented yesterday by Bishop George W. Coleman at St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth.

“I was shocked to receive the award,” Creamer told The Anchor. “There are so many others who deserve it more. I think I have such a strong Pro-Life conviction because of the great efforts of our parish priests, pastor Father Brian Harrington and Father Tom Costa. They’re outstanding priests who aren’t afraid to preach a Pro-Life message from the pulpit. And the Knights of Columbus are such Pro-Life advocates.” He also credits the parish’s 24-hour eucharistic adoration chapel, a place he’s spent many hours, with giving him the quiet time to reflect on the tragedy of abortion.

Creamer, 49, and his wife Claire, have two teen-age daughters, Tanya, 17, and Lara, 16. “My daughters fully understand what abortion is and its evils,” he said. “They have no qualms about walking in Pro-Life events. Hopefully it will be their generation that puts an end to abortion.”

Creamer said he’s been very blessed to have been raised by two very active Catholic parents who “made Church come first. They took us to Mass every Sunday and holy day and emphasized prayer in the home. And my grandmother Creamer said the rosary daily.”

“Doubly blessed” is how Creamer describes himself. “I also married into a very active Catholic family with strong faith. As a matter of fact, my father-in-law, Lucien, was a staunch Pro-Lifer years ago, when the abortion issue wasn’t as well known. He was a pioneer of sorts. He said bluntly, ‘There was no use for abortion.’”

The Pro-Life calling must run in the family, because Creamer’s younger brother, Glenn, is very active in the movement at his parish, St. Luke’s, in Barrington, R.I. “Glenn, like all my family, is an inspiration to me.”

His seemingly full plate of Pro-Life causes could lead one to think that’s more than enough to take up Creamer’s time. Not so. At one time he was involved with Opus Dei, but time constraints forced him to cut back on that, as well as the efforts concerning the Women’s Concern center.

He was also a Religious Education teacher for confirmation-aged students for more than a decade. “When I was teaching, I made sure there was always a lesson on abortion,” said Creamer. “I remember many of the students, 13- and 14-year-olds, were not all that motivated to be there. But when I gave my lesson on abortion, the students, especially the boys, were stunned that abortion was legal. The lesson really made an impression on many of the young students.”

Creamer still volunteers his services at various events at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, is an extraordinary minister of holy Communion, works at Steubenville East gatherings, and does other parish volunteer work.

“He’s a great guy,” said Father Brian J. Harrington, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish. “He does so many wonderful things with Pro-Life and within the parish. He’s an inspiration to others and a man who truly lives out his faith.”

It’s true that there are countless individuals across the Diocese of Fall River who deserve the John Cardinal O’Connor Pro-Life Award ... but David Creamer is a very deserving recipient.

“I am so proud to have David Creamer as the adult recipient of this year’s award,” said diocesan director of the Pro-Life Apostolate, Marian Desrosiers. “He richly deserves this award, keeping in the tradition of exemplifying by his actions a deep understanding of the sacredness and dignity of all human life.”

“It’s my fervent prayer,” said Creamer, “that in my lifetime, they won’t have to give this award out any more.”

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