Walk for Life gaining momentum
News
The fifth consecutive Walk for Life was held in Pennington Gardens on Saturday February 10 with an estimated 4000 people of all ages attending.
With abortion to birth now legal in South Australia the event was a public witness of the value and dignity of the life of unborn children from the earliest time in their mothers’ womb.
Youth from Noarlunga/Seaford parish at the Walk for Life event.
Again, the overall theme was ‘love them both’.
Amongst those officially welcomed, including state and federal members of parliament, were the Greek Orthodox Bishop of Adelaide and myself representing the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide. Many other Christian churches and communities were also present.
It was wonderful to see many parishioners from our parishes and especially the Noarlunga Parish Youth Group, people from Mount Gambier and the Yorke Peninsula.
After prayer, song and speeches, we processed along King William Road to the steps of Parliament House on North Terrace, then back over the River Torrens footbridge to finish at our starting point alongside Adelaide Oval.
The founding director of Love Adelaide, Jodie Pickard, spoke of how the pro-life movement is gathering momentum, extending to Sydney and evolved into ‘Love Australia’. She said it was hoped two pro-life private members’ bills would be debated by state and federal parliaments seeking to save aborted babies born alive. She reinforced that every life is a gift given by God for His glory.
Mount Gambier parishioners Ricardo Bessoni and Maria Beatriz (back) with, from left, Laysa Nobrega, Miguel N Bessoni and Artur N Bessoni.
Pastor Brian, visiting from North Carolina in the USA, spoke of the ‘Ministry of Love Life’, a pro-life prayer movement in various US states.
He made the point that as abortion is a life and death issue, it is a Gospel issue and also confirmed a key emphasis of our focus, that is, that it’s not about condemning women or anyone involved in an abortion, but about offering the love, forgiveness and healing of Christ.
Our final speaker was Professor Joanna Howell of Adelaide University and Noarlunga/Seaford parishioner who spoke passionately of how she “couldn’t stay silent” when realising the legislation was being prepared for the abortion to birth legislation. She told us that in the first six months since the legislation had passed, eight healthy babies prior to birth were aborted and that she is committed to raising a petition to State Parliament to amend the current law. It was obvious that more of our parishes and people were involved in the Walk for Life this year and I can see that the witness for life continues to grow within the Archdiocese.
I’d be very happy to speak with anyone that would like to become more involved. We all need to continue to be a ‘voice for the voiceless’.
Fr Dean Marin is Vicar General of the Adelaide Archdiocese.
Jump to next article
