The Catholic Week
Faithful from throughout the Archdiocese of Mobile hit the streets of Washington and Mobile to stand up for life.
Nearly 600 people made the pilgrimage to Washington and joined tens of thousands at the 47th annual national March for Life. The Archdiocese of Mobile Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry as well as McGill-Toolen, St. Michael, Montgomery Catholic high schools and St. Lawrence Parish organized trips. Students from Auburn University and South Alabama also participated.
Closer to home, organizers estimated 2,000 took part in the fourth annual March for Life – Mobile. Like the national March for Life, young people made up a large portion of the crowd as many Archdiocese of Mobile schools participated in the local event.
In summing up the support for the pro-life movement, Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi wrote:
“They especially give me hope that one day our country will respect life. When the US Supreme Court legalized abortion in 1973 it was anticipated by many that the abortion controversy would soon vanish since abortion had become the law of the land. The controversy has not vanished and, as thousands of young people showed in Washington last week, younger people are taking up the cause for life.”
President Donald Trump spoke at the March for Life in Washington and became the first sitting president to do so.
He credited attendees at the 47th annual March for Life for their commitment to protect the life of unborn and born children.
“Together we are the voice for the voiceless,” Trump told tens of thousands of people gathered at a noontime rally Jan. 24 on the National Mall.
“You stand for life each and every day. You provide housing, education, jobs and medical care for the women that you serve,” the president said.
He spoke for about 10 minutes at the start of the rally and before attendees began their march to the Supreme Court.
Speakers at March for Life – Mobile included Pam Whitehead, who works for Abby Johnson’s ministry “And Then There Were None,” Vicki Colls of Abiding Love Adoptions and David and Heather Renshaw. David is the former station manager of Archangel Radio and now works for the Archdiocese of Portland (Oregon). Heather is a speaker and author.
— Catholic News Service contributed to this article.
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