HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (LifeSiteNews) — Thousands of pro-life Pennsylvanians of all ages gathered Monday for the state’s fifth annual March for Life.
The September 22 march saw numerous young people, dozens of pro-life organizations, several clergy members of multiple faiths, and pro-lifers of all ages give witness to the unborn. PA March for Life president Jennie Bradley Lichter detailed for LifeSiteNews the march’s goals of lobbying the state government for meaningful pro-life legislation and spreading the pro-life message. Several marchers from all walks of life also emphasized that they were participating to give a voice to the voiceless children in the womb, told moving stories about their personal experiences with abortion, stressed the need to pray for an end to abortion, and more.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania currently allows women to murder their unborn children through abortion up to 24 weeks (or about 5 1/2 months) into pregnancy, with exceptions allowed for so-called threats to the life of the mother up until birth.
The pro-life movement is energized, motivated, and not going anywhere
Lichter expressed hope that the march would serve to energize the pro-life movement in the Keystone State, especially among the many young people who participated.
“One of our goals with these marches is to energize the movement itself, to lift up all of the marchers who come together to spend this day together and to form the young people here … for (a) lifelong pro-life mission,” she said. “The pro-life movement is motivated, it is present, it is vocal, it is powerful, and it’s not going to go away until every baby is protected by the law and every mom is supported.”
READ: Pro-lifers warn Pennsylvania’s state-funded ‘pregnancy center’ project could refer for abortions
Lichter further stressed that the challenge Pennsylvania pro-lifers face to pass meaningful pro-life legislation, with the Democratic Party currently controlling the state House and pro-abortion Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro occupying the governor’s mansion, makes the march even more critical.
“Passing pro-life legislation, let alone additional limitations on abortion itself, is an uphill battle here in Pennsylvania in the short term. But that makes it all the more important to come out on a day like this, to come out (in) big numbers as Pennsylvanians did today, right here in the shadow of the state capitol, and to show Governor Shapiro and the legislatures (that) there is a big constituency for pro-life legislation,” she said. “This isn’t a political issue, it’s not a partisan issue. This is an issue that matters to Pennsylvanians from every walk of life all across the state who showed up today to show their leaders exactly that.”
Standing up for the voiceless
Several marchers underscored the importance of standing up for the unborn, who are in desperate need of protection but don’t have a voice to defend their God-given rights.
“It’s a joy to be able to stand for life, to be here opposing abortion, standing up for the unborn, (and) all those who are in need of protection since they can’t speak up for themselves,” Father Jeremy Mohler, a priest from the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, said.
Deb Mirenda of Life Runners noted that she and the organization marched to represent the unborn and indeed the entire human race.
Maryann Lawhon, founder and CEO of pro-life ministry The Voice of John, said she marches to give a voice to all unborn children and recalled a moving story about how, while working as a nurse, she found a baby boy she named John who had survived an abortion and was left in a dirty utility room to die. Her experience that day inspired her to begin The Voice of John organization.
“(The baby) was considered medical waste, he was thrown into a dirty utility room closet on a metal table in a dirty utility room closet, and the door was shut while everybody went about their business,” she recalled. “I happened to find him. I asked somebody to help us: ‘Could somebody help us? I found the baby in the dirty utility room,’ and the doctor said, ‘Don’t touch that, it’s an abortion.’”
“And I thought, maybe I imagined that I saw him move when I pushed open that door. I thought maybe I imagined that I heard a sound,” she added. “So I went back in and he was trying to get back into (the fetal) position to hold himself. And I went out and I said, ‘That baby is alive and well.’ The doctor was angry. I told you, put it down, don’t touch it, it’s an abortion.’”
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Lawhon continued:
So I went back in and I wrapped the little boy in a dirty towel that I found on the floor. And I took the water that had just been used in his killing procedure, I cupped my hand, and I said, ‘I baptize you, John, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.’
And the first words I spoke to him were words of forgiveness. ‘Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.’ And I looked at that beautiful child and I said, ‘John, if your mommy could know you the way I do, she would not have done this.’ That night, a child died, and his ministry was born. And the last words I said to him were, ‘I will be your voice.’
Janet Fanning said she was simply marching to “save the babies.”
Matthew Vernborg, another member of the Voice of John and of the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa’s young adult group in Doylestown, told LifeSiteNews the incredible story of how he had narrowly missed being aborted by his birth mother, who had struggled with drug addiction.
“She became pregnant with me and … because of her difficult life, scheduled the abortion,” he said. “But then she was arrested on drug charges, (and) had some drugs in her system. But by being arrested, I personally was preserved both from massive exposure to drugs and from dying in the womb.”
“So, fast forward, I was adopted into a beautiful, wonderful, amazing family,” he added. “It was a miracle the whole way through. I love them very much. And I’m very glad to be here today representing them (and) representing other people who have missed being aborted.”
Lucas Frantz, also from Our Lady of Czestochowa’s young adult group, made a sign that read “Got her pregnant? Don’t let them kill your kid!” to remind men that they are also responsible when women abort their children. He also underscored that ending abortion is not just a political issue but ultimately about saving human lives.
“(Abortion is) not just about policy or equality, (or) freedom … This is about lives, human lives. And it needs to stop as soon as possible,” he said.
Charlie Kirk’s lasting impact on the pro-life movement
Many participants carried images honoring the memory of the recently assassinated conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, whose activism inspired many young people to get involved with the pro-life movement.
READ: Charlie Kirk’s murder has ignited the greatest conservative youth uprising in history
One woman named Sarah Sameck held a poster bearing Kirk’s image and noted that the Turning Point USA founder had the courage to stand up for the unborn and other important truths that need to be stressed in our dark world.
“People need to hear that there is hope, that there’s beauty in getting married and choosing life, raising children, leading with hope and courage, and speaking love into the darkness and all the hatred that’s in the world,” she said.
Pray for an end to abortion
John Ritchie, the director of Tradition, Family, and Property (TFP) Student Action, emphasized that life is a God-given right and that the battle against the culture of death is ultimately a spiritual one.
“The God-given right to life is a treasure. Each person is made in the image and likeness of God, and abortion destroys that image. It also destroys the unity of the family and has an impact on the whole entire culture,” he said.
“The battle against the culture of death is mostly a spiritual battle between good and evil. And, therefore, it’s fundamental that we use the rosary, for example, as a weapon to push back the evil forces that are working to destroy society,” he added. “Foremost in the battle is the Catholic faith, the example of the saints, and the moral doctrine of the church, (which) gives us a foundation and direction, (and) guides us in this battle.”
