This Friday, January 19, is the 45th March for Life commemorating the tragic Roe
vs. Wade Supreme Court decision on January 22, 1973, that has legalized abortion in
the United States through all nine months of pregnancy. Nearly 60 million children
have been killed as a result. This Friday, hundreds of thousands of people will be in
Washington, DC, at the annual March for Life (In solidarity with the March, please
consider praying for the closure of Planned Parenthood’s local abortion center, 3706
Orin Road, Madison. The Diocese of Madison March for Life will be at 1:00pm,
Monday, January 22, at the Wisconsin State Capitol). Throughout the country,
millions of people will be praying for the rights of pre-born children, calling for their
protection and their right to live, witnessing to the dignity of every human person
made in the image and likeness of God. This annual event is no less important than
the civil rights marches of the 1960s with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whom we
remember this week – indeed, the civil rights movement of our day is for our brothers
and sisters in the womb. May we pray for God’s blessings on all who are giving witness
to the sanctity of life. May our nation’s conscience be stirred, and God’s blessings of
life, liberty and happiness be protected and defended for all of God’s children.
As disciples of Christ, we are called by God to testify to the Truth, our Lord Jesus
Christ ( John 1:29-42), to be holy, to give witness to His love and mercy in the world.
Jesus Christ gave His life for you and me, to redeem us – every single one of us, born
and pre-born (1 Corinthians 6:13-20; Ephesians 4:1-32). As members of Christ’s
Body, the Church, we are called by God to proclaim the Truth with love, to proclaim
and respect the God-given right to life of every human being, from the moment of
conception to the moment of natural death.
God calls us to be a people of life. It is our duty to intervene for the victims of
abortion, just as we help victims of other injustices. So, we pray, march, and get
involved in pro-life groups. Please pray: for all pre-born children and for their parents
to choose life; for all the moms and dads who are victims of abortion – that they seek
Jesus’ forgiveness and healing, and know that we forgive and love them, too; for the
closing of abortion clinics and for the conversion of all who advocate abortion as a
“right to privacy” or “choice” (denying the baby’s right/choice); and for a culture of
Life. Jesus, we trust in You: have mercy on us and on the whole world.
With prayers and peace in Christ,
Fr. William
Saint Clement Parish 