by Marc and Julie Anderson
mjanderson@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Joseph. Angela Rose. Kenny. Anastasia.
Those were four unborn children whose names were read aloud at this year’s National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children. The service was held Sept. 10 in the Holy Redeemer Chapel at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas.
Led by Father Nick Blaha, pastor of the Christ the King and Blessed Sacrament parishes in Kansas City, Kansas, this year’s National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children was sponsored nationally by Citizens for a Pro-life Society, Priests for Life and the Pro-life Action League and locally by Planned Parenthood Exposed, Kansas City Coalition for Life/40 Days for Life and the archdiocese. The service was one more of more than 200 held across the United States.
Normally held on the second Saturday in September, the first National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children was held in September 2013 on the 25th anniversary of the solemn burial of the remains of 1,500 abortion victims in Milwaukee. More than 100 such services were held across the country, and the observance has become an annual event to offer “hope and healing to women who have had abortions and people who have been hurt by abortion such as fathers and grandparents who were never allowed to grieve the death of a child hurt by abortion.”
In his remarks, Father Blaha said abortion has introduced deep and painful wounds within society, creating “a wake of private grief and loss” and creating “ripple effects that extend far beyond just the conversation between a woman and her doctor.” He prayed that the healing waters of baptism would flow forth for all affected by abortion.
As part of the service, Deacon Drew Bradfield of the Cathedral Church of the King of the Central Province of the Charismatic Episcopal Church in Olathe tearfully shared his personal testimony of supporting, encouraging and paying for the abortion of his unborn child when at age 17, he and his girlfriend learned she was pregnant.
After the service, participants processed from the chapel to the site of the memorial to the unborn, placing flowers at the site. The service ended with Father Blaha blessing the memorial.
