by Debra Niesen
For the past 50 years, the pro-life movement has kicked off the new year with the National March for Life in Washington, D.C., with our own Kansas March for Life in Topeka on Jan. 24.
These marches were historically scheduled around the January anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Now that Roe has been overturned, some may ask if we need to continue. The answer is yes.
After 50 years of Roe, we have much work to undo the deeply ingrained but false belief that women need abortion to live happy and fulfilled lives, and to instead spread the pro-life message of love and hope that will someday make abortion unthinkable.
January is the perfect time to march with the truth, beauty and joy of the Nativity story still fresh in our hearts — a young Mary facing an unplanned pregnancy, the birth of a baby bringing joy to the world and Joseph tasked with protecting them both.
As pro-life people, we are inspired to share this beautiful message of hope that God has a plan for every life, and that he provides people to help us overcome challenges in our lives.
IGNITE for Life is our Catholic rally and Mass the morning of the Kansas March for Life. This year’s theme is: “Rescue with Love.” Why? Rescue means “to save someone from a dangerous situation.” The fact is, abortion is dangerous. It brutally ends a child’s life and harms women spiritually, psychologically and physically.
To protect the vulnerable, we must shine a light on this reality, one that the abortion industry and its political and media allies work hard to disguise. Through our abortion healing ministry, we hear countless heartbreaking experiences from abortion survivors that tell the pain and harm of abortion.
To rescue also means that we must have courage to help. As Christians, this is what we are all called to do.
Unfortunately, many believe it is “compassionate” to support a woman’s choice to end her child’s life. Standing by or helping her harm her child and herself is actually false compassion.
Instead, we are called to “rescue with love.” To love means “to will the good of another.”
When a woman is facing a challenging pregnancy, the words she needs to hear are: “You can do this and we will help.” We believe women are capable of doing very difficult things, and men can uphold their responsibility — for their good and the good of their child — whether they choose parenting or adoption. However, we, as the church, must help. This is the essence of our parish “Walking With Moms in Need” initiative.
Go online to: archkck.org/ignite and make plans to join us at IGNITE to hear inspiring speakers share their messages of hope. Let’s have the courage to “rescue with love!”
