Columnists Life will be victorious

Archbishop explains why he’s marched — for decades now

Joseph F. Naumann is Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann

The theme for this year’s National March for Life in Washington, D.C., was: “Life: Why We March.” The leaders of the march wanted to pose this question to all the March for Life participants. The excellent speakers at the march rally were all asked to respond to the question.

A series of setbacks on state referendum ballot issues make clear that we pro-life advocates have a lot of work to do in order to change the culture. Changing a culture requires changing the hearts and minds of many voters. The pro-abortion playbook is to pour millions of outside dollars into states in order to run deceptive and misleading advertisements to win elections. They have also counted on pro-abortion mainstream media, not only to fail to fact-check their outlandish claims but to echo and amplify the misinformation.  

Culture is the fruit of the predominant beliefs and values of the individual persons who are members of the society. Changing a culture happens by changing the hearts and minds of a majority of individuals. An effective means of motivating individuals to reconsider their values is through the sincere and compelling testimony of credible witnesses.

The speakers for the March for Life rally were asked to share why they personally march for life. Beverly Jackson, founder of Verity’s Village, a network of support for parents who receive a life-limiting diagnosis for their baby, received such a diagnosis for her child, Verity. She had been advised by doctors to abort Verity. Instead, Beverly chose life for Verity. She acknowledges that caring for a child with extensive special needs is not easy. However, she has also discovered how Verity is a true blessing to her and her entire family.

Dr. Catherine Wheeler, an OB-GYN who was taught in medical school that abortion helps women, performed abortions for several years. One day, in the midst of performing an abortion, she had an awakening to the horror of abortion that kills babies but also harms women. She never performed another abortion and has become an advocate for life. Wheeler said that she marches because of the incredible beauty of each and every human life.

Josiah Presley was born on Oct. 7, 1995, in South Korea. Two months into the pregnancy, his mother had a surgical abortion. Several weeks later, his mother discovered that the abortion had failed. She decided to give birth. As a result of the attempted abortion, Presley has a deformed arm. After spending more than a year in foster care, Presley was adopted by a U.S. couple in Norman, Oklahoma. Presley marches for life because, as an abortion survivor, he feels that people are more open to his message. He hopes that his testimony will save lives.

Mike Johnson, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, also addressed the rally crowd. He concluded his talk by saying that the pro-life issue is personal for him. In 1972, Johnson was conceived in the womb of an unwed teenage mother. His parents eventually did marry and gave life to three other children. Johnson is grateful that his parents chose life for him, but he thinks of other unborn babies who were not so fortunate. He wonders what contributions these lost children would have made to our society. Johnson marches for life hoping to advocate for the dignity and worth of every human life.

There were many other speakers with powerful messages affirming the sanctity of life. Both Gov. Ron DeSantis and Vice President JD Vance addressed the rally.

My time in Washington with the pro-life pilgrims from the archdiocese prompted me to reflect on why I have for more than 40 years marched for life in Washington, St. Louis, Jefferson City and Topeka.

In 1984, I was appointed by Archbishop John May to serve as the pro-life priest coordinator for the pro-life ministry in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. For the past 40 years, I have had the privilege to serve in pro-life leadership roles. At the same time, the archbishop assigned me as a parochial vicar for an inner-city parish in St. Louis. In these twin assignments, I was given the opportunity to advocate for the sanctity of human life and the dignity of every human being.

I march for life because I believe that the protection of children in the womb is the most important human rights issue of our time. A nation that has permitted more than 65 million of its own children to be killed is flawed and scarred.

Abortion is the ultimate example of what Pope Francis describes as a throwaway society. God cannot bless such a culture of death.

In 1984, the late Vicky Thorn had just begun in Milwaukee a post-abortion ministry called Project Rachel. Professional counselors had approached Thorn for help from the church in their efforts to bring healing to postabortive women. In their work with postabortive women, these therapists came to realize that only God’s grace could open the door of postabortive women’s hearts to be able to forgive themselves in order for them to begin to experience healing and peace.

 By 1986, we had begun Project Rachel in St. Louis. Walking with postabortive women who deeply regretted the abortion of their child convinced me that mothers are abortion’s second victim. Abortion not only kills babies, but scars mothers, fathers and all those involved with the abortion. I march for life in order to help postabortive women and men to experience the healing power of God’s mercy.

I march for life to support the thousands of staff and volunteers at pregnancy resource centers, who give their time, talent and treasure to serve pregnant mothers. These amazing healing ministries not only make it possible for a baby to survive, but help create a path for both baby and mother to thrive.

I march for life because Kansas has become a destination state for abortion. In 2023, 15,000 non-Kansans came to our state to have their unborn children killed. What we are unable to do by law, because of a horribly flawed decision by the Kansas Supreme Court claiming to have discovered an unarticulated right to abortion in the Kansas Constitution, we must do with education, advocacy and love.

I march for life in order that our church will walk with pregnant mothers who are afraid because of many challenges and difficulties in their lives. I march for life so that we can surround every frightened pregnant mother with a community of love and support.

I march for life because Jesus did not promise his disciples that following him would be easy. What Our Lord did promise his disciples is that they will never be alone. We march for life with the One who described himself as the way, the truth and the life.

I march for life because Jesus defeated death on Easter Sunday. I march for life because Jesus promises those who follow him along the path of heroic love will experience abundant life and complete joy. I march confident that in the end, life will be victorious.

About the author

Archbishop Joseph Naumann

Joseph F. Naumann is the archbishop for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

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