Area residents to attend national March for Life
During a presidential election year when war and the economy are grabbing headlines, local residents are headed to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to make their own voices heard as they participate in the national March for Life. “It’s a discipline to be there – to make a statement about life from a Christian perspective and a political perspective, to say we want to remind government and ourselves that life is an important value and we want to see it protected in the United States,’ said Merle Skinner of the Christian Family and Children’s Center in Indian Head.
This is the 35th year for the protest against the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States.
Local residents will rally with national speakers, march and then meet with lawmakers to discuss the pro-life issue. They are not afraid to chastise those whom they feel have not supported pro-life issues.
And, yes, they are happy to remind the voting public.
“You hope to get people excited to vote,’ said Chuck Kosco of Greater Fayette Respect for Life in Uniontown.
Local officials point to the interest by youths in the march. Many groups take youths from local Christian schools and churches with them.
Skinner reported youths from Champion Christian School as well as local churches will be on the bus sponsored by New Horizons Pregnancy Resource Center. He noted the trip is educational for them.
“They see how to take a stand and actually do something about it,’ said Skinner.
John McFarland of Geibel Catholic Middle-High School in Connellsville said that 50 people have signed up for the bus – most of whom are upperclassmen as well as some parents and alumni.
“I believe we have a very sincere interest in the pro-life movement,’ McFarland said.
He added, “I think it’s important to go as an individual as well as a school to give our students an opportunity to practice their faith. I believe our students see participation in the March for Life as a direct response to Catholic social teaching. For them, it’s a tangible way to respond to social justice issues in their lives.”
Traci Sivak of St. John Roman Catholic Church in Perryopolis is taking members of Greater Fayette Respect for Life in Uniontown as well as St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church in Grindstone and St. Hedwig Roman Catholic Church in Smock on the St. John bus, which includes both adults and youths.
St. John has sponsored a bus for six years and members before that went on the bus sponsored by Greater Fayette, St. Cecilia and St. Hedwig.
“We’re going together again and it’s great,’ said Sivak.
Asked why she continues to go, Sivak said, “Everybody has the right to life. I truly believe it. It’s so powerful. Even the signers of the Declaration of Independence said we have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.’
Sivak said she and her husband, John, a retired teacher, both work with St. John’s CCD program and youth group, and notice the large participation by youths and young adults in the March for Life.
“My husband and I get more amazed,’ she said, “the more kids we see.’
Liz Smith of St. Ann Roman Catholic Church in Waynesburg reported that 65 people signed up for a 55-passenger bus – the majority of them students from the church’s youth group as well as the local community.
Arrangements will be made to see if the overflow can go on a bus with St. Patrick Parish in Canonsburg.
The Knights of Columbus paid for the St. Ann bus, while the youths made a banner and raised funds to buy T-shirts. After Kathleen Dukate donated T-shirts to the group, the youths used the funds to pay for hats.
Asked why the youths are so enthusiastic about the march, Smith said, “I think it’s the one thing our youths believe they can change.’
A recent Associated Press story reported the number of abortions in the U.S. fell to 1.2 million in 2005, down 25 percent from the all-time high of 1.6 million in 1990 and dropping the abortion rate to its lowest level since 1974, according to a report from The Guttmacher Institute that surveyed abortion providers nationwide.
Reasons for the decline were listed as more effective use of contraceptives, lower levels of unintended pregnancy and greater difficulty obtaining abortions in some parts of the country.
Many local buses are full but Skinner noted people may call 724-455-2122, extension 340, to check on the availability of seats.