Az Life Rally

Pray to Protect Sanctity of Life
Today, January 22nd is the "Day of Prayer for Legal Protection of the Unborn" as designated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and approved by the Holy See. Catholics are called to prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion. Celebrants may use readings for giving thanks to God for human life or for the preservation of peace and justice. 

Why today? On this solemn day in 1973, Roe v. Wade made abortion legal and since then 60 million babies have died in the name of "a woman's right to choose". But God is hope and He asks us to be the light. (Matt 5:14) Thousands of Americans have answered the call this month through pro-life rallies across the country. Women, men, politicians, youth, every citizen are standing up to be the voice the voiceless who have no choice. Chicago had a rally on January 11th, Washington D.C.'s National March For Life will be this Friday, January 24th and Arizona's was held last Saturday. 

AZ For Life
Hats off to all who walked with us past weekend for the AZ For Life March & Rally! There was a large group of us from Corpus Christi downtown last Saturday, excited as we gathered in front of City Hall. For most of us, it was our first time attending a pro-life rally. Marching with our signs in hand and chanting "pro life, pro women" was energizing and empowering to say the least! Speakers included Bishop Olmsted and Governor Doug Ducey. Pro Life advocate Abby Johnson on whom the movie Unplanned was based, was the keynote speaker. She addressed the crowd with heartfelt sincerity, inspiring pro lifers to boldly speak up against abortion, noting that our counterparts spread their rhetoric regardless of who they offend. 

Her message was about redemption, about transforming hearts. "I'd been in the [abortion] industry for 12 years. It wasn't too late for me."  Abby started a nonprofit called And Then There Were None to help abortion clinic workers leave the industry. She testifies that to be successful our pro life campaign must be pro love. It's not enough to support women through pregnancy. As a society and as brothers & sisters in Christ, our support needs to last a lifetime. 
"I noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born."
President Ronald Reagan
Abby's Message of Hope
Abby was as dynamic as she was inspirational, addressing all generations in attendance. She said it's encouraging to see more and more young people joining the movement in the ten years that she's been part of the pro life campaign. She declared 2020 "the year of the man", insisting that men are equally responsible for conception so they should protect the life they helped to conceive. Abby credited our elders in the crowd since they've been at this since before she was born. 

Take aways from the rally:

• AZ is the most pro life state
• Phoenix is one of the most pro life dioceses
• the pro-life movement is growing stronger, the crowd is getting younger
• men have a voice too and should use it to protect life
• adoption makes the gift of life possible
• like Jesus, pro life sees every sinner as worthy of redemption

In his homily today at the pastoral center, Fr. Parks, our Diocesan Vicar of Evangelization likened abortion to slavery. He described in detail what it must have been like to be a slave. With a fist-to-the-pulpit type of conviction, he said if he lived in a such a horrific time, he wouldn't have sat back and just let it happen. He would have done something. He reminded us sitting in the pews that we are living in that time. Every day, lives are disposed of heartlessly as in the days of slavery. It's called abortion.

What can you do to help?  Start here #FastForLife