Every pro-life Coloradan is invited to gather the second week of January at the State Capitol to “be counted” and “show with overwhelming numbers” that this state is pro-life, says event headliner Chris Stefanick, founder of Real Life Catholic.
The annual March for Life is set for Jan. 14, 2017, on the steps of the state capitol. Various Masses will be held around downtown Denver before the March.
The March for Life marks the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court case that legalized abortion across the United States, and it roughly coincides with the national March for Life that is held each year on Jan. 22 in Washington, D.C.
In an interview with Denver Catholic, Stefanik encouraged all pro-life Coloradans to come out in big numbers for the January life event: “All politics, like all religion, happens locally. This is where we experience our life … that is why we can’t afford not to be counted in our home city.”
Former Planned Parenthood employee-turned pro-life advocate Abby Johnson is also slated for the Jan. 14 march in Denver.
The author of Unplanned, the best-selling book that chronicles Johnson’s exit from the abortion industry, told Denver Catholic that events such as the March for Life are critical for the cause of life: “It’s always important for like-minded individuals to come together to support one another. It is easy for pro-lifers to feel alone in this movement, particularly in states that are typically pro-abortion.”
She said her talk will encourage all pro-lifers to “participate in all forms of prolife activism, [such as] helping to support pregnancy resource centers, working on prolife legislation and peaceful activism outside local abortion facilities.”
“It is our job,” she added, “not to simply make abortion illegal, but to make it unthinkable.”
Archbishop Samuel Aquila will preside at the Respect Life Mass at 11:30 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, and lead the rally on the steps of the state capitol at 1 p.m.
At 11:00 a.m., Masses will be said at Annunciation Parish (Spanish), Holy Ghost Parish, Holy Rosary Parish (Spanish), Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish (Spanish), St. Dominic Parish (Spanish), and St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish.
A youth rally will be held at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish at 10:30 a.m.
The Celebrate Life Rally begins at 1 p.m. at the Colorado State Capitol, and the March for Life begins at 2 p.m.
Since abortion was legalized in 1973, an estimated 59 million babies have died in this country because of abortion. In the United States, 1.45 abortions are performed per minute, 87 each hour and 2.092 abortions per day, according to numberofabortions.com.
Alexa Forster, program director of Respect for life from Catholic Charities and event organizer, told Denver Catholic that it’s “imperative that we publically show our love and support for all human life. As Catholics, we belong to the Universal Church and we must gather in unity and peace to show Denver that we stand against the prevailing evil of abortion.”
Carmen Elena Villa contributed to this report.
Masses, Rally and March for Life Schedule
Youth Rally 10:30 a.m. St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish
Spanish Masses for Life 11 a.m. Annunciation, Holy Rosary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Dominic
English Masses for Life 11 a.m. Holy Ghost, St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Archbishop’s Mass for Life 11:30 a.m. Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
Celebrate Life Rally 1 p.m. Steps of the Colorado State Capitol
March for Life 2 p.m. Around the Colorado State Capitol