Today is the 44th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision that removed many states’ prohibitions on abortions. Our Catholic Bishop Paul Bradley, Lutheran pastors Paul Naumann and David Sidwell, and about 250 others gathered in Bronson Park for a Prayer for Life, a short prayer service. We heard two readings, one from Deuteronomy and the other the Beatitudes from Matthew’s Gospel, sang, listened to a homily and a short talk and prayed together for half an hour.
The crowd was about evenly split between men and women, old and young. The service focused on the beauty and dignity of life, not on the cruelty of abortion.
The organizers asked attendees to bring diapers or baby wipes to donate to the Caring Network (part of Catholic Charities) or alternative services and people were generous. They collected several wagons full of these supplies.
Sue Baldwin from the Caring Network described the services her group provides: help with pregnancy, childbirth, adoption, parenting classes and tangible assistance. She dispelled the canard we hear that pro-life people care about children and women before birth, but not afterwards, by explaining that every service is free to her clients, funded by donations plus some government grants and United Way.
It was worthwhile; I am glad I went.
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