Pro-Life People Will Celebrate “Day of the Unborn Child” on March 25 by Steven Ertelt on LifeNews.com
Pro-life groups from across the country have come together to promote March 25 as the Day of the Unborn Child, Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, announced today.
“The Day of the Unborn Child has been officially established in many nations, in some cases by the Church and in other cases by the civil government. Elsewhere, the day is observed by individuals, families, and organizations.
“The day is observed in many Christian Churches as the Annunciation on which, as we read in the first chapter of Luke’s Gospel, Mary says yes to the angel’s surprise announcement that she would conceive Jesus in her womb. Nine months later, of course, we celebrate his birth on Christmas.
“The celebration of March 25 as the Day of the Unborn Child was first recognized in El Salvador in 1993 and has grown rapidly. In 2003, the first Provida International Congress in Madrid with representation from over 20 countries in Europe and the Americas institutionalized March 25th as International Day of Life. Since then, the day has grown in popularity. The countries recognizing it include Argentina, Guatemala, Chile, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Panama, Peru, Slovakia, Cuba, Austria, Philippines, Romania and more,” Fr. Pavone explained.
“In the United States, we are seeing radical pro-abortion bills being introduced in Congress, and a radical pro-abortion Supreme Court nominee,” he said. “Pro-abortion lawmakers are slapping God in the face with a big ‘NO’ to life. By contrast, the Church and the pro-life movement say a big ‘YES’ to life.
“Therefore pro-life leaders in the United States are inviting organizations, churches, families and individuals to celebrate March 25th as the Day of the Unborn Child.”
Ways to observe the day can include:
• Spiritually adopt an unborn child and pray for him and his mother for nine months.
• Organize local Marches for Life or Rosary processions to abortion clinics or government buildings.
• Hold a fundraiser for pro-life groups or crisis pregnancy centers.
• Offer a Mass, Holy Hour or a prayer vigil for life.
• Organize a Life Chain in your town.
• Pray outside an abortion clinic. The 40 Days for Life Campaign is a good way to get involved this way.
• Host a pro-life movie night.
• Pass out pro-life literature at church.
• Set up a “cemetery of the innocents” somewhere in your community to witness to all the lives lost because of abortion.
More resources can be found at www.DayOfTheUnborn.com and http://dayoftheunbornchild.com/
Leaders whose organizations are promoting the observance of the Day of the Unborn Child include:
Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life
Jor-El Godsey, Heartbeat International
Evangelist Alveda C. King, Speak for Life
Georgette Forney, Anglicans for Life
Bradley Mattes, Life Issues Institute
Joe Langfeld, Human Life Alliance
Brian Gibson, Pro-Life Action Ministries
Thomas Glessner, National Institute for Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA)
Melissa Ohden, Abortion Survivors Network
Lynda Bell, Florida Right to Life
Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com
Todd Drain, Choose Life America
Chris Slattery, Expectant Mother Care
Jack & Sheila Harper, SaveOne
Deaconess Tiffany Manor, Life Ministry
Kevin McGary, Every Black Life Matters
Zina Hackworth, More Rebellious Members
Fr. Lawrence Joseph Schroedel, CFR, Community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
Rev. Paul T. Stallsworth, Lifewatch/Taskforce of United Methodists on Abortion and Sexuality
Royce Hood, Law of Life Summit
AJ Hurley, Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust
Brendan O’Connell, Life Matters
George Glover, GM & F Partners
Michael Seibel, Abortion on Trial