Bishop terms advocacy for unborn ‘more necessary than ever’
Signs declaring “The future is anti-abortion” and “Equality begins in the womb” were exclamation marks from the hundreds of people who gathered in downtown Richmond on Wednesday, April 27, for the fourth annual Virginia March for Life.
Due to construction on the Capitol grounds, the March for Life rally, which preceded the march, was held at the bell tower on the lawn of Capitol Square.
The crowd’s enthusiasm was palpable as pro-lifers of all ages waited for the first of several speakers to take the podium.
Bishop Barry C. Knestout provided opening remarks, telling those gathered that their advocacy on behalf of the unborn “was more necessary than ever.”
Quoting from a statement of the U.S. bishops, he said, “As our nation awaits the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, we join together in prayer and expectant hope that states will again be able to protect women and children from the injustice of abortion.”
Following his remarks, the bishop prayed, “May those, who you have granted the authority to govern, recognize the fundamental human right to life, that they use their positions, to advance laws and policies, that protect each person’s right to life, from conception to natural death.
“Let your gentle hand, with all those who are instruments of your healing, aid women in pregnancy, especially those in the midst of crisis and doubt, to bring their children safe and sound to the light of day.”
‘Excitement, hope’
Jeanne Mancini, March for Life president, said her biggest goal for the day was that “someone’s heart is changed more in the direction of life.”
Just as important, she said, was for the state to “move in the direction of life, especially as it regards babies who receive a poor prenatal diagnosis.”
She explained that Virginia allows more exceptions to abortion than many other states. Since April 27 was also Veto Day in Virginia, which relates to the state budget, marchers would be texting their legislators and “asking them to stop” those exceptions.
She said that the beautiful weather was reminiscent of the first Virginia March for Life in 2019, but she noted that Virginia’s current pro-life administration had made this year’s event “extra exciting.”
For the first time, the state’s governor was present at the Virginia March for Life. Glenn Youngkin joined the march as the crowd left Capitol Square.
Joan Andres, a parishioner of St. Andrew the Apostle, Clifton, believes “there’s still a lot of work to do, especially in the state,” but felt that the governor’s presence was a “source of a lot of excitement and hope.”
“We have more hope now than we’ve had in a long time, so I think that the Holy Spirit is at work,” she said.
Connor Mancuso attended the Virginia March for Life for the first time; he has attended the national march twice.
“I believe that our actions here will imprint upon others who see us that we are trying to make a difference… and show that all life is sacred, all life is unique, all life is valuable,” he said.
‘Protecting the innocent’
Attending his first March for Life, Joe Deffner, a member of St. Thomas More, Lynchburg, said he admires Abby Johnson’s pro-life conversion after the “wake-up call that only the Lord can give you – and prayers.”
“I admire her stance and the grief that she took when she made that change of faith,” he said of the former Planned Parenthood employee.
He was joined by his brother, Bill Deffner, who was visiting from Portersville, Pennsylvania.
“I traveled to Richmond because I get the opportunity to spend some time with my brother and drag him to the March for Life,” he said as Joe laughed.
Bill added, “It’s energizing to see the excitement in the youth because they’re all survivors.”
“It really is all about pro-life and really protecting the most innocent and the most vulnerable, which are the unborn. It’s life at all levels from conception to the grave,” said Robert McBride, pro-life director of the St. Michael, Glen Allen, Knights of Columbus council.
McBride called the nearly 1 million babies lost to abortion in the U.S. each year “a tragedy,” and said he believes one solution could be “a matter of education” for people to fully understand what happens when a baby is conceived.
“It really is a matter of human dignity at all levels,” he said. “The loss of life, in particular among minorities and young women – those are the groups targeted, literally targeted, by Planned Parenthood especially… it’s an abomination.”
Living the faith
Andres brought her 10- and 8-year-old daughters to the rally and march to make “the treasure of human life normal to them so there’s never a doubt in their mind what truth is.”
Magdalena Brier, parishioner of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Lake Ridge, also brought her two daughters, ages 9 and 7, to the march and rally – the first March for Life she has attended.
“So this year in particular, after homeschooling for the last two years, it just makes everything come together. And it’s not just something that’s happening far away; it’s something that we talk about all the time with our faith, so it’s great to be able to come out and live that faith.”
William Clough, a student at Virginia Commonwealth University who attends the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Richmond, said that he was “marching to help end abortion and save the lives of many infants in our country and especially the state.”
Clough, whose home parish is St. Agnes in the Diocese of Arlington, said it saddens him to know that “many children won’t be able to live life” due to abortion, but he hopes that rallies like the one held in Richmond will continue to have a positive impact upon society.
“I’m hoping that if we pray hard enough and we have a big rally, that hopefully we can overturn Roe v. Wade soon,” he said.