Carolina Catholics pray, march for life in nation’s capital

SUEANN HOWELL sahowell@charlottediocese.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Catholics from across North Carolina hopped on planes and buses or loaded up the family car to join tens of thousands of people from around the country to pray and march for life on Jan. 20 in the nation’s capital.

The national March for Life is held annually to coincide with Jan. 22 anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, which legalized abortion in the United States for 50 years. That decision was overturned last June with the court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, returning the power to each state to create laws surrounding abortion.

This year, the 50th annual national March for Life included a rally at the National Mall and a march that went from the National Mall – not to the steps of the Supreme Court building as in past years, but to the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building.

North Carolinians were also encouraged to attend a Mass celebrated by the Charlotte and Raleigh dioceses at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception before the 1 p.m. march.

Raleigh Bishop Luis Zarama was the main celebrant for the North Carolina Mass. Monsignor Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte, was homilist.

During his homily, Monsignor Winslow said, “As Christians, our goal has never been just about overcoming legal hurdles that moves us toward a more just society. Our goal is to convert minds and hearts; to pull aside all the misguided rhetoric so that every man, woman and child would see and reject abortion for what it is … one that hurts society, fathers, mothers and children.”

He emphasized that our goal isn’t to prevent abortion by making it illegal. Rather, “Our goal is to prevent abortion by exposing this ghoulish and dark practice so that it becomes reprehensible to all reasonable people of good will.”

“Today we are especially grateful for God’s many and continued blessings,” he said. “Today we thank God for His help. Today we ask for more. And whatever lies ahead, we are motivated by the words of Mother Teresa: ‘We are not called to be successful, we are called to be faithful.’”

Glen, a

N.C. Catholics urged to contact legislators to support pro-life legislation

diocese’s Office of Family Life. “I am at the March for Life to pray for my state, where abortion is still legal, and for anyone who needs help,” she said.

“I’m here because I believe life starts at conception and Jesus has given us His life and His love and it’s something to fight for,” explained Emmanuel Arias of St. James the Greater Parish in Concord.

Benedictine Father Elias Correa-Torres, a monk of Belmont Abbey, attended the national march for the first time. He accompanied more than 60 students from Belmont Abbey College.

“This trip is one way of emphasizing to the students the responsibility they have of standing up for important issues in our society, and of being able to communicate their beliefs well in the public square,” Father Elias said.

“And I think this type of trip contributes to the formation of our students, toward becoming informed and active members of society, agents for the common good. It is certainly in conformity with the part of the college’s mission of helping our students lead lives of integrity, become responsible citizens, and be a blessing to themselves and to others,” he added.

Youth from Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury at the march spoke of the need to continue to support a culture of life.

Mary Chaney, a junior in high school, attended the March for Life for the fifth time. “This year, it’s felt especially important to come because we’ve overturned it, but not quite. So, we need to come out here and show we’re still fighting for this, and we still have an opinion on it, we still want to achieve this beautiful end (a culture of life).”

Mary’s mom, Susan Chaney, attended the march for the seventh time. She recalled a couple of pivotal moments over the years.

“I remember the first year we came, I asked my friend, ‘Does this change anything?’ And a few years later, we were walking up Constitution Avenue during the march and I asked Father John (Eckert) if it changes anything. He said, ‘I don’t know, but I know it changes me. It changes us.’ The importance of coming here is the collective witness, but it’s also inside. It’s making that pilgrimage.”

More online

At www.catholicnewsherald.com : See more photos from the March for Life D.C.

CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte’s Office of Family Life is encouraging Catholics to contact their representatives in the N.C. General Assembly to support the proposal of a “heartbeat bill,” under discussion by Republican leaders, and to expand support for mothers and families.

A “heartbeat bill” would ban abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected (around 6 weeks’ gestation), and an alternative proposal would restrict abortion at 13 weeks’ gestation.

State health data show around 85% of abortions in North Carolina take place before 13 weeks, so a heartbeat bill would save more lives than the alternative, said Father Peter Ascik, director of the Family Life Office.

Related news

ON PAGE 23: Some states pursue abortion protections while pro-life advocates plan for state rallies

“It is vital for Catholics to contact their state legislators and urge them to pass the broadest possible protections for the unborn child and, at the same time, to expand support for mothers and families,” Father Ascik said.

Similar bills have been introduced in state legislatures around the country since the U.S. Supreme Court last summer ruled there is no constitutional right to abortion in the United States. Abortion policy decisions have since reverted to states, prompting ballot measures and a flurry of legislative activity around the country.

ON PAGE 27: Father Peter Ascik reflects on the pro-life movement’s new frontier of advocacy

North Carolina allows abortion within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy and after 20 weeks in cases of a health emergency. Democratic leaders have said they will work to maintain access to abortion.

Between April and August of 2022, the number of abortions performed in North Carolina increased by 37%, according to a report from the Society of Family Planning, as more women traveled from surrounding states where abortion has become more restricted.

Last spring, Bishop Peter Jugis urged parishes to increase their pro-life advocacy at the state level and to do more to help mothers in need. In particular, he is encouraging Catholics to participate in Walking with Moms in Need, a parish-based outreach program launched nationwide in 2020 by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that accompanies women through all stages of pregnancy and in the initial years of parenthood.

— SueAnn Howell

Make your voice heard

At www.ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators : Enter your full street address (including city) and press “Enter” to find and contact your state legislators, asking them to support a “heartbeat bill” protecting unborn children and to expand support for pregnant and parenting mothers.

Peter Jugis presented a decree Jan. 12 declaring the Daughters of the Virgin Mother a “Private Association of the Christian Faithful,” in the temporary chapel in the Family Life Center at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte. Founder, Sister Mary Raphael (at right of Bishop Jugis), and the sisters are pictured with him and their spiritual advisor, Father Matthew Kauth, rector of St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly, after Mass.