Pouring rain did not keep more than 5,000 pro-life advocates of all ages from marching on the Pennsylvania state capital for the Fourth Annual Pennsylvania March for Life in Harrisburg on Sept. 23.
Present among those in Harrisburg were students from all six Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Allentown, the Trojans for Life from Parkland High School, and a bus from Sacred Heart, Bethlehem carrying diocesan staff and parishioners, which was sponsored in part by the Knights of Columbus councils.
The state march started a year before the overturning of Roe v. Wade. It continues to be a beacon of light in our state as pro-abortion advocates seek to make an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution that would make abortion legal through all nine months of pregnancy – for any reason.
Currently in Pennsylvania, abortions are allowed until 24 weeks of pregnancy and after, if the mother’s life is at risk.
According to Guttmacher Institute, the research arm of Planned Parenthood, various states, including New York, New Jersey, and Minnesota, do not have gestational limits on abortion – and they are allowed for any reason up until labor.
While two dozen legislators took the stage to support life, many saw the rain as an opportunity to go inside the state capitol to talk to their own legislators about concerns.
Those from the Sacred Heart bus went inside before the rally to talk with state Sen. Lisa Boscola’s office about the state’s complete cut in funding for pregnancy centers and maternity homes, including Cay Galgon Life House, a maternity home in Boscola’s district.
Other speakers included Jeanne Mancini, president of the national March for Life, and Mark Houck, a Bucks County father who defended his pre-teen son against harassment from an abortion facility escort. As a result, Houck was wrongfully accused of breaking the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. He was later acquitted of charges.
Evelyn Hersh, a student at Notre Dame High School, Easton who attended the Pennsylvania march last year, exclaimed how thankful she was to be there in support of life as she huddled under an umbrella with friends.
“It is a rainy day, but it is good to have everyone coming together for the cause,” said Hersh. “Everyone deserves the right to have the gift of life that God gave us, not just those who are alive, but people who aren’t born, yet.”
Despite the rain, the large, enthusiastic crowd stood and walked in an expression of unity for the desire to protect both mom and baby from the trauma and tragedy of abortion.
One diocesan high school student said she was marching for her cousin whose parents forced her to have an abortion when she was a teenager.
Rhady Tulloch, Director of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Allentown, explained that the national March for Life has been a family tradition for her and her husband, but this was her first Pennsylvania march.
She said she feels an extraordinary connection because her first daughter was born on the day Roe v. Wade was overturned. That day was also the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the birthday of Nellie Gray, founder of the national March for Life. So it truly felt like God had His part in that day.
By Annaleigh Gidosh
