Overturning Roe Didn’t End Abortion, And So We March

Some years ago, the theme for the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., was “Why We March.” Roe v. Wade was still allowing the destruction of human life all over our nation, and so we marched for the babies.

Things have certainly changed since 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 decision that led to the deaths of 66 million unborn children and left millions of mothers, fathers and families with broken hearts.

In 19 states, most babies in the womb are now protected from abortion, but that means 31 states still allow the most vulnerable people in the U.S. to be legally killed. Even worse, if the statistics are to be believed, the number of annual abortions is rising as the popularity of the deadly chemical abortion procedure increases.

If anyone is wondering why we still march, one reason is because those babies are still scheduled for death in those misguided states. Moreover, the federal government still holds responsibility for advancing the protection of the unborn.

The Dobbs decision in no way removed that responsibility. It left abortion policy to the people and their elected representatives. That includes the US Congress. And we still march because it’s not just about the federal government. It’s about the national pro-life movement. We are a diverse movement, which includes many national groups and ministries. The one pro-life movement needs an opportunity to come together like this on the national stage.

Priests for Life has played an integral part in the March and the events surrounding it for decades. We are similarly involved with the West Coast Walk for Life in San Francisco, which continues to grow each year.

In both DC and San Francisco, Priests for Life organizes prayerful protests in front of Planned Parenthood killing centers. In DC, on Jan. 22, we will protest in front of the abortion mill at 1225 Fourth St NE, beginning at 9 a.m. In San Francisco on Jan. 24, at 8 a.m., we will be out in front of Planned Parenthood, at 1522 Bush St.

In DC, every year for the last 31 years, Priests for Life and the National Pro-Life Religious Council – which I serve as president – host an interdenominational prayer service at DAR Constitution Hall. Taking place on the morning of the March for Life, beginning at 8:30 a.m., the service combines prayer and preaching and for the last two years, we’ve had the pleasure of introducing the young pro-life activists who were the winners of an essay contest sponsored by Priests for Life.

This year, the service will highlight the life and legacy of slain Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, and will be a kickoff celebration for America’s 250 th birthday. As a special treat, the actor Liche Ariza from The Chosen will address the gathering.
Since 2003, one of the most impactful events at the March is the testimony of the mothers and fathers who have lost children to abortion. They are part of the Silent

No More Awareness Campaign, a joint project of Priests for Life and Anglicans for Life. Priests for Life Executive Director Janet Morana co-founded the campaign with Georgette Forney, president of Anglicans for Life. From a platform set up outside the US Supreme Court, these courageous pro-lifers candidly describe the circumstances that led them to make the tragic choice for abortion, the consequences that followed,
and how they found healing.

Silent No More has also been part of the West Coast Walk for more than 15 years. There, the women and men of the campaign speak from the main stage of the rally before the Walk steps off. We invite everyone who will be at the March for Life or Walk for Life – or, like me, at both – to join us as we protest, as we pray, and as we hear the truth about abortion from the people whose hearts have been broken by choice.

Go to ProLifeMarch.org for all the dates, times, and locations where you can join us.
Father Frank Pavone is national director of Priests for Life and the national pastoral director of Rachel’s Vineyard Ministries and the Silent No More Awareness Campaign.

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