Rhode Islanders March for Life in Washington, DC
By Larry Gillheeney
In a picturesque scene of falling snowflakes, many thousands of pro-life activists including Rhode Islanders gathered at National Mall on Friday to demonstrate in the 51st annual March for Life. This is the second March that has been held since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. The pro-life movement finds itself at a crossroads as many conservatives question the next steps in the movement to defend the sanctity of life after a series of setbacks following the historic court decision.
Renowned football coach Jim Harbaugh, whose University of Michigan Wolverines recently secured the national championship, unexpectedly joined the annual pro-life march in Washington, D.C. on the main stage.
“It’s a great example that you’re setting, it’s a testimony to the sanctity of life,” Harbaugh declared during his well-received speech to the gathered crowd. “It’s a great day for a march! It’s a great day, this is football weather!”
The theme of the March for Life this year ‘With every woman, for every child’ focuses on the need to care for both mother and child during the nine months of pregnancy and in the years after. Pregnancy care centers and maternity homes across the country exist to provide support for women facing unexpected pregnancies so that no mother ever feels alone or without support for her and her child.
In a recent poll, a consistent consensus among Americans favor the legal limitation of abortion. The survey, commissioned annually by the Knights of Columbus and conducted by the Marist Poll, reveals that 66% of Americans support placing legal restrictions on abortion, with nearly six in ten expressing support for limiting abortions to the first three months of pregnancy.
“Once again, most Americans are steadfast in their belief that abortion should be significantly limited yet laws should include exceptions for rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother,” says Dr. Barbara L. Carvalho, Director of the Marist Poll. “This clear trend found in the annual Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll has continued, nearly two years after the Supreme Court’s landmark Dobbs decision.”
The findings also indicate overwhelming support (83%) for pregnancy resource centers, institutions that provide assistance to mothers during and after pregnancy like the Mother of Life Center in Providence, RI. The poll further reveals that two-thirds of Americans believe healthcare professionals with religious objections to abortions should not be legally obligated to perform them, and 86% believe that laws can safeguard both the mother and her unborn child.
The Mother of Life Pregnancy Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting life, offers free assistance to pregnant teens and women. Committed to caring for both the mother, father, and baby, the center provides services such as pregnancy testing, limited ultrasound, and counseling, aiming to support the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of its clients. The information shared on life issues and pregnancy reflects a Christian perspective, rooted in the belief that every person is made in God’s image and possesses the right to life.
In the Ocean State, the Mother of Life Center serves as an alternative to abortion, embracing the challenges of life and providing referral services for adoption. This stands in contrast to abortion institutions, which lack alternatives to terminating the pregnancy. The center’s approach aligns with its commitment to fostering a culture that values and protects life at every stage.