Area Catholic students march downtown Springfield in support of ending abortion
Hundreds of local Catholic students and others participated Friday morning in an anti-abortion march in Springfield to protest laws the church says attack the dignity of human life.
The march, organized by the Catholic Diocese of Springfield, started after a Right to Life Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Marchers passed the state Capitol, Illinois Supreme Court building and Governor’s Mansion.
The march also came one day before the 49th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 22, 1973. In that decision, the court ruled that the U.S. Constitution protects a pregnant woman’s right to choose to have an abortion.
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Springfield Catholic Bishop Thomas John Paprocki said the church believes that human life begins at conception. He said he feels it is important to get youths involved in the anti-abortion cause.
“The culture is shaping their (children’s) views and beliefs. Our culture is not sympathetic or protective of unborn babies,” Paprocki said. “We want to teach (students) both from a scientific point of view as well as from a religious point of view that they should respect all human life from that very first moment of conception.”
Jacob Mizera, a junior at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, participated in the march.
“Especially with our culture today, they (pro-choice culture) want to silence us, and they want to make us think that we don’t have a group, and we don’t have enough numbers, but I think we do. That was proved today with 700 people, and it’s really exciting to make our voices heard and show people that yes, this is a popular idea (protecting life), and this is the truth,” Mizera said.
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Planned Parenthood of Illinois issued a statement on the march.
"While Planned Parenthood of Illinois does not share the views of organizations that stand in the way of people having access to essential sexual and reproductive health care, we respect the right of any organization to protest and peacefully assemble," said Paula Thornton Greear, chief external affairs and reputation management officer for Planned Parenthood of Illinois.
Paprocki said there are Catholic charities set in place to help young women who are perhaps afraid or don’t have the proper resources to care for a child. There is also assistance available for mothers who want to put their child up for adoption.
Every year since 1974, on or around the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a diocesan-wide anti-abortion Mass and March for Life event has been held.
Students from SHG, Christ the King School, Our Lady of Lourdes School in Decatur and St. Joseph the Worker in Chatham attended Friday's march.
Contact Royale Bonds: rbonds@gannett.com, twitter.com/@Royaleb59699722
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Catholic students against abortion march in Springfield, IL
