January 24, 2020 January 24, r r ‘PRO-LIFE’ YOUTH—Students of Notre Dame Regional High School, Cape Girardeau, were among the many pilgrims from the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau that traveled to Washington, DC, for the 2020 annual March for Life held Jan. One Church, East to West: Loving Jesus, Serving Sharing Jesus East to West: One Church, 24. The event brings tens of thousands to the US capitol to witness for life and mark the 1973 Roe v Wade decision legalizing abortion on demand in the US. (The Mirror) DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD—CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI GIRARDEAU, OF SPRINGFIELD—CAPE DIOCESE ‘Pro-Life is Pro-Woman’: The Mir The The 2020 March for Life Washington DC rally’s main stage, students at Oakcrest School in McLean, VA—a Catholic Vol. LV, No. 20 No. LV, Vol. crowd estimated in at least the all-girls middle and high school—led tens of thousands flooded the the march, carrying the giant March National Mall for the March for for Life banner. The estimated tens of Life on Jan. 24. thousands of marchers moved up the AThe annual gathering draws National Mall toward the Supreme pro-life advocates from all over the US Court on Capitol Hill where a few hun- and foreign countries to Washington, dred pro-abortion demonstrators had DC, marking the anniversary of the gathered earlier in the day. Supreme Court’s 1973 decision that legalized abortion. Life empowers The march was kicked off by a Now in its 47th year, the theme rally on the National Mall attended by of the 2020 march,“Life Empowers: thousands, where Pres. Donald Trump Pro-Life is Pro-Woman,” was chosen became the first US president to address to mark the centennial anniversary of the March for Life. a woman’s right to vote in the United “Unborn children have never States with the ratification of the 19th had a stronger defender in the White Amendment in 1920. The march’s KELSO YOUTH FOR LIFE—Youth from House,” Trump said. “Every life brings theme was chosen to counter the narra- St. Augustine Parish and School in Kel- love into this world. Every child brings tive put forward by abortion supporters so, MO, witnessed for life at the annual joy to a family. Every person is worth that the practice “empowers” women. March for Life held Jan. 24 in Washing- protecting.” Jeanne Mancini, president of the ton, DC. The pilgrimage from the Dio- The president highlighted recent March for Life, said when the theme cese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau is state-level efforts to expand abortion to was announced, “We primarily chose organized by diocesan apostolate Voice include all nine months of pregnancy, it because of the centennial,” and to for Life. (The Mirror) singling out legislation passed in New show that real “empowerment” meant York last year as well as controversial valuing the lives of mothers and their women’s offspring, it can also cause comments by Virginia Gov. Ralph unborn children. lasting physical harm and psycho- The next issue of The Mirror Northam (D). In an op-ed published Jan. 24, logical trauma,” Mancini wrote. “It’s a will be Feb. 7, 2020. “Today, as President of the United Mancini said, “Abortion does not violent step backward that dispropor- Experiencing delayed USPS States, I am truly proud to defend the improve the lives of women and, un- tionately affects women.” delivery? Sign up to receive the diocesan newspaper via Email right of every child, born and unborn, like many who claim to be part of the “It has been 100 years since the in digital format: Contact Angie to fulfill their God-given potential,” he women’s movement today, the suffrag- suffragists won women the right to Toben at (417) 866-0841, or said. ists wanted no part of it.” Email: [email protected]. Following the speeches from the “Abortion not only destroys See March for Life / 15 2 The Mirror COLUMN January 24, 2020 COME, AND YOU WILL SEE We don’t just talk ‘pro-life,’ we are pro-life Bp. Edward M. Rice ince 1974, one year after the Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion, an annual, peaceful march protesting the legality of Sabortion has been held in Washing- ton, DC. The March for Life occurs regardless of the weather and is Jan. 24. It typically begins with a rally at the National Mall and concludes on the steps of the Supreme Court. There have been times when the weather was so mild I walked in a shirt. There have been other times when the wind was blowing and it was so frigid that I bundled up from head to toe. Regard- less of the weather, people come and witness to the sanctity of life and the need to protect the unborn child. While there certainly are other religious denominations that partici- pate, such as Lutherans and Angli- cans, from my perspective the March for Life is overwhelmingly Catholic. Catholic parishes and universities, along with Catholic religious orders and organizations, such as the Knights of Columbus, are all visible. I have re- ferred to the March for Life as a Catho- ‘AD LIMINA’—Bishop Edward M. Rice was among the bishops of US Episcopal Region IX that met with Pope Francis lic “Woodstock” event. Every time I in Rome Jan. 12-18, 2020. (Photo courtesy of Vatican media) go, I will pause in the midst of the march and take in the sight of tens-of- of participants from our diocese. I was of 30, giving rise to the motto, “We Anne Campus. When people criticize thousands of people all gathered for so proud to see us there along with Are the Pro-Life Generation.” the pro-life movement for only being the same cause—respect for life. Last everyone else, witnessing to life. An concerned with the baby being born year, I was privileged to attend the interesting note, it is estimated that Voice for Life and no aftercare, I tell them to visit March and walk with three busloads half of the marchers are under the age Of course, whenever a posi- LifeHouse. When people criticize the tive step with pro-life legislation is pro-life movement for not being there taken, there is always a counter-effort for unwed mothers, I tell them to visit from Planned Parenthood and other LifeHouse. When people criticize the pro-death organizations. In our own pro-life movement for abandoning diocese, we are grateful for the mother after childbirth, I the on-going work of our tell them to visit LifeHouse. pro-life apostolate, Voice for All those old and tired lies DioSCG @DioSCG Life, in promoting respect for Through are dismissed when someone Notre Dame Regional High School PRESENTS life among the youth of our discovers all the job training, the annual winter Extravaganza-XGAMES LifeHouse, diocese. Established in 1994 you support education, and parenting-skill Aspen 2020 Cape Girardeau, MO—January 22, and now under the auspices programs that are offered for 2020—please join Notre Dame Regional High School of Donna Anderson and the entire single mothers, up to two on January 25th, 2020 for the Annual Notre Dame Kathleen Keesee, various art years after the birth of their Winter Extravaganza presented by Saint Francis spectrum projects, essay contests, and child, at LifeHouse. Indeed Healthcare System. This year’s theme is XGAMES of services T-shirt designs are promoted talk is cheap, actions speak Aspen 2020 at the Drury Plaza Convention Center. within the network of Catho- they offer louder than words. Through lic school and PSR programs as they your support of LifeHouse, to instill the sanctity of life accompany you are supporting the entire in the hearts of our younger spectrum of services they of- generation. Donna and these fer as they accompany these Kathleen also organize the women who women who have chosen life! buses to Washington, DC, have chosen Many promote the false for the annual pilgrimage to narrative that the Church is March for Life. Many people life! only concerned about the will also remember Rosie birth of the child and then San Paolo and her drive and loses interest once he or she determination with Voice for is born. That simply is not Life. I was privileged to visit true: We can (and should) be her in the nursing home after I first proud of how we accompany women arrived in Springfield as bishop. Her in need. LifeHouse is proof that we determination and spirit are still felt can do more than just talk about be- today! ing ‘pro-life,’ we are pro-life. Let us all We should also remember the renew our efforts to promote the cause good work of LifeHouse Crisis Mater- of life. As a gift from God, every hu- nity Home, located in the former Car- man life is sacred from conception to melite Monastery in Springfield, on St. natural death. ©TM January 24, 2020 COLUMNA The Mirror 3 VEN Y VERÁS Obispo Edward M. Rice No sólo hablamos de «provida», somos provida esde 1974, un año después de que la decisión Roe v. Wade legalizara el aborto, se celebra una marcha anual y Dpacífica de protesta contra la legal- ización del aborto en Washington, Public Calendar DC. La Marcha por la Vida se realizar sin importar el clima, y es el 24 de Mon., Jan. 27 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS enero. Típicamente comienza con un WEEK, Jan. 26-Feb. 1 mitin en el National Mall y concluye Presbyteral Council en los escalones de la Corte Suprema.