As the U.S. Supreme Court considers Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case that could overturn Roe v. Wade, Maryland’s pro-life supporters are ready to show their support for the sanctity of life at the Jan. 21 March for Life in Washington, D.C., and the Feb. 3 Maryland March for Life in Annapolis.
“I am very optimistic Roe v. Wade is going to be overturned,” said Erin Younkins, director of the Office of Life, Justice and Peace with the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Institute for Evangelization. “Justices had great questions at the Dec. 1 hearing and their points really leaned toward the holes in Roe v. Wade.”
Younkins added that it’s important for Catholics of the Archdiocese of Baltimore to participate in marches for life to raise awareness.
The thought of a nation without Roe v. Wade has “reinvigorated both sides of the abortion debate in Maryland,” said Therese McGucken Hessler, president of the Maryland March for Life’s Board and Steering Committee.
Maryland legislators who support the legal right to abortion are expected to push for a state constitutional “right for abortion” during the next session of the Maryland General Assembly, which opens Jan. 12 and runs to April 11 in Annapolis.
“United for life,” is the theme of the Maryland March for Life 2022. The event includes a rally and candlelight vigil. Among the featured speakers will be Laura Bogley, director of legislation at Maryland Right to Life; Terrisa Bukovinac, founder and executive director of Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising; and Toni McFadden, a pro-life activist.
Due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, the traditional Respect Life Mass at St. Mary in Annapolis will not be celebrated prior to the march this year.
Maryland is one of the most permissive states when it comes to abortion laws and, according to Hessler, many Maryland residents are unaware of the state’s permission for abortions through all nine months.
In Washington, this year’s March for Life theme is “Equality begins at the womb.” In addition to the Jan. 21 march to the Supreme Court, the event will include an expo, seminar, rally, concert and dinner gala.
Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, has urged all people of goodwill from all faiths to pray and fast for this important case.
“We pray that the court will do the right thing and allow states to once again limit or prohibit abortion, and in doing so protect millions of unborn children and their mothers from this painful, life-destroying act,” he said in a written statement.
The archbishop will be the main celebrant and homilist of the Vigil for Life Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20.
Jennifer Kraska, executive director of the Maryland Catholic Conference, said that even if Roe v. Wade were to be overturned and abortion rights are returned to the states, Maryland would not see any immediate change.
“We will be on to our next fight when it comes back down to the state level,” Hessler said. “Abortion activists are trying to enshrine the right to abortion within the Maryland Constitution and now more than ever it is more important to come to the march and stand for life.”
The Maryland March for Life is an opportunity for different organizations to come together and unite efforts to meet men, women and their babies in their time of need, so “they don’t feel backed into a corner” with abortion as their only solution, she said.
“When we are addressing all the fears that will ever get them to think why abortion is a choice, then abortion becomes unthinkable,” Hessler said.
The Maryland Catholic Conference, public-policy arm of the state’s Catholic bishops, will continue to provide respect-for-life resources through its website with webinars, facts and updates in English and Spanish as the legislative session progresses.
Younkins said the Archdiocese of Baltimore is providing support to babies and their mothers with the “Walking with Moms in Need” program. The initiative commits Catholics at the parish level to assisting all women in crisis pregnancies. Rather than just handing them materials, the initiative welcomes them into the parishes as a community to rely on in whatever help they might need through pregnancy up until the first year of the baby’s life.
A third of the archdiocese’s parishes are involved at some stage of the project. Younkins said her goal is to get up to 50 percent of the archdiocese’s parishes by the end of 2022.
“The reason we march for life and spend tireless hours trying to get volunteers to testify is because we believe one day it (Roe v. Wade) will be overturned,” Hessler said. “If it is not today, it will be one day soon.”
Find more about the March for Life at marchforlife.org. Find more about the Maryland March for Life at mdmarchforlife.com/
Email Priscila González de Doran at pdoran@CatholicReview.org.
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