Paul Tuns:
Campaign Life Coalition’s National March for Life attracted approximately 6000 people to Ottawa, gathered on Parliament Hill, and proceeded to march through the streets of the nation’s capital, demanding an end to abortion.
CLC national president Jeff Gunnarson told The Interim he was thrilled with the March, which he thought had a special buzz about it coming a week after the leak of a draft U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. “I am stoked by the Roe v Wade leaked decision,” Gunnarson said. “It is creating a positive buzz amongst pro-lifers; the pro-aborts are in a panic as is Trudeau who is trying to quash the momentum by throwing money at it. That indicates to me that Life is winning in Canada.”
Gunnarson told Kevin Dunn during the EWTN pre-show that the March, which originally marked the Day of Infamy when abortion was decriminalized by Pierre Trudeau in 1969, is “sad, but today is a day of hope.” He said this was a “Red Sea moment for the pro-life movement.”
During the EWTN programming before live coverage, Papal Nuncio to Canada, Ivan Jurkovič, said he was “Happy that this (pro-life) conviction remains alive” and was most visible through the March. Toronto Cardinal Thomas Collins offered his support for the pro-life cause and movement, saying of the theme that “I am” helps Canadians think of others, to love the person because human beings are a “who, not a what” and “someone, not something,” to view the most vulnerable in society as “Children of God, not objects, people to be loved, not objects to be used.”
Jim Hughes, president emeritus of CLC, told EWTN that Nellie Gray, the foundress of the March for Life in Washington, encouraged Campaign Life Coalition to hold an annual event and eventually it followed her advice. This year’s National March for Life was the 25th such event.
Debbie Duval of the National March for Life organizing committee, said the March is not a celebration but a commemoration of those who have given voice to the voiceless and mourning the loss of four million babies’ lives lost since 1969 when abortion was decriminalized. She said “we must continue to march if we want to change the culture of death into a culture of life.” She said, “Marching today brings pro-lifers together and shows Canada how many of us there are.”
Josie Luetke, CLC youth co-coordinator, thanked everyone for joining, in-person, online, and on TV through EWTN, or following the proceedings on social media. Maeve Roche, CLC youth co-coordinator, said the Canadian pro-life movement should use momentum created by the possibility of Roe being overturned in the US to “remind our Canadian officials that we will not stop defending the lives of preborn children and oppose the abhorrent practice of abortion.”
Pastors Richard Long and Isaac Gimba offered opening prayers, with Gimba saying that those in attendance were “Aligned with Your purpose.”
Gunnarson fired up the crowd with his opening remarks: “Are you stoked? They’re not,” he said pointing to the pro-abortion counter-protesters.
Gunnarson told the throng in attendance, “Thanks to you and your vigilance, your prayers, life is winning in Canada.” He said that, “Politics is powerful and effective, but more importantly, the promotion of killing of babies in the womb is evil, and this kind of evil can only be cast out with prayers and fasting.”
Sister Gaudia Maria of Sisters for Life said, “every life is a gift” and explained that Sisters for Life “journey with those vulnerable to abortion, helping them to discover their own dignity and the gift of the unborn child in their womb.” She said, “We have a God-given dignity, and absolutely nothing can take that away.”
Ruth Biss of the Haldimand Pregnancy Care and Family Center in southwestern Ontario, said she discovered the pregnancy centre and received material and emotional support when she had an unwanted pregnancy. Biss said that they continued to support her through the “struggles of motherhood,” and Biss found that she had “purpose beyond the feelings of chasing momentary happiness.” Biss said, “God has a plan for you, whether you were planned or unplanned.”
Gordon Friesen, a disabilities activist with the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, said euthanasia and abortion are offered as choices, but many do not feel they have a choice: “evacuation of imperfect individuals is no longer limited to the womb … there is no longer any age of safety.” If it is ethical for a person to choose euthanasia, “it is ethical to hound and badger them until they submit.” Friesen said, “It is time for all-hands on deck” to oppose abortion and euthanasia.
David Scotton, a Louisiana-based adoption advocate, said that the pro-life witness outside an Indianapolis abortuary made his mother realize he was a real human being and that is why he is alive today. Scotton, the subject of the documentary, I Lived on Parker Avenue, said he met his birth parents and thanked them “for walking out of that abortion clinic … and choosing the adoption option.” He said, “I was seconds away from being another number … and I wasn’t because of this movement.”
Dunn Media’s Kevin Dunn reminded the crowd, “We are at war: spiritual war.” He said that the vulnerable are not enemies: “they need love and compassion” but “we are going into battle against” the Devil. “Victory only comes from calling for the Great I Am.”
Archbishop Marcel Damphousse of the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall welcomed pro-lifers, especially priests and other religious: “your presence is really important here today and it is valued. As we stand together and march together, we give a voice to those who do not have a voice.”
Marcel Lemmen, Ontario state deputy of the Knights of Columbus, said the Knights believe in the sanctity of human life and they put that faith into action, including a program to purchase ultrasound machines for pro-life doctors and saying novenas for life.
Conservative MP Arnold Viersen, chair of the Parliamentary Pro-Life Caucus, introduced his colleagues: Kelly Block, Cathay Wagantall, Damien Kuric, John Williamson, Glen Motz, and Garnett Genuis, and former MPs Harold Albreht, Pierre Lemieux, James Lunney, and Wladyslaw Lizon
Viersen said he was, “Happy to defend human rights, including the human rights of the preborn.” He noted the Conservative leadership race was underway and acknowledging there was only one pro-life candidate, he and Genuis both urged pro-lifers to fill out the full ballot, even if “they might not be your favourites,” as Genuis said.
After the parliamentarians spoke, CLC’s Jack Fonseca corrected the direction to fill out the full Conservative leadership ballot, saying that pro-lifers cannot vote for pro-abortion candidates. He reiterated that CLC only supported Leslyn Lewis in the leadership race and leave the rest of the ballot blank.
Wagantall told the audience that “you are amazing” and talked about how she would have the opportunity to bring forward her third pro-life private member’s bill. She then read a statement from Leslyn Lewis who was on the road signing up new members for her leadership bid. Reading Lewis’ message, Wagantall said, “I wish I could join you in person today … I want you to know that I stand with you … I am pro-life, I believe every life is intrinsically and undeniably valuable, and I have never been ashamed to say it.”
Christian Heritage Party Rod Taylor thanked everyone for participating in the March and thanked every MP and provincial representative “that uses his or her voice to advocate for the preborn and the vulnerable.”
Campagne Quebec Vie president Georges Buscemi delivered remarks in French, and then both pro-life Ontario political leaders, Derek Sloan of the Ontario Party and Jim Karahalios of the True Blue Party, addressed the crowd, which was thinning out because the March had already begun. Sloan highlighted his party’s pro-life policies including conscience rights for healthcare workers, making adoption easier, funding for crisis pregnancy centres, getting rid of the bubble zone, and enacting parental notification laws
After the March, several women from Silent No More Awareness provided their testimonies of abortion regret.
That evening, there was a Rose Dinner featuring guest speaker Seth Dillon, founder of the Christian satirical website Babylon Bee. He commented upon current life and family issues and urged everyone to keep up the fight.
The day before the March, the Youth Conference held a capacity event at a local church. They attracted more than 300 youth despite the fact no schools sent buses to the March for Life this year.
The week before the National March for Life, CLC hosted a number of online events including showing pro-life movies with question-and-answer sessions with those involved in the movies.
