Thousands took to the streets of Birmingham on Saturday for the annual March for Life, demonstrating in favour of the right to life of unborn children.
Thousands marched through Britain’s second largest city, holding placards to mark the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Abortion Act. Since the Act was implemented, there have been well over eight million abortions.
Aisling Hubert, who tried to bring a private prosecution against two doctors who were accused of trying to arrange a sex-selective abortion, was among the speakers.
She asked the crowd: “What am I supposed to say about 50 years of bloodshed?” Hubert then held up the example of St George vanquishing the dragon to which people were sacrificing their children. “The weakness of the abortion industry is that it needs lies to survive. We need ‘Georges’ to expose the lies!”
Sister Roseanne Reddy of the Sisters of the Gospel of Life in Glasgow told the marchers: “The victory is ours: life always triumphs over death!”.
Rebecca Roughneen said: “Every time the pro-life movement gathers together we are a step closer to ending abortion.”
American pro-life activist Lila Rose, founder of Live Action, also spoke. The march included a performance by tenor Martin Aelred, who had never previously sung at a pro-life event.
The march was briefly disrupted by pro-abortion protesters who blocked the route and held up proceedings until police reinforcements arrived. But the marchers were soon able to continue.
One of the marchers said: “The start of the march was disrupted and had to be delayed by about half an hour, because the police were concerned about safety. Then we had to switch to a different route. We stayed outside the cathedral for the best part of 45 minutes.”
Another said: “The [pro-abortion] protest was so nasty, and it lasted so long, that the only thing we could do was pray, and many of us knelt on the grass and said the rosary.”
March for Life co-director Isabel Vaughan-Spruce said: “March for Life UK is now in its fourth year and has gone from strength to strength. Despite the rain and in the face of provocation, attendees behaved with a real spirit of joy. We have been overwhelmed by the 100 per cent positive feedback we have received.
“Our mission is to create awareness of the hurt and damage abortion causes, to foster a sense of community in the pro-life movement and to inspire people to become actively pro-life – these three aims were met in the fullest capacity on Saturday.”
One local GP, who said they were a longstanding supporter of the march, said: “The speakers were again outstanding, the range of pro-life groups represented was exceptional, the worship band was great and Martin Aelred was terrific”.
The march, described as a “pro-life festival”, takes place each year around the time the 1967 Abortion Act took effect.
The first March for Life took place in 1974 in Washington DC, soon becoming an annual event with thousands of pro-life activists taking to the streets.
In 2012, a small group of pro-life activists in Britain decided to hold their own march in Birmingham. The event drew so much attention that the organisers decided to promote the following year’s march more widely, and it has grown since.
Bishop blesses ‘splendid’ mural
Bishop Michael Campbell of Lancaster has blessed a mural at Lancaster University’s Catholic chaplaincy. The mural, which depicts the Transfiguration, was designed by iconographer Aidan Hart, who assembled it with his team.
The design includes plants and wildlife characteristic of the countryside near the university.
Bishop Campbell said the “splendid” mural “will undoubtedly play its part in the Church’s work of keeping alive and fresh the memory of Christ.”
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