2005 MARCH FOR LIFE, FREDERICTON


May 29, 2005: A beautiful day in the pro-life history of our province. The day of our March for Life. The biggest and best ever! Thanks be to God and all who attended, especially those who came a long way (like the family from Dalhousie).

If you were there you know how wonderful this March was. If you were not, please see the photo collage below.

Over 225 people - not including some unborn babies! - stood in pouring rain, out of love for the unborn, and to encourage our province to remain firm in not funding Henry Morgentaler’s abortion facility in Fredericton. The speakers - Dennis Savoie, Heather Hughes, Chet Randall, Susan Leger - were excellent, there was a great mix of old, young and in-between; and such a beautiful atmosphere. In my opinion the March was a real success.

I was delighted that the Premier sent a representative, Mr. Jody Carr, MLA (Oromocto). Mr. Carr not only extended greetings but spoke movingly about the government’s opposition to abortion on demand. Not only will they stand firm in not funding private abortion clinics; they look forward to the day when Fredericton’s abortion clinic will be no more! I am confident Mr. Carr was able to report back to the Premier the strong support the Province has from the public on this issue.

Mr. Shawn Graham, the Liberal Opposition Leader, also sent a representative, Mr. Rick Brewer, MLA (Southwest Miramichi), though he unfortunately arrived too late to speak. Mr. Brewer, and fellow Liberal MLA Ronald Ouellette (Grand Falls) also attended the Focus on Life Benefit Dinner the following evening. It is good to know the Liberals are also onside regarding the clinic funding issue.

I am sure our March helped to reinforce the pro-life political will in both of the main parties in the Legislature. This is a very good thing, given the pressure the Province is under from Morgentaler, the federal government, some in the media and certain social activists.

One of the most poignant moment of the March was the placing of 1000 baby roses around the Legislature - in memory of the 1,000 New Brunswick babies who died from abortion in 2004.

After the rally at the Legislature participants walked over to the yard behind our Mother and Child Welcome House, adjacent to the “House of Doom.” Fr. Richard Harris led us in prayer. Memorial roses were placed at the “clinic” (600 abortion last year), and later also at the Chalmers Hospital (358 abortions last year.)

Following the March a number of us also participated in a Catholic eucharistic procession that went - again, in the rain - by both of Fredericton’s abortion sites, praying for God’s mercy upon our city and province.

All in all, May 29 proved one of the most inspiring days in my many years of pro-life involvement.

I am grateful to the other two March sponsors, Campaign Life Coalition NB and the NB Knights of Columbus. The Knights and their wives, who had just finished their annual convention in town prior to the March, really showed up in strength. And it was great to see Right to Life people from places like Moncton, Saint John, Bathurst, Miramichi, St. Stephen, and Perth-Andover.

PHOTOS OF MARCH FOR LIFE RALLY 2005

March for Life: Wet ‘n Wonderful

May 29, 2005: A beautiful day in the pro-life history of New Brunswick. Some 225 people braved pouring rain to rally at the Legislature in support of the Province’s stance against funding the Morgentaler abortion clinic in Fredericton.