WASHINGTON (OSV News) – Tens of thousands of pro-life advocates descended upon the US capital for the 50th March for Life on Januart 20 — the first national march since the overturn of the US Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that initially prompted the annual demonstration.

Standing on the event stage at the National Mall, with the US Capitol visible in the background, Jeanne Mancini, March for Life president, told attendees at a rally prior to the march that “the country and world changed” when Roe was reversed in June 2022. But she said the annual March for Life would continue in Washington until abortion is “unthinkable”.

“While the March began as a response to Roe, we don’t end as a response to Roe being overturned,” Mancini said. “Why? Because we are not yet done.”

The march took place on a sunny and unseasonably warm day in Washington. A headcount of attendees was not immediately available, as the National Park Service does not release crowd size estimates.

The national March for Life first took place in Washington in 1974 in response to the Roe decision legalising abortion nationwide the previous year. The protest has taken place in Washington each year since, with a smaller-in-scale event during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

The 2023 event was the first national March for Life since the high court’s June 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturned Roe and returned the matter of regulating or restricting abortion to state legislatures.

At the pre-march rally, the Christian band “We Are Messengers” performed, followed by a number of speakers, including Jonathan Roumie, known for his role as “Jesus” in the television series “The Chosen”, former Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy, Democratic Connecticut State Rep. Trenee McGee, and Gianna Emanuela Molla, the daughter of St Gianna Beretta Molla. Canonized in 2004, St. Gianna gave her life for Giana Emanuela, choosing to move forward with her fourth pregnancy even after doctors discovered a tumour in her uterus.

Molla told the rallygoers that she thanks her “saint mom” for the gift of life. “I would not be here now with all of you if I had not been loved so much,” she said.

Roumie told the crowd – “God is real and he is completely in love with you,” he said, adding that each person is individually loved by God.

“Remember my dear friends, we know how the story ends: God won,” Roumie said.

The rally also featured some lawmakers from the US House of Representatives. Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, a Catholic Republican and co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, said at the rally, “Future generations will someday look back on us and wonder how and why a society that bragged about its commitment to human rights could have legally sanctioned” abortion.

“The injustice of abortion need not be forever, and with your continued work and prayers, it will not be,” Smith said.

Prior to speaking to the sea of pro-life marchers on the National Mall, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, who argued the Dobbs case before the Supreme Court, told OSV News that “empowering women and promoting life” were the next steps post-Roe.

“Some of the things that we’re talking about in Mississippi and promoting legislation on are workplace flexibility options, particularly for mothers,” she said. “We lose young mothers because they don’t have any options. They don’t have that flexibility. We’ve got to have childcare. It’s got to be affordable, accessible and quality.”

Fitch said she wants to see the pro-life movement do “some heavy lifts” to push laws enhancing child support enforcement and reforming the adoption or foster care systems.

“(These systems) are failing our children; they’re broken,” Fitch said. “We’ve got to make those (changes) happen and put those children in these loving families.”

Speaking with OSV News at the march, Kristan Hawkins, president of the pro-life group Students for Life of America, said the next front of her organisation’s activism will focus on fighting the spread of medication abortion. Hawkins said the pro-life movement should also focus on broadening the social safety net and its remaining goals at the federal level, such as stripping Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest single abortion provider, of taxpayer funds.

“We’re walking and running and chewing gum all at the same time,” she said.

“There is a lot for us to do as a nation, especially raising awareness among its citizens,” Isalyn Aviles Rodríguez, who came to the march from Miami, told OSV News. Rodríguez said she was motivated to march because “the nation needs to know that children are part of God’s plan from conception until natural death”.

As in prior years, the March drew teenage advocates for life as well. Angeline Moro, 14, from Trenton, New Jersey, attended the event to learn how to raise her voice in defence of the most vulnerable.

“We all need to have a chance to live,” Moro said.

At various events leading up to the march, pro-life advocates joined together in prayer and solidarity.

At the January 19 opening Mass for the annual National Prayer Vigil for Life, the night before the march, Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia, said in his homily that the pro-life movement has “much to celebrate” because Roe v. Wade “is no more”.

But, he added, a “new important phase” for the cause of life “begins now”.

“Our efforts to defend life must be as tireless as ever” not only to change laws but also hearts “with steadfast faith in the grace and power of God to do so”, said Bishop Burbidge, chairman of the US of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

The event, held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, drew between 6000 and 6500 people, with most of the congregation filling the Great Upper Church. Dozens also viewed the Mass via screens in the lower level of the basilica.

Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the US, read a message from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, issued on behalf of Pope Francis, who imparted his blessing on all those participating in the March for Life.

“His Holiness trusts that Almighty God will strengthen the commitment of all, especially the young, to persevere in their efforts aimed at protecting human life in all its stages, especially through adequate legal measures enacted at every level of society,” the message said.

The Mass was followed by a “Holy Hour for Life” at the basilica, which launched a series of Holy Hours of Eucharistic devotion throughout the night in dioceses across the country.

The thousands of attendees at various events streamed into the National Mall, where they assembled at the noon rally and prepared to begin marching an hour later.

With the overturn of Roe, organizers had planned for a reworked march route, resulting in a new final destination: the East Front of the US Capitol, symbolising the movement’s new goals. However, restrictions on the use of sticks for signage put in place by the US Capitol Police after the January 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol resulted in the route instead passing by the West Front. For the 50th time, the national march ended in the same spot: before the steps of the US Supreme Court.

Morgan Ehlis, a student from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, told OSV News that being in Washington with “like-minded people” was an “overwhelming experience”.

“I’m grateful to be pro-life,” said Ehlis. “It’s swimming upstream for sure, but (this is a) big support group we have.”

Photo: Pro-life advocates gather for the 50th annual March for Life in Washington on January 20, 2023 (OSV News photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)

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Speakers at the 90-minute rally, held under cloudy skies with temperatures below zero, were faith leaders, members of Congress, pro-life advocates, including women who had or almost had abortions, and actors.

Many of the speakers acknowledged that those in the crowd, bundled in winter coats and hats and standing close together, had to be cold, but they also commended their continued dedication in coming to the event each year to protest the 1973 Supreme Court’s Roe vs Wade decision legalising abortion.

Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, and the rally’s MC, said this was her 10th March for Life at the event’s podium and she said: “I am pretty sure I have never seen such an excitable crowd as you are; and I am so grateful.”

The excitement could have been partly from the event being back on after last year’s primarily virtual event amid the pandemic and on the heels of the January 6 riot at the US Capitol. But for many, the enthusiasm was echoed in the message from nearly every speaker: the potential for the US Supreme Court to reverse its decision on abortion this year.

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who also has frequently addressed the march crowd, told them that this year they had “fresh hope and heightened expectation” awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organisation.

“Today, after decades of noble struggle and sacrifice, we are hopeful that government-sanctioned violence against children and the exploitation of women by abortion is nearing an end – although in a very real way, the struggle to defend innocent human life now enters a critically important new phase,” he said.

The representative, who is a co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus and was surrounded on the stage by about a dozen members of Congress, also noted the pro-life movement was “at the tipping point” and urged those who have been fighting for it for so long to “seize the opportunity with all the faith and seriousness we can muster”.

Dan Lipinski, a former Democratic House representative from Illinois, similarly stressed that “no matter what happens at the Supreme Court, we will continue to march.”

Other congressional leaders also addressed the crowd via taped messages shown on Jumbotron screens urging them to keep the momentum going.

Mancini told the crowd of mostly young people that she was happy to welcome them back and veering off her prepared remarks she advised them to go to first-aid tents or warming buses if they needed to get warm.

“We are hoping and praying that this year, 2022, will bring a historic change for life,” she said.

Like other speakers during the rally, she said that while the pro-life movement awaits the decision in the Dobbs case, “we need your dedication more than ever before”.

“If Roe falls, battle lines will change, but the fight for life will need to continue,” she added.

The theme for this year’s rally was “Equality Begins in the Womb”, and Mancini and other speakers highlighted how those advocating for equality need to recognise that it starts with the unborn.

Lisa Robertson, a cast member from “Duck Dynasty”, told the crowd about her personal struggles after having an abortion several years ago, but she also stressed her realisation now that she could speak about it because she knew she had been forgiven. She encouraged the crowd to also be pro-adoption.

Kirk Cameron, best known for his role on the 1980s sitcom “Growing Pains”, similarly emphasised the blessing of adoption, noting that his wife and four of their six children were adopted.

Cameron said he was proud to be marching with this group to the Supreme Court and urged them to continue the spirit of the march when they returned to their homes.

Father Mike Schmitz echoed that same idea, telling the crowd that their very presence at this event “changes you”.

The priest of the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota, who is a popular Catholic speaker, author and host of “Bible in a Year” podcast by Ascension Press, was a big hit with the crowd, which chanted “Father Mike!” after he left the stage.

The crowd also cheered “Katie! Katie!” for Katie Shaw, a pro-life advocate with Down syndrome who thanked her parents for choosing life and said she was saddened by all the friends she might have had who were aborted.

The rally, which always leads off the march, began and ended with prayer. The opening prayer was delivered by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, a Greek Orthodox leader who was joined on the stage by Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori, chairman of the US bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

The closing prayer was said by Cissie Graham Lynch, granddaughter of the well-known Southern Baptist minister the Rev. Billy Graham.

At the close of the rally, before participants made their way to Constitution Avenue to march to the Supreme Court, Mancini urged participants to recognise the work ahead for the pro-life movement and to contribute online or in baskets held out along the marching route by members of the Knights of Columbus.

She noted that Tom Hogan, one of the March for Life board members who had been directing marchers at this annual event for years, died in November. She said she was sure he would be “looking down on us and keeping us in line”.

Photo: People walk up Constitution Avenue headed toward the US Supreme Court while participating in the 49th annual March for Life in Washington on Jan. 21, 2022. (CNS photo)

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Many of the marchers had pink and blue balloons, and carried banners, with a variety of messages emphasising love and life — for mother and baby.

A 60-strong Mother of Divine Mercy group from Auckland sang and chanted throughout the march, and their enthusiasm was said to be contagious. The group raises its own funds to travel to the

marches each year.

At Parliament grounds, there were speeches from political and pro life figures, including Lila Rose, president and founder of Live Action in the US, who spoke by video-link.

Ms Rose congratulated and encouraged the marchers, stating that “. . . how we treat the most vulnerable, what our laws fail to do, or what they do do for the most vulnerable, is the true measure of our greatness and our justice as a society”.

“. . . [I]f our laws do not protect that first human right, which is life, then we cannot have peace or justice in our society,” she said.

Ms Rose acknowledged that such pro-life public initiatives are carried out with grief in people’s hearts, because of the loss that abortion entails to many people involved.

“As you march now,” Ms Rose added in encouragement, “know that you are not marching alone. You are one of millions across the world . . . that are marching together for life.”

“Our movement is a winning one — this is the good news. Change is possible. I have seen this in the US,” she added.

Courage is required, voices have to be raised but, at the same time women facing abortion have to be supported, she said.

“Despite the critics, despite the attacks, we can be victorious, because we have the truth on our side and, ultimately, I believe we are on the side of love, love that comes from a God who created all of us in his image and likeness, who created every child in his image and likeness.”

Ms Rose suggested three key activities for marchers when they went home — educating those they know about the reality of abortion, staying involved in the pro-life cause in areas like advocacy and support initiatives, and praying “for a global transformation . . . that people can have a restored vision of humanity”.

Former MP Agnes Loheni, who was on the select committee that considered the Abortion Legislation Bill, told the marchers that, even though she was no longer an MP after both the election and the battle over the bill had been lost, “the battle continues today. I am no longer in Parliament, but I am out in the community, with all of you, because that is where the battle now continues”.

In a report on Family Life International’s website, Michelle Kaufman wrote that Ms Loheni said: “History has never looked kindly on governments that sanction the killing of [their] own citizens, and history will not judge the passing of this abortion legislation kindly.”

The FLI report added that Mrs Loheni concluded by giving a stark warning about anticipated restrictions on speech about abortion. Referencing the miraculous defeat of the “anti-free speech and the anti-freedom safe zones” in the Abortion Legislation Act, she noted that it was “likely that this will be raised again in this term of government”.

It “is only a short jump from banning speech outside an abortion clinic to banning speech that is anti-abortion”, she warned.

MP Simon O’Connor (National — Tamaki) told the marchers that he is “proudly pro-life”.

“I have fought against abortion, fought against euthanasia, fought against hate speech, and will never stop fighting,” he said.

But he acknowledged those women who had “made what is a terrible and hard decision”.

“To those mums who have chosen abortion, we stand with you, we love you, we support you. To the dads and the families who have put pressure, often on those young women, we ask you to actually stand with those women, and to love your child. To the fathers today — support those women, support them and your child, stand with them.”

Mr O’Connor looked forward to a time when people gathered at Parliament, not to lament laws that have been passed, but to celebrate a culture of life returning to this country.

FLI also reported that another speaker at Parliament was Giselle, a young mother, originally from Argentina, whose support network had failed her when she found out she was pregnant. Her boyfriend, family, and medical staff, all told her that abortion was her best option. However, she chose to reach out to FLI’s Gianna’s Choice Pregnancy Options and Support, and was given all the encouragement and support she needed — especially by Dame Colleen Bayer — to give life to her son Noah. She explained that knowing she “was not alone” helped her to make her choice for life.

At Parliament’s grounds, a newly-formed group — ProLove — which provides packs of donated baby goods to mothers in need, explained their mission to the crowd. Situated in South Auckland, in just a few months the group has distributed 500 boxes of goods to mothers and babies in the local community, reported FLI.

A small group of counter-protestors followed the March for Life, as happened in Hamilton last year. They displayed signs at Parliament’s grounds.

Marches for Life are being planned for several places next year, including in Auckland and Hamilton in early March, in Christchurch and Whangarei in September, and in Wellington again on December 4, 2021.

• FLI reported that about 200 people attended Mass at Saint Mary of the Angels in Wellington city on the Friday night (December 4) in preparation for the March for Life.

Both the Saint Mary of the Angels choir, and Mother of Divine Mercy Refuge Choir from Auckland, added to the prayer with their singing. Quoting Pope Francis, Auckland auxiliary Bishop Michael Gielen highlighted the value of every human being. “Human beings have inherent, irreducible value, but when a throwaway culture finds them inconvenient, it deems them ‘inefficient’ or ‘burdensome’; and they are ignored, rejected or even disposed of.”

“Jesus has called you here,” he stated. “It is his work first.”

He reminded the congregation of St Teresa of Kolkata’s words that “we are not called to be successful, but faithful”.

“Let us take hope, he concluded. “Allow him (Jesus) to use us in this March for Life.”

(Photo: The March for Life moves through Wellington’s streets: Photographer – Bianca Jago)

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What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, it is the people, it is the people!

And March for Life Auckland wants to celebrate all people in their inaugural March in the CBD on Saturday, February 29. The gathering forthe march is at Freyberg Square at 1pm. Marchers will leave for Aotea Square at 2pm. Speeches will start at 2.45pm.

Organisers are planning a fun, family-friendly event to raise awareness and spread love and healing in this country. Like the National March For Life held in Wellington, which has doubled in numbers every year, organisers are sure it will grab the imagination and hearts of Aucklanders. It is an international movement that attracts hundreds of thousands of people every year all over the world, so the hope is that New Zealand will take this up.

Organisers are hoping to see it grow each year into a real celebration oflife, love and whanau.

The Select Committee on the Abortion Legislation Bill reported back to Parliament this month and, being a Government bill with a strong majority, it is likely to be passed swiftly.

This means the timing of this event is important. The greater the number of walkers, the clearer the message is to the politicians that people do care about vulnerable people and that liberalising abortion is not what New Zealanders need or want.

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The event saw an estimated 2500 people walk from Civic Square to Parliament, by way of Willis Street and Lambton Quay.

Among the sounds, there were voices of a powhiri, the words of politicians and parents, the singing of the national anthem, Pacifica chanting, the skirl of bagpipes and the ultrasound heartbeats of babies in their mothers’ wombs, played “live”, from a large stage.

But perhaps the most significant were the words of a young woman called
“Naomi”, who had had an abortion ten years ago.

Naomi’s heartfelt talk had the crowd spellbound.

She related how, ten years ago, she had told a counsellor about “circumstances that were pressing in at the time and how I felt about the pregnancy”.

“I told her I felt guilty, as I had always been very pro-life . . . so I felt the weight of the decision hanging over me.

“She [the counsellor] drew me a fingernail-sized, scribbled circle on a paper, to show me what seven weeks [of foetal development] looked like. She told me a lot of things — like what the procedure would entail, how I might experience some sadness, and that I should find someone to talk to.”

Naomi then described a series of events, feelings, emotions and thoughts that the counsellor did not tell her about.

“What she didn’t tell me,” Naomi began,” was that I’d feel so alone; that I
would go through the procedure alone; no one to sit with me; that I would have no-one to talk to.”

“What she didn’t tell me was that I wouldn’t even be able to voice what I had done to anyone; that I would carry a deep sense of shame.”

There were many other things the counsellor did not tell Naomi about — the suicidal feelings, the drive to self-harm, the panic attacks, the depression, and the pain at feeling unable to grieve.

“What she didn’t tell me,” Naomi continued, “was that I would need to walk
through a lot of painful healing to even feel human again.”

“What she didn’t assure me of was that many of the circumstances surrounding my situation wouldn’t even be an issue down the track, and nor were there other solutions offered.

“What she didn’t tell me was that forgiving myself would have to occur repeatedly, and that guilt and shame would rear its head time and again.”

Naomi then had some comment for everyone.

“So, unless you have walked in the shoes of — and sat and held the hand
of — a broken woman, a woman facing a major life decision like this, you will never know the weight of self-judgement and self-condemnation. It is a weight far greater than anybody else could heap upon them.

“And if we truly value life, then that love and value must begin with the woman — the life that carries the life.”

She spoke of how she had walked this path herself. At some later time, she was able to sit and “answer every burning question that a worried and broken woman asked me when she was facing a major decision that would forever alter the course of her life, and the pain of my own abortion was still raw and bleeding in my soul”.

“That openness caused her heart to change, to see a future for the baby inside her,” Naomi said, to loud cheers and applause at Parliament grounds.

“Women are hurting and broken everywhere,” Naomi continued. “They are
looking for open hearts to sit with them in their brokenness.”

“My challenge to you,” she told the people assembled, “as you rise to be a
voice for the voiceless, is to make sure you make yourself known to be a safe place. That you will love women no matter what, no matter the choices they choose to make, and that you will sit with them in their darkest hour.”

“Be that someone they can talk through their fears, their options, their
future and a place to come, when and if they are broken because of abortion.

“Love them both without reservation. Love her no matter what, and do not turn away.”

Naomi concluded by sharing that she was now the mother of four biological
sons and, with her husband, has permanently fostered a daughter. “We love her just as our own,” she said.

Politicians

Speaking to NZ Catholic, March for Life chair Pastor Gina Sunderland lamented that many politicians just don’t seem to hear the pro-life message.

“But we will just never give up and we just need to keep lobbying them,” Rev. Sunderland said.

“We have a faithful core of Members of Parliament who are obviously pro-life and they keep the fire burning for us in there, so we have to support them. But the Government is tough — they are very liberal and they are completely blinded, obviously, about this whole issue. So it is a bit of a hard nut to crack there, but we will just keep on educating society and being a voice.”

The March for Life is a good vehicle for that voice, she added.

“For us . . . it is about getting the message out there and giving the ordinary Kiwi an opportunity to get out and march. Not everyone will do that, but
March for Life is safe. It is a peaceful, family- friendly environment and people who don’t normally get involved in marches have a place to do that safely and that is what is really special about it.”

Rev. Sunderland said organisers were thrilled so many people turned out for the march — twice the number that had marched last year.

Three MPs spoke at the event — Paulo Garcia, Simon O’Connor and Alfred Ngaro (all National). Several others, including two pro-life Labour MPs, put in their apologies.

“I would normally say welcome to Parliament,” Mr O’Connor told the marchers, “but this place is becoming a house of death [with measures on] abortion, euthanasia. But your voice, your feet, your families here today bring change.”

There was a small counter-protest at Parliament, involving a handful of people, who stood silently beside a fence.There was also some pro-abortion graffiti at Civic Square.

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But perhaps the one which best summarised the mood of the march, and the intentions of the organisers, was “Love them both”.

Some 1200 people marched from Civic Square in Wellington to the grounds of Parliament.

People from many different churches and faiths and people of no faith walked down Willis
Street and Lambton Quay, with many onlookers taking photos or videos on their smartphones.

Organisations which had endorsed the march included Family Life International NZ, Family First, Voice for Life, Focus on the Family, Right to Life, Hillary’s Law, John Paul II Centre for Life, The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference and The New Zealand Christian Network.

At the start of the march, the MC, Pastor Gina Sunderland from Riverstones Church in Upper Hutt, referred to the recent report by the Law Commission with its three options for reform, all of which take abortion out of the Crimes Act and make it a “health matter”, as
requested by the Government.

Taking abortion out of the Crimes Act removes “any legal recognition or protection of the unborn child”, Rev. Sunderland said.

“These changes could potentially pave the way for late term abortions, aborting children
on the basis of their gender, abortion for those with disabilities — for example Down Syndrome — and possibly even partial birth abortions.

“If there was ever a day to stand up and be a voice for the voiceless, that day is now.”

But she stressed that the fight was against the “lies” told by the pro-choice movement, not against pro-choice people themselves.

Rev. Sunderland also noted that abortion not only ends the life of the pre-born child, but it brings harm and grief to the mother, and to the father, and it has a life-long impact on families and whanau.

Compassion was a strong theme of the march, and this was emphasised by speakers in the forecourt at Parliament.

MP Alfred Ngaro (National) said that hearts go out to the 500,000 children not present, whose lives had been taken by abortion since the 1970s. He said the marchers needed to keep sending their message and standing up for life. But there also needs to be a parallel movement, reaching out to women in crisis.

“We do not stand here in judgement, because that is not our cause, but we stand here in compassion,” Mr Ngaro added. “There are women out there sometimes who are confused and don’t know what sort of choices they should make. And the message we need to send is that we love them and we care for them . . . we want to be there with them.”

This was echoed by Auckland mother (of nine children) Rebecca Loretz, who shared the story of a life-threatening pregnancy she experienced some years ago, and, despite being
repeatedly offered abortion by hospital staff initially, after much prayer, she and her husband decided to carry on with the pregnancy. The baby and mother miraculously
survived. Her daughter from this pregnancy, Philomena, was held up by Michael Loretz, Rebecca’s husband. Philomena smiled at the crowd, who cheered and clapped.

But Mrs Loretz added that she had had a lot of support from her husband, family, community and others during that pregnancy.

“Now there are a lot of women who are facing really difficult circumstances around crisis pregnancies,” she said. “They may not stand to lose their life like I [could have], but they may stand to lose their education, their job, their status, they may not be able to afford their rent or their mortgage. They might lose their home, and they may even lose their husband or their partner if they continue on with their pregnancy.

“This is where we all come in. . . . We actually have to make a difference in these women’s lives, because I know that without the support that I received, I would have found it very, very difficult to proceed with my pregnancy.

“And I know that women who are out there need your help . . . go along to your crisis pregnancy centre, reach out to Family Life International, or to Pregnancy Help, or to other local organisations that are near you. Volunteer, lend a helping hand, drive [women] to their ultrasound, take them to their midwives, be there when they are crying, look after their kids, just like people did for me. As this pro-life community, we just need to work
together to make abortion totally obsolete.”

MP Simon O’Connor (National) congratulated the marchers on their stand for life and added that it is rare for such a large crowd to gather on Parliament’s forecourt over any issue.

“You have stood rightly for life across a range of issues,” Mr O’Connor said. “You are the people who stood up against slavery, you are the people who have stood up against genocide, you are the people who stand up against euthanasia, you are the people who stand against abortion. You stand for life.”

Mr O’Connor, who declared himself to be a “proud pro-life man”, warned of the future reaction of the pro-choice side, which will involve ignoring the science around the earliest stages of life, dealing in slogans rather than in truths and engaging in bullying tactics.

“They will attempt to silence us, and I tell you today and I hope with your voices, we will not be silent, we will always stand for life, a consistent ethic of life, and we will never stop fighting.”

March for Life executive co-ordinator Michael Loretz said organisers were pleased at the turnout — which was nearly double last year’s number of 685 — and in the way the march took place.

“It is really lovely to see, because a few days earlier, here [at Parliament], there were just over 200 pro-abortion marchers and that’s all they could muster. Really, New Zealanders know that abortion is a bad thing.”

He said very few negative comments came from onlookers during the pro-life event.

“On the whole, the march is obviously positive and obviously community-minded, and we are here to say ‘we care’ and we hope for the babies and for the mothers and we are here to support, and I think the community really do appreciate that,” he said.

Mr Loretz sees the march growing in numbers again next year.

“If we can double it next year and for the next three or four, we could have some thousands out here.”

At the end of the speeches at Parliament, the national anthem “God Defend New Zealand” was sung. Dozens of people stayed behind for the praying of the rosary, led by Fr Francois Laisney, SSPX, from Whanganui, which was also the final event in the national Rosary Crusade for life and faith.

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