Catholics join Pretoria Pro-Life Rally to Protest Against Abortion
By Nicolette Whittle – A placard-carrying participant at an anti-abortion protest in Pretoria this month would like to see more Catholics swelling numbers at such events.
“It would be an excellent idea for more Catholics to consider joining pro-life rallies, since they belong to a church of great numbers in South Africa, and one in which an uncompromising pro-life stance is maintained,” the protester said.
He added that there was a need for greater coordination of regional pro-life organisations, in order to provide a united front to protest South Africa’s abortion law.
“I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), exulted a slogan on a protester’s T-shirt, displaying the Hands of God holding a little child. Other banners and placards declared: “Choose life. Say no to abortion”, “Adoption, better than abortion”, and “The unborn have no choice.”
A pro-life pamphlet handed out by Life Chain participants at the rally noted: “Murder is never justified, regardless of whether the person be in the womb for eight days, eight weeks, eight months, eight years or eight decades. God has the power over life and death. We have no right to take that power into our own hands. Make your stand for God and against abortion.”
Life Chain member Marion Swanepoel said the group holds Monday and Saturday demonstrations in front of the Marie Stopes abortion clinic in Pretoria.
“Abortion does not make you un-pregnant, but the mother of a dead baby,” Ms Swanepoel said.
Another group at the rally, Remain Standing, aims to be the voice of the innocent.
Several pro-lifers encouraged people they met to put their crosses beside the names of pro-life candidates in the May elections.
Supportive passers-by stopped to pray with protesters and receive pro-life pamphlets.
Others registered their objections to the rally. One group in a passing car called out, “Women have the right to take charge of their own bodies”, to which a pro-lifer responded, “Women inside other women have the right to refuse to be murdered.”
The rally affirmed that it is vital for Christians to present alternatives to abortion and babies mothers cannot care for.
Adoption is one viable answer to unplanned pregnancies, and there are shelter boxes where mothers who feel unable to care for infants can leave their babies in safety.
The rally also noted that Christians must be consistent in love and practical support for expectant mothers and newborn babies. Equally important is support for women who have undergone abortions and feel in need of counselling.
After the rally, the group proceeded to Marie Stopes where they concluded their protest.
For further information on ongoing protests in Pretoria and elsewhere in the country, contact Gregory Pereira at 083 798-7360.
- Sister Eleanor Wilkinson CSsR Rest in Peace - June 6, 2020
- Justice & Peace Backs Pope on Lockdown Rescue Plan - April 17, 2020
- New Church in KZN Dedicated to Bl Benedict Daswa - February 19, 2020
