Tomorrow will be a big day for the pro-life cause in Washington, DC – not only because hundreds of thousands of pro-lifers are descending upon the city for the annual March for Life, but because tomorrow is also the day chosen for a pivotal vote in the U.S. House on a bill banning abortions after 20 weeks.
The Christian Defense Coalition has announced that they will be hosting several events today and tomorrow to highlight the need for passage of this bill, known as the Pain Capable Infant Protection Act or H.R.36. A press conference with pro-life leaders and a demonstration on the lower western terrace of the US Capitol building will be held this afternoon. Some members of the group will be holding graphic images of abortion victims to remind Congress of what’s at stake.
On Thursdays, just before the March begins, activists are planning to hold a prayer vigil outside the office of newly elected Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. McConnell has already vowed to bring the bill to the floor of the U.S. Senate, unlike his predecessor who refused to allow the bill to be considered.
President Barack Obama has already vowed to veto the bill should it pass both Houses, which it is expected to do.
“The pro-life community calls upon the House and Senate to pass the ban on abortions after 20 weeks as a first step toward ending the violence of abortion and moving forward toward embracing human rights and equality for all Americans,” said Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition and one of the organizers of the events “We can never be silent while the children of our nation are brutalized and women are diminished and wounded through abortion.”
Kristina Garza, Campus Outreach director for Survivors, a pro-life youth ministry, praised pro-life lawmakers for bringing the bill to the floor at last. “We thank and applaud our representatives for taking this first step to legally protect the most vulnerable among us — unborn children,” Garza said.”Only the most calloused individuals would not support legislation to protect children from painful death by dismemberment.”
The faithful can help by keeping both the marchers and lawmakers in their prayers tomorrow with the hope that God’s grace will encourage them all to take a strong stand for life.
