Pro-life advocates prepare for march

Trump’s anti-abortion position expected to make a difference

Each year on the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion, hundreds of thousands of anti-abortion advocates from across the United States gather in Washington, D.C., for the annual March for Life.

In preparation for Friday's march, Bishop Mark Bartchak, will preside at a prayer service at 7 p.m. today at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona.

And as he has in years past, Bartchak plans to attend the March for Life, traveling by bus with individuals from parishes in the diocese.

With President Donald Trump taking an anti-abortion position, marchers can expect a different experience in Washington compared with the recent past with President Barack Obama's administration, diocese spokesman Tony DeGol said.

"Without question, this year's March for Life will be very different compared to the last eight years," he said.

"The Trump Administration has promised a heavy presence at the March. That support will mean the world to all those who travel from around the country to defend the unborn," DeGol said. "President Trump has already taken a positive step by reinstating the Mexico City Policy, and there is great optimism that he will continue to be a president who supports the sanctity of human life."

Trump signed an executive memo Monday reinstating the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits the granting of United States aid to international nongovernmental organizations that perform or promote abortions.

DeGol also hopes the march gains more national media coverage this year.

"The national media tends to offer very little coverage of the March for Life. I hope that changes this year. Those who travel to Washington for this important cause deserve to be heard as much as any other American citizen," DeGol said.

While a contingent of Altoona-Johnstown diocese parishioners attend the march, Saint Francis University is offering a "March on the Mountain," on Friday for those that cannot attend the national rally.

"The more people that stand up and proclaim life the better -- whether it's in Washington, D.C., whether it's in Loretto (or) whether it's in small towns all across the United States" said Paul Girardi, associate director of campus ministry at Saint Francis.

"For people who proclaim the sanctity of life, I think it's important that their voices are heard."

Saint Francis' event will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Immaculate Conception Chapel with prayer and several guest speakers. The walk itself will begin with a short prayer at 11 a.m. in front of the chapel.

Mirror Staff Writer Russ O'Reilly is at 946-7435.