HARRISBURG – Rain showers did not dampen the spirit of thousands of pro-life Pennsylvanians rallying at the State Capitol Complex on Sept. 23, 2024.
The fourth annual Pennsylvania March for Life brought a crowd of at least 5,000 people to Harrisburg from every corner of the commonwealth to voice their support for protecting the human dignity of every life – including the unborn.
“I have been here every year since it has been going on and it’s just uplifting to see all the people that believe we need to protect the unborn because it is a slippery slope. Once we start killing babies, we don’t value human life,” Doris Bush of Williamsport said.
Bush, a parishioner at Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Bastress, attended the Pennsylvania March for Life with several of her sisters.
“We are never going to stop until we stop killing babies in the womb,” she explained.
The PA March for Life is also a family tradition for Ryan Rupprecht of Old Forge. The parishioner of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Dupont walked alongside his father, John, who has attended every national March for Life in Washington since the mid-1970s.
“We never missed a march. Every march, he managed to bring the family down to D.C., we went through rainstorms, snowstorms, whatever it took,” Ryan said. “Any day we can stand up and give a voice to the voiceless is a great day and we’ll do whatever it takes. We will never stop fighting.”
Several groups across the Diocese of Scranton sponsored bus trips to bring people to the PA March for Life.
Jacob Gensel, a senior at Holy Redeemer High School in Wilkes-Barre, took a Diocesan-sponsored bus to the rally with several other students involved in his school’s pro-life club.
“It fires you up to see more young people and it encourages you to fight,” Gensel said. “It is really nice to see that we have multiple schools throughout the commonwealth here today. Hopefully we’re going to be able to take some of this back and use it to get more club members and spread the word a little bit more.”
The Pennsylvania Family Institute hosts the PA March for Life in partnership with the national March for Life organization.
In a pre-march rally, speakers peacefully advocated for pro-life protections for women and the unborn. Rally speakers included Wendy Burpee, Executive Director of Genesis Women’s Clinics, who extends a helping hand to mothers, babies, and families to build a culture of life.
“We give them the opportunity to see their unborn children. We give them the chance to hear the heartbeat of that little baby and we give them the love and support that they need so that they can choose life,” Burpee told the crowd.
Abortions are legal in Pennsylvania up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. After that, abortions are available if the pregnancy would risk the life or health of the mother.
Jeanne F. Mancini, President of March for Life Education and Defense Fund, encouraged those in the crowd to contact their state lawmakers, urging them to oppose the Reproductive Freedom Act (House Bill 2304).
She said the legislation would repeal long-standing laws that protect women, children and babies, including the parental consent requirement for minors to undergo an abortion, the 24-hour waiting period, informed consent for women before having an abortion and protection for babies born alive during a failed abortion.
“Your commitment gives me hope,” Mancini told the crowd. “You are a beacon of hope lighting the way for a future that embraces the beauty and the dignity of every human life.”
As he wrapped up his walk around the Capitol Complex, Dr. Francis Schell of Luzerne, criticized HB 2304, saying it would strip away the life-affirming laws that protect Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable.
“Some of the legislation they’re trying to introduce here would make abortion with no limitations, including after birth,” Dr. Schell explained. “Kids would get what they call ‘comfort measures.’ You would think ‘comfort measures’ would include food and warmth. They do not. They let the baby die after birth.”
BISHOP BAMBERA DELIVERS HOMILY DURING CLOSING MASS OF PA MARCH FOR LIFE
Catholic Bishops from around the Commonwealth joined their parishioners during the fourth annual Pennsylvania March for Life.
They also led the faithful in Mass at Saint Patrick Cathedral before and after the event.
The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, was the homilist for the closing Mass at 1:30 p.m., which followed the March. The principal celebrant was Archbishop Nelson Perez of Philadelphia.
During his homily, Bishop Bambera said the Lord counts on each of us to spread the Gospel of Life.
“The Lord counts on us to be light in the midst of darkness, to be hope in the midst of despair and to be his presence embracing and respecting every human life made in the image and likeness of our Creator,” Bishop Bambera said.