News

Roe vs. Wade remembered across diocese

By Laurie Mueller
Compass Correspondent

	MARCHING FOR LIFE: Jerry Donaldson and his son, Sam, hold candles in Green Bay's Baird Place at a march to commemorate the Jan. 22 anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. (Rick Evans photo)

STURGEON BAY -- More than 50 people of all ages, including families with toddlers, took part in a candlelight vigil and walk Friday evening, Jan. 20, to commemorate the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion on demand.

Door County Right to Life, a local chapter of Wisconsin Right to Life, hosted the event, which began with prayer at the Door County Courthouse in Sturgeon Bay.

Greg Bojko, president of Door County Right to Life, reminded the group that the purpose of the silent walk was to pray for all those involved in abortion.

"This includes the health care workers who believe they are helping mankind, the mothers who are considering abortion, and those mothers who have had an abortion and are now suffering from the effects," Bojko said.

Hand-held candles lit the path of the walkers, as they made their way to Door County Memorial Hospital.

"The courthouse symbolizes the legalization of abortion. This hospital, since it does not perform abortions, symbolizes the life-saving aspect," said Ann Schmitz, vice president of Door County Right to Life.

Schmitz, who is from Maplewood, is also the local parish representative (Holy Name of Mary) for diocesan Respect Life ministry. She said the aim of the vigil and walk is "to keep the issue in front of people so they don't forget; to allow people to get involved; and to pray for those involved on both sides of the abortion."

Several hands went up when they were asked if this was their first time at the walk. Others had walked before. Chris and Mark Hibbs, also from Maplewood, have been coming for years. "We started coming when our oldest son, who is now 26, was a baby. We would pull the kids on sleds."

In Green Bay, approximately 200 people of all ages gathered Sunday evening, Jan. 22, at Baird Place for a pro-life walk. Some carried signs, some sang, and some prayed the rosary as they repeatedly walked along the path through Baird Place.

Others remained at the corner, holding pro-life signs that could be read by motorists driving through the intersection. Also at the corner, candles shone over two infant size coffins. Baird Place is across the street from a facility which performs abortions.

Maria Demeuse has attended the Green Bay walk for five years. She is a leader for Challenge, a Catholic youth group for girls ages 9-15 that meets at St. Joseph Parish in Green Bay. This year, she invited the girls and their families to accompany her. The girls handed out homemade prayer cards to the walkers.

One man said this was his 10th year coming to this walk. "Hopefully one day we won't have to do this," he said.

There were also pro-life rallies in Appleton, Manitowoc, Menominee, Shawano, Sheboygan and Wausau. The annual pro-life Mass was also held at Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Green Bay.

Both Pro-Life Wisconsin and Wisconsin Right to Life sponsored buses to the annual national March for Life on Jan. 23 in Washington, D.C.