Thousands of youths to walk in Celebration of Life march

Jan 30, 2015

EL PASO: About 4,000 youths and adults in El Paso took part in a Celebration of Life March/Youth Rally to bring attention to the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade ruling.

“It’s an annual youth event and they gather close to the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision that opened the floodgates for abortion in this country. Around the United States, there are many other gatherings to commemorate that tragic event in our country — the biggest one is in Washington D.C. It usually attracts close to half a million people,” said Bishop Mark J. Seitz.

The rally, at the Open Arms Community in the Lower Valley, 8240 North Loop, began with praise and worship by the Elohim Band, speakers and information tables by various groups including House of Hope, Gabriel Project and Rachel’s Vineyard Teens for Unity. The event began at 1.00pm with the march to the grounds of the Pastoral Centre and back to Open Arms at 2.30pm and the Mass presided by Seitz at 3.30pm.

“We hope to reach the youth with a prolife message to celebrate life in all of its stages. And we want them to feel good about their life and to be the best possible person that God intended them to be,” he said.

Seitz has been committed to advocating for the unborn since the Supreme Court decision of 1973, which said that a right to privacy extended to a woman’s decision to have an abortion.

“Since 1973, I’ve worn a bracelet that is a reminder for me to pray and to witness. I was a freshman in college at the time it came through and I was horrified when the Supreme Court made that decision.... it goes against the protection for life and liberty of our constitution. There is no reason to stop (the protection) at the womb. Life is life,” he said.

The steel bracelet, distributed by the Birthright International organization, has the Greek letters Alpha and Omega and a circle that represents the cycle of life, he said.

“It means that only God should have a say in when life begins and when it ends,” Seitz said. “On the back of the bracelet is the date of that Supreme Court decision. And I wear it so that I don’t become complacent about it. It’s a constant reminder of what I believe is the greatest social justice violation.”

Seitz added that it’s important for youths to know about the issue as Catholic Christians.

“It really hits home for youth. They have a great sensitivity toward the most vulnerable and they also have friends who find themselves in a crisis situation. So, it’s important that they form an understanding to know that we don’t condemn a person in that situation. We want to be there to support them and to help them make the right decision,” he said. --El Paso Times