Wearing a baseball cap, red shorts and a Live Jesus Panthers for Life T-shirt, Brendan Cecka, a senior at St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, stood before a room of people and the chief of staff for Sen. David Marsden (D-Fairfax) to share why he was pro-life.
“My brother was adopted and I cannot begin to think of a world where he was not brought into this world,” he said. “(If pro-life legislation is passed), more people will have that opportunity to be brought into the world and their brothers, sisters, parents, aunts, uncles and friends will have the chance to connect with someone who otherwise would not be (here). I believe that’s an opportunity everyone should have.”
More than 300 pro-lifers walked the halls of the Pocahontas Building, the state legislative offices, to speak with their representatives during Defending Life Day in Richmond Feb. 9.They included Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, several students and teachers from diocesan high schools and others from the Arlington diocese. The day was organized by the Arlington and Richmond dioceses, the Virginia Catholic Conference and the Virginia Society for Human Life.
The pro-lifers specifically advocated for four measures — a bill to protect unborn babies who can feel pain from abortion; a bill that would give women seeking abortion more information about the procedure and about abortion alternatives; a bill to protect babies who are born alive during the course of an abortion; and a budget item that would prevent taxpayer funding for abortion.
At the start of the day, Bishop Burbidge urged all the participants to ask God to give them the right words when conversing with their legislators. “I have no doubt that you will be the Lord’s voice and the Lord’s messenger today. It is he who sends you, it is he who enlightens you, guides you and he who accompanies you this day,” he said.
Then, the pro-lifers split up to visit their elected officials. When speaking with pro-choice legislators, many tried to find common ground. Larry Cirignano, a parishioner of Queen of Apostles Church in Alexandria, spoke with a staffer for Del. Kaye Kory (D-Fairfax) about supporting pregnant women in need, should the Supreme Court allow recent state laws to stand that ban abortion in many cases.
“In Texas, they’ve put $100 million into helping pregnancy centers,” he said. “In Northern Virginia there are 17 pregnancy centers. Obviously (the number of women in need) could increase dramatically. Maybe that’s the effort that she could look at, putting money into supporting the pregnancy resource centers.”
The day concluded with Mass at St. Peter’s Pro-Cathedral in Richmond, celebrated by Bishop Burbidge, Richmond Bishop Barry C. Knestout and priests of both dioceses.
Ann Ferraro, a parishioner of St. Veronica Church in Chantilly who often prays outside the Falls Church abortion clinic, said she came to Richmond for Defending Life Day in part because Bishop Burbidge asked members of the diocese to participate. “It’s the work of the Holy Spirit but we have to do our part,” she said.
Thomas Patchan, who works at St. John Neumann Church in Reston, said it was a blessing to speak with his delegate face-to face. “As a citizen in a district with a Democrat representative, it’s our responsibility to show them that a lot of their constituents are pro-life and want to care for life at all stages, especially for the unborn,” he said.
Thomas Pell, a teacher at Paul VI, was moved by his students’ words. “I especially was excited to bring students because I think their witness is more powerful and it’s been really inspiring to see so many of them step up and speak for (the) bills,” he said. “In the last (meeting), one of my students jumped into the conversation and pushed back on the office aide when she said children with disabilities shouldn’t be born. I was really impressed with their courage to stand up to an adult.”
This story has been updated.
