WASHINGTON, D.C. and HUNTERSVILLE — St. Mark Parish’s vibrant Respect Life Committee of more than 200 members divided on-the-ground coverage Friday, Jan. 23 for the National March for Life with some members traveling to Washington, D.C. and others praying in front of an abortion facility in Mecklenburg County.
Father John Putnam encouraged his congregation to continue fighting to end the “intrinsic evil” of abortion in this week’s church bulletin.
“Millions of abortions occur annually, and access has expanded through measures like mail-order abortion pills,” he wrote. “Catholics are urged to advocate for protective laws at the state and federal levels to safeguard the unborn, as the Church views direct abortion as intrinsically evil and never justifiable.”
After a pro-life morning Mass at St. Mark Church, and a special blessing from Father Christopher Angermeyer, 16 members of the Respect Life committee headed to Planned Parenthood in Charlotte for a morning of prayer. Together they said the rosary and prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the dignity of life of the unborn.
“There are definitely some misconceptions about life after Roe has been overturned,” explained Mike FitzGerald, St. Mark coordinator of Respect Life. “There is a tendency to think the issue of abortion is over. However, North Carolina is an abortion destination state, so it has been the worst it’s been in years, because we have mothers coming from different states to Charlotte to have their abortions.”
Despite North Carolina law limiting access to abortions to under 12 weeks, abortions have surged due to the state’s location as one of the few states in the Southeast where abortion remains legal through the first trimester, according to statistics from the Guttmacher Institute. Indeed, abortions increased by more than 30%, from 32,454 in 2021 to 42,954 in 2023, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
On Friday, the group saw license plates displaying Georgia peaches and Florida oranges in the Queen City Planned Parenthood parking lot.
Being at the clinic “lets us be instruments of the Holy Spirit and to pray. To ask God to change the hearts and minds of the mothers who consider abortion a possibility, as well as the fathers or boyfriends that take them there,” FitzGerald said. “There is also anecdotal evidence mothers will not go into an abortion facility when they see people praying.”
While part of the group held their Friday monthly vigil at Planned Parenthood, others including Deacon Thomas Martin and his family were busy carrying on the ministry’s mission on the other front line, in the bitter cold in Washington for National March for Life. Their destination was the marble Supreme Court steps.
The morning started early for them as well, where they attended North Carolina’s annual pro-life Mass celebrated by Monsignor Patrick Winslow at St. Joseph Church on Capitol Hill. Winslow is the Diocese of Charlotte’s vicar general and chancellor. He makes the trek to Washington every year, cherishing memories formed while being at the event with his parents, siblings, and their children.
Many Diocese of Charlotte seminarians, including Deacon Martin’s son, Patrick Martin, who is studying at Mount St. Mary Seminary in Cincinnati, sang vespers and assisted at the Mass.
After Mass, they left the church in solidarity, gathered their signs and rosaries, and marched for the dignity of life.
Maria Martin, daughter of Deacon Martin and a Belmont Abbey College student, traded marching partners throughout the day, walking with Father Peter Ascik, the director of the diocese’s family life office; her family members; fellow classmates; and like-minded friends she has made from all across the country during previous marches. They prayed the rosary as they walked and ended with the Divine Mercy Chaplet in front of the Supreme Court building.
“It’s wonderful having a way to evangelize and to feel Christ in your heart. It was really beautiful,” Maria Martin said. “We kept running into friends we had from all over the world, and thankfully, like divine providence, you land with the people you are with.”
After all, she had been marching in her parent’s arms before she was able to walk and could count the few times she could not attend quicker than those she did.
“I’ve been going my whole entire life pretty much. It was always a huge part of our lives. I always knew the truth about abortion and never second-guessed anything like that, and because of that I’ve been able to explain to others what it is,” Maria Martin said.
Her parents taught her to never mask the truth when it comes to abortion and urged her to share her perspective whenever the opportunity emerges, she said.
Heather Martin, Maria’s mother, believes this March for Life, was rightly themed, “Life is a Gift,” and was especially happy with the turnout from college students.
As she said, “It was a special March for Life. I love the theme. It breaks my heart, because every single person is a beautiful gift from God. And, when we cherish each other, it is beautiful. The truth is out there. No person is a mistake.”
— Lisa M. Geraci, Catholic News Herald. Photos by Lisa M. Geraci, Amy Burger, Mike FitzGerald and provided.