“God… from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me
through his grace” (St. Paul to the Galatians 1:15)
Last Saturday, January 21st, I was honored to join tens of
thousands of men and women in the grand Civic Center of San Francisco. We
gathered to pray, listen to sound teaching, march, and to make our voices known
for the countless children in the womb who have no voice and whose very lives
are threatened by the Supreme Court decision known as Roe v. Wade.
This was my fifth Walk for Life in San Francisco, and every
year I find it so inspiring and humbling to be with so many people – young and
old – believer and non-believer. (Yes, there is even a group known as
“Secularists for Life” present.) These people are willing to give up a day,
risk potentially ugly confrontations with pro-abortion supporters, and say that
we care about the unborn AND their mothers and fathers. We care about a society
that could treat the most vulnerable in our midst in such a cruel way. We care
about our future and our children’s future, because all of our lives are
inextricably bound one to another in the fabric that the Lord has woven.
The Walk began with the Silent No More Campaign, lead by
Deacon Georgette Forney and Anglican’s For Life. This campaign is designed to
give voice to the women who’ve had abortions and the men in their lives,
regarding the harm that they had done and that had been done to them. How
powerful it was to hear young women in their late teens and early twenties, and
mature women in their sixties clearly stating, “I REGRET MY ABORTION.” They
spoke of their fear and the belief that they had no other options. They spoke
of the pressure that family members and friends put upon them to abort their
child. They spoke of the physical pain of the abortion procedure and the lies
that had been told to them, such as: “It won’t hurt – it’s just removing a
cluster of tissues.” They spoke of the emotional pain and sorrow that they have
experienced dealing with the guilt of participating in the murder of their
unborn child. And they spoke of the healing and forgiveness brought by God in
his grace and through his church.
What a pleasure to hear of the retreat, “Rachael’s
Vineyard”, that is offered around the country - including here in the valley -
for women and men dealing with their decisions to abort a child. What joy to
hear women and men declare the love and peace they felt in our Lord’s embrace,
finally dealing with the loss of their child.
Next year the Diocese of San Joaquin will host an Anglicans
for Life Summit on the Friday evening prior to the walk, and you are all
cordially invited. Put it on your calendars! Friday, January 19th, 2018 will be
the Summit, and the 20th will be the Walk for Life West Coast!
God bless you all!
Thirty-nine
Articles of Religion
XI. Of the
Justification of Man
We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by Faith, and not for our own works or deservings.
Wherefore, that we are justified by Faith only, is a most wholesome Doctrine,
and very full of comfort, as more largely is expressed in the Homily of
Justification.
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