Last updated on August 22nd, 2023 at 07:19 am
On August 10, 2023, the second nationwide March for Life India took place, with close to one thousand participants, mainly in their teens and 20s, gathering in support of the protection of unborn lives. The event was organized by CHARIS India, the National Governing Body of Catholic Charismatic Renewal services in India and supported by Catholic and evangelical pro-life leaders.
The day began with an Exhibition for Life hosted by the Catholic Diocese of Poona, followed by a public gathering in the afternoon. Eminent leaders from the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations and organizations spoke at the event, including Johanna Durairag, founder of Life for All, an organization that has saved thousands of children from abortion, and Dr. Finto Francis, a renowned pro-life gynecologist and obstetrician.
While the participants marched, a delegation headed to the Pune Collectorate, the local government office, to present a memorandum calling for the repeal of the MTP Act of 1971, which allows for abortions in India. Pro-life organizations such as Jesus Youth Prolife and Eva Prolife actively participated in the event, chanting slogans and holding placards advocating for the repeal of the Act.
India witnesses over 15.6 million abortions each year, according to a study by the Guttmacher Institute. However, there is limited awareness regarding the brutality of abortion and its procedures in the country due to cultural silence surrounding the issue. Pro-life activists, led by local leaders, have been working tirelessly to raise awareness about the sanctity of life.
The March for Life India aims to create a greater impact each year and plans to hold the event in Kerala in 2024 in collaboration with the Charismatic Commission of Kerala Catholic Bishop Conference (KCBC) and hosted by the Archdiocese of Trichur. The goal of the march is to continue until abortion is made unthinkable and to unite individuals from different religions and cultural backgrounds to speak out for the voiceless and innocent unborn children.
The March for Life India is part of a global movement that brings hope to mothers in pregnancy crisis and emphasizes the value of every human life, born and pre-born. As the event grows each year, it serves as a beacon of light in the fight for the protection of the unborn.