Western Pa. pro-life activists excited for Trump appearance at March for Life

Pro-life activists say they feel energized about Friday’s 47th annual March for Life as they await the first-ever appearance by a sitting U.S. president.

President Trump announced this week that he plans to make a personal appearance at the annual event, which marks the anniversary of Roe v. Wade — the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in all 50 states.

“It just proves that he’s committed to protecting the most vulnerable in our society — the unborn child,” said Shari Lewis, director of the Respect Life Ministry at Holy Family Parish, Latrobe. “He’s holding true to his campaign promises.”

Holy Family is taking a bus of 50 people — three seats still are open — to the march in Washington. The bus leaves at 4:30 a.m. so that it can arrive in time for the 10 a.m. Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Western Pennsylvania historically sends a large contingent to the march, with 54 buses taking an estimated 2,500 people from 11 counties this year, said regional coordinator Anita Theiss.

Theiss said an estimated 600,000 people attended the 2019 march, and she expects as many this year.

“It’s probably going to be a lot more people because the word is out (that President Trump is attending). People that weren’t planning on coming probably will come,” Theiss said. “Just to have his support — it means a great deal to us.”

Lewis said the March for Life crowds are getting younger, as young people “understand the science that life begins at conception.”

“It’s the young people that are speaking out,” Theiss said. “We older folks have been active for a long time, but this pro-life generation is promising.”

Mary Catherine Scanlon has attended the national March for Life since its beginning in January 1974 and plans to be there Friday.

The Aspinwall resident said she’s packed up various children — she has 11 — and her husband on occasion for the annual event.

“We went to the first one,” Scanlon said. “One year, I had a baby, and I didn’t go that year. I missed two, but I think I made every one other than that.”

Scanlon will be among a large contingent from Catholic parishes across Allegheny County heading to the rally on the National Mall.

She said 36 adults and children from the Lower Allegheny County Parishes, a combination of four churches from Aspinwall, Sharpsburg, Blawnox and O’Hara, are leaving around midnight on a bus bound for the capital.

“We understand that President Trump will be at the rally itself,” Scanlon said. “Pro-life presidents have often spoken to us from the White House, but we’ve never had one come to the rally before. That’s very exciting.”

George Pecoraro said 32 kids and adults so far have signed up for a bus trip from St. Mary of Czestochowa parish in New Kensington.

Pecoraro, who’s attended at least 15 of the rallies, said his group does not visit congressional offices as do many people.

“Really, the whole purpose of the march is to lobby the congressmen in their offices,” he said. “We don’t lobby Congress. Instead, we sign petitions and mail or fax them in.”

Kathy Raimondi of Castle Shannon, who’s organizing a bus trip with her husband, John, from St. Paul of the Cross Parish, said the march has grown exponentially over the years. She said 46 adults and children ranging in age from 13-17 are leaving from St. Paul’s this year.

“Allegheny County residents, I think, as a total are very, very pro-life, which is very encouraging,” she said. “Every year, it seems like it gets bigger, more people, more buses. If you ever had a chance to go, it’s amazing how many people are there, especially young people. That’s what’s really encouraging to us.”

Ellen Mady, spokeswoman for the six-county Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, said parishes and organizations are sending 36 buses to the march, 23 of which are from Allegheny County.

She said Bishop David Zubik, who will participate in the march, arrived in Washington today along with seminarians, seminary staff and Auxiliary Bishop William Waltersheid.

“The Diocese of Pittsburgh has a long history of enthusiastic support for the annual March for Life,” Zubik said. “So many faithful come from all six counties of our diocese to affirm the absolute dignity of life, from the first moment of conception to the point of natural death and every moment along the line between both.”

Zubik will participate in a vigil Mass Thursday evening at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and Thursday night lead a rosary at the basilica.

Greensburg Bishop Edward C. Malesic also plans to attend the march. A March for Life message from Malesic appeared in the Jan. 16 edition of The Catholic Accent, the diocesan newspaper.