By Paula Day

Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM, urged the 14,000 gathered in front of the Georgia Capitol in support of pro-life efforts to “continue to strive to instill reverence for life at all stages.”

“We take as our mandate, in the tradition of those before us, the words of the Book of Deuteronomy: ‘I set before you life or death. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live,’” the archbishop said.

The noontime memorial service and rally on the Capitol steps Jan. 22 marketed the 19th anniversary of the Supreme Court Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion in the United States.

Earlier the archbishop celebrated a 10 a.m. Mass for the unborn at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Atlanta. In his homily he urged worshippers in the packed church to be mindful of the broad pro-life issues.

“Even as we concentrate on this one challenge,” he said, “we must also dedicate ourselves to bringing the truth of our faith to many other questions which plague the American moral conscience. The issues of euthanasia, capital punishment, the rights of minorities, the plight of the homeless and the jobless and of persons with AIDS. These and other difficulties will continue to demand our resources and our dedication. We must look to the Gospel and attempt in all that we do to bring its consistent ethic of life to the forefront of American life.”

Repeating this theme later at the Capitol, the archbishop urged his listeners to work to find alternative solutions to the “agonizing problems” that face those seeking abortions.

“While many today seek abortion for frivolous and selfish reasons,” the archbishop said, “there are many women who see it as a tragic solution to agonizing problems. They deserve society’s help in meeting and resolving these problems so that they will not feel a need to resort to the inhuman expedient of abortion.”

The words drew applause from the crowd filling the plaza and Washington Street in front of the Capitol.

The archbishop drew a parallel between the efforts to overturn unjust laws during the civil rights movement and the current effort to reverse Roe vs. Wade. He quoted Martin Luther King, Jr.’s call of conscience:

“There comes a time when a moral man can’t obey a law which his conscience tells him is unjust. And the important thing is that when he does that, he willingly accepts the penalty…It is important to see that there are times when a manmade law is out of harmony with the moral law of the universe.”

Archbishop Lyke reminded his listeners that the 1973 Supreme Court decision has become “a brutal reality in our land, in our state, and in our cities. Millions have died since that day. On the very streets of Atlanta, on Spring Street, on Ponce de Leon, on Eighth Street and throughout our city, death has built its factories.”

Other speakers at the rally included Molly Kelly, executive director of Pennsylvanians for Human Life, who was also a lector at the Mass and talked to teens at All Saints parish in Dunwoody during her visit.

Sixteen priests concelebrated the Mass with the archbishop, who was assisted by Deacon Evelio Garcia-Carreras. Leading the music was cantor Mary Rogers, a professional musician from Christ the King parish. Organist was Alan Brown, St. Jude’s parish music director. The Mass, sponsored by the archdiocesan Pro-Life Office, has become an annual event over the last three years.

The memorial service and rally at the Capitol was organized by Georgia Right to Life, an interdenominational pro-life organization with chapters throughout the state.

The crowd estimate of 14,000 was obtained by Georgia Right to Life, which distributed cards to be filled out and returned at the close of the service. Mary Boyert, executive director, said they believe the method provides an accurate crowd count.

Parishes that were represented included St. Bernadette’s in Cedartown, St. Joseph’s in Dalton, St. Peter’s in LaGrange and St. John Neumann in Lilburn as well as many other metro Atlanta parishes.

Following the Capitol rally, Archbishop Lyke joined the crowd in a silent march through downtown Atlanta.

Nathalie Pendrick made a special effort to attend the Mass at the Shrine. Carrying two-week-old Alan and wheeling two-and-a-half-year old Matthew, Mrs. Pendrick took MARTA from her home in St. Thomas More parish in Decatur to the Georgia State stop, walking the rest of the way to the church. It was a chance to take part in an “archdiocesan-wide occasion for all to pray together for an end to abortion,” Mrs. Pendrick said. She has attended all three annual Masses.

“I felt drawn (into pro-life ministry) through the example of a friend of mine,” she explained. “And having had my own children, I realized the preciousness of the life God has given to us all.” Mrs. Pendrick and her husband, Gerard, have four children.

She finds the general acceptance of a pro-abortion point-of-view “very frustrating.”

Mrs. Pendrick teaches at Georgia State University and finds in student discussions an attitude that abortions are “normal.”

“They don’t think about it in depth,” she explained.

For the second year, Edwinna Musheno took part in the rally and march “because I believe in life from conception.” A member of St. Ann’s parish in Marietta, Mrs. Musheno thinks “there’s a lot of ignorance” about fetal life. “I believe a woman has rights, but she makes her choice before she conceives.”

Pro-life efforts at St. Ann’s give material, financial and spiritual assistance to women in crisis pregnancies, Mrs. Musheno said. This assistance includes opening the homes of parishioners to women in crisis pregnancies.

Over the past eight years, Ann Bolster, another St. Ann’s parishioner, has provided foster care for 95 children ranging in age from newborns to 17-year-olds. Mrs. Bolster explained her family “wanted to do something for the less fortunate.”