At first glance, the sidewalk past Immaculate Heart of Mary, a Catholic Church located north of 235 and Expedition Parkway gave the impression of the Occupy Wall Street movement currently taking over New York. Known as the Life Chain, this annual nationwide pro-life event is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Church and numerous other Pro-Life organizations. Started in 1987 the Life Chain seeks to raise awareness about abortion.
Many of the participants were young, partly because of the involvement of youth groups in Sunday’s protest. Many picketing were members of Immaculate Heart of Mary’s youth group, who met afterward for music, and warm refreshments.
“How many of you have cold hands?” a member of the church asked the children, all of whom raised their arms high above their heads over-eagerly.
“This is called a sacrifice” He continued explaining to the children a basic lesson in Catholic theology and practice. Going on to say “it’s the love with which you do it, and offer up to god.”
The Catholic Church is against abortion in all forms, and has been politically active in the United states since Roe vs. Wade trying to overturn the historic ruling.
Some Picketers threw out the religious arguments against abortion and based their conviction on the rights of the unborn stating that this is “A civil rights struggle”
Greeted by a plethora of diverse opinions and reactions from motorists traveling across 235, southern Maryland seems as divided and as easily inflamed as the rest of the nation.
Father David Wells of Immaculate Heart declined an interview stating that he would need prior permission from the Archdiocese.
