Catholics to unite for annual Day of the Unborn Child

The following is an edited extract from The Catholic Weekly on 11th March
(source: https://catholicweekly.com.au/catholics-to-unite-for-annual-day-of-the-unborn-child/)

On 23rd March, thousands will gather at St Mary’s Cathedral for the (25th) annual Day of the Unborn Child, a powerful demonstration of faith and solidarity in defence of society’s most vulnerable members.
The day will commence with Mass at 10.30am, followed by the Angelus and procession through the city. Leading the procession will be Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, accompanied by Cardinal Mykol Bychok.
This year’s Day of the Unborn Child holds special significance, coinciding with an anticipated parliamentary debate on abortion laws. The legislation under discussion, would empower the NSW Health Minister to mandate Catholic and other faith-based hospitals to provide abortions and require doctors who object on moral grounds to refer women to abortion services.
“It is crucial for us to come together annually to pray for an end to abortion,” said Monica Doumit from the Archdiocese of Sydney. “This year’s gathering is particularly significant as we not only pray for the defeat of this bill but also demonstrate to our politicians that we stand firmly for life.” Paul Hanrahan (Family Life International) stated “There is no greater threat to humanity. In the past 50 years, more than three billion unborn children have been lost to abortion. This unprecedented tragedy demands our attention and action.” Hanrahan also highlighted alarming aspects of the proposed legislation. “They want to compel doctors, nurses, and healthcare providers to act against their conscience,” he said. “Catholic hospitals may be forced to participate in abortions or face closure, akin to what we saw in Canberra. The scope of who can perform abortions would expand to include midwives, nurses, pharmacists, and other health practitioners.”
The Day of the Unborn Child originated in Argentina in 1998 when President Carlos Menem declared 25th March as the Day of the Unborn Child, aligning it with the Catholic feast of the Annunciation.
This concept gained traction globally and was later endorsed by Pope John Paul II.
Luke Rifkin (Servants of Mary, Help of Christians) described the day as a “collective crusade.”
Unlike secular protests, the Day of the Unborn Child is a “prayerful procession led by the Blessed Virgin,” said Hanrahan. “Without divine intervention, we cannot win this battle. We must entrust this cause to God and unite in prayer.”
The Mass and procession for the Unborn Child serves as a poignant reminder of the Catholic Church’s unwavering commitment to protecting the sanctity of life from conception. It provides participants with an opportunity to unite in their faith and publicly bear witness to their convictions.