Walk for Life in Adelaide 2023
2022 was a big year for the pro-life movement worldwide. The highlight was in the USA, where the Supreme Court overturned the decades-old decision Roe vs Wade that had read the US Constitution in such a way as to imply that abortion was considered a human right. This decision thus overrode all individual State laws in all States of the US and abortion became legal across the country.
The US Supreme Court decision in 2022 found that the US Constitution did not in fact imply that abortion was an inherent human right, and that the decision in Roe vs Wade was incorrect. This in turn handed back the power for individual States to make their own laws regarding abortion. Several states since acted with “heartbeat” laws that make abortion illegal beyond the point where a heartbeat can be detected.
Perhaps buoyed by this welcome turn of events, this year’s Walk for Life was even bigger and better. A crowd of around 4,500 were in attendance – a full 50% improvement on the year before. Worldwide, there had been a negative reaction to the overturning of Roe vs Wade by those in the pro-abortion camp, which in some cases turned ugly. There were some fears that this may result in a confrontation with counter-protestors during the Walk, but thankfully the event was entirely peaceful and professional.
As in past years, several speakers addressed the gathering, including the perennial appearance from Martin Iles (Managing Director of the Australian Christian Lobby), Senator Alex Antic (Liberal member of the Senate), Julie Sharpe (Chair of Genesis Pregnancy Support). They reinforced the need to continue the fight and in particular to get involved in the political system to get more pro-life voices into positions of power and influence.
With the blessing and inspiration of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, the Archdiocesan District of Adelaide again had a strong presence at this year’s event. His Eminence Archbishop Makarios was represented by his Archepiscopal Vicar in Adelaide, His Grace Bishop Silouan of Sinope, who encouraged all faithful to attend. Dozens of icons of the Visitation of St Elizabeth and of the pregnant Theotokos featured prominently in the march and proved popular with non-Orthodox as well as Orthodox.
In all, the event was a positive and encouraging experience, and something that the pro-life cause can continue to build on in the years to come until abortion is made “not only illegal, but unthinkable.”
