ANNAPOLIS – Numerous supporters of the pro-life movement who gathered for the 45th annual Maryland March for Life in Annapolis on March 11 are bracing themselves for a challenging battle in November.
A packed assembly participated in Mass at St. Mary’s Church in Annapolis on March 11, 2024, before the Maryland March for Life rally outside the State House. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)
The upcoming November election in Maryland will determine whether the state Constitution will be amended to guarantee the right to abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy for any reason—a proposal deemed “extreme” and “dangerous” by pro-life advocates, while pro-choice supporters argue it is about “reproductive freedom.”
Erin Younkins, the director of the Office of Life, Justice, and Peace at the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Institute for Evangelization, expressed concerns about the proposed amendment. She highlighted that it would permit minors to undergo abortions without parental consent, potentially undermining parental consent for other medical matters as well.
Younkins, a parishioner of St. Peter the Apostle in Libertytown, was among the more than 1,100 marchers estimated by Maryland Right to Life. Their objective was to raise awareness among legislators and the public about the sanctity of all life and the threats faced by the right to life in Maryland.
A gathering of over 1100 pro-life advocates assembled in front of the State House in Annapolis for the Maryland March for Life rally on March 11, 2024. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)
While advocating for legislative change, Younkins emphasized the importance of heart transformation among individuals. She stated, “We want everyone to know that they’re valuable.”
The Maryland March for Life commenced with a youth rally at St. Mary in Annapolis, featuring a Mass presided over by Baltimore Auxiliary Bishop Adam J. Parker, with Washington Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala as co-celebrant. Concurrently, an ecumenical, non-denominational prayer service took place in the hall.
During his homily, Bishop Parker addressed the prevalent worship of the “so-called god of personal autonomy,” cautioning against prioritizing personal freedom above all else, which can lead to justifying actions like ending one’s life or aborting a child.
Father Michael DeAscanis, the pastor of St. Louis in Clarksville and St. Francis of Assisi in Fulton, led pro-life supporters in prayer at the Maryland March for Life rally in Annapolis on March 11, 2024. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)
Bishop Parker underscored the necessity of shifting focus away from personal autonomy to truly advance the pro-life cause on issues such as abortion and physician-assisted suicide.
Following the Mass and prayer service, participants embarked on a 10-minute march through downtown Annapolis, brandishing signs with messages like “Let their hearts beat” and “Stop abortion now.” Students from various Catholic schools, including a delegation from Mount de Sales Academy in Catonsville, were actively involved.
Ryan Bomberger, the founder of the pro-life organization Radiance Foundation, delivered a keynote address at the Maryland March for Life rally on March 11, 2024, in Annapolis. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)
At the culminating rally on Lawyer’s Mall, Ryan Bomberger, conceived in rape himself, shared his personal story of choosing life. He emphasized the inherent worth of every human life and criticized the shift from advocating for “safe, legal, and rare” abortions to celebrating “unsafe, unregulated, and unlimited” abortions.
Kelly Guest, a mother of nine from St. Bartholomew in Manchester, attended the march with her three youngest children to show support for the unborn and their right to life.
Christina Scrivener, a participant from Our Lady of Sorrows, along with five of her seven children, joined the Maryland March for Life rally in Annapolis on March 11, 2024. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)
Barbara Guest, one of Kelly’s children, found the experience enlightening and inspiring, emphasizing the importance of understanding the cause they are fighting for.
Seminarian Joseph Ryan from St. Mary’s Seminary in Roland Park highlighted the significance of priests and future priests engaging in the pro-life movement, supporting women and families in challenging situations related to abortion.
Mount de Sales Academy students Naomi W., Peyton H., and Emma B. participate in the Maryland March for Life rally on March 11, 2024, in Annapolis. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)
The Maryland March for Life, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the Archdiocese of Washington, aimed to advocate for the protection of life from conception to natural death. Father Michael DeAscanis offered the opening prayer.
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