Life Chain events draw attention to value of life
By Carolyn Hughes
Correspondent
Astatement of beliefs doesn’t need to be vocal. On Oct. 3, in conjunction with Respect Life Sunday, close to 1,000 people gathered at four locations in the diocese to create a Life Chain and stand together against abortion and in support of the sanctity of life.
Respect Life Sunday is celebrated nationally on the first Sunday in October every year. The Life Chain is a public stand to show opposition to abortion and other attacks on human life. According to National Life Chain coordinator Royce Dunn, more than 1,000 chains were created this year in communities across the United States and Canada.
“The whole idea of the life chain is to make people think about the issue of life and respect life,” said Isidoro Garcia who coordinated the life chain in Somerville.“The hope is that Jesus will touch the minds and hearts of people as they pass by.”
More than 300 people participated in the Somerville Life Chain. In Iselin, coordinator Ken Blaha also reported a good turnout and felt the way participants conducted themselves made a positive impact on the community because, “we turned out to be a peaceful demonstration against abortion.”
The life chain event in Philipsburg, coordinated by Arlene Lippincott also showed similar success.
In Flemington, approximately 110 men, women and children prayed silently and made their statement together. With them was Bishop Emeritus Edward T. Hughes, who greeted each peaceful demonstrator personally, thanking them for being witnesses to life.
“Once again we are grateful to the many people who come out to testify to their deep belief in the sanctity of all human life. In this struggle to achieve reverence for life, perseverance is essential. Thus we are so happy that these faithful people have persevered in their efforts to save the lives of unborn children,” Bishop Hughes said. Dr. John Willke, president and founder of the International Right to Life Federation, and his wife Barbara also greeted participants. Dr. Willke gave a prolife presentation in St. Magdalen de Pazzi Parish, Flemington, that evening.
Both young and old, clergy and lay person alike expressed a sense of hope for the future, despite disappointments and roadblocks on the legislative front.
“I think that the younger generations are becoming more pro-life,” said Bob Starcher of St. Ann Parish, Hampton, who attended with four of his seven children. He noted that the number of young people at the annual January March for Life in Washington, D.C. has been steadily growing over the years.
Two pastors from the far-western reaches of the diocese stood quietly holding their pro-life signs. Father Michael E. Crummy, St. Edward the Confessor Parish, Milford, believes that those attending Life Chain are there for “the right reason . . . to keep proclaiming the truth of the sanctity of human life to all who pass by.” Not far away, Father Leon Kasprzyk, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Lambertville, gave witness with several parish members.
Caryssa Vitelli, 14, a freshman at Immaculata High School, Somerville, was flanked by her mother Laura and grandmother Frances Fanelli of Immaculate Conception Parish, Clinton. Laura Vitelli noted that the three women represented three pro-life generations.
Bob Keeling of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Whitehouse Station, who coordinated the Flemington Life Chain, has attended the event with his family of seven children, now grown, since it began 14 years ago. His wife Laurie pointed out that approximately 800 cars, most with multiple passengers, had passed by during the hour and a half. “But even if we touched only one person, it would be worth it,” she said.
A member of St. Magdalen de Pazzi Parish encouraged Tom Roberts, pastor, Cherryville Baptist Church, Flemington, to attend his first Life Chain. “I am firmly convinced that God makes every human life,” he said, recalling when he saw the first ultrasounds of his four children.“That is very much a human being in there at 14-16 weeks. It is separate from the mother and it is very clearly human.”
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law