By Most Rev. Richard W. Smith, Archbishop of Edmonton

Thursday, April 10, 2014

March for Life 2014

You will see in this week's issue of the Western Catholic Reporter a letter from me, written on behalf of the Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories, encouraging you to join us in this year's Alberta March for Life on Thursday, May 8. 

As you may know, in 2011 we Bishops had decided not to participate in the March because of the significant presence in it of graphic images of aborted children. Our stand against the use of such images in the March has not changed. However, the organizers of the March for Life, to their great credit, have made wonderful efforts to ensure that these graphic images will not be present in the March. Indeed, it has been reported to us that they were not part of last year's March at all. This has paved the way for the return of the Bishops to the March, and we are pleased to do so.

Scheduling conflicts will prevent the presence of a few of us this year, but we are united in our desire to give our visible support once again. As I note in our letter: "The March is a very important and increasingly urgent act of witness before society to the beauty and dignity of human life. In accord with the directives given to the whole Church by His Holiness, Pope Francis, in Evangelii Gaudium, our March must be joyful and celebratory of the wondrous gift of life, since all that we do as Christians must radiate joy."

Let us together give joyful witness to the beauty of life! We hope to see you at the March!