Democrat, feminist, atheist – the growing face of the pro-life movement

Last updated on: January 23, 2015 at 12:22 am by CNA Daily News

Democrat, feminist, atheist – the growing face of the pro-life movement 2015-01-23T00:22:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Washington D.C., Jan 22, 2015 / 05:22 pm (CNA).- This isn’t your father’s pro-life movement. A group of young activists is challenging the pro-life stereotype so as to broaden its audience, a move it sees as necessary to achieve a “culture of life.”

“We’re seeing more and more non-traditional pro-lifers,” explained Aimee Murphy of Life Matters Journal, the leader of the newly-minted Pro-Life Allies Coalition. This coalition of groups currently includes Democrats, feminists, secularists and atheists who all agree on one thing – the unborn child in the womb must be protected.

“Our movement is not one that is solely religious or political. It is a movement for human rights,” Murphy stated at the group’s press conference shortly before the 2015 March for Life. Defying their stereotype of the pro-life movement, some of the largely-female crowd sported dyed-blue hair and hot pink sun glasses.

A short walk away, the official March for Life stage area would be packed with largely-Republican politicians and Christian religious leaders. Estimates of the crowd in attendance at the march were above 200,000. High schoolers, college students, seminarians, and religious showed up in droves.

The newborn coalition hopes in the future to contribute more to a movement that it sees as predominantly Christian and conservative. And it says the movement needs a broader coalition to win over the American public.

“You could outlaw abortion with Republicans alone or Christians alone, but you couldn’t create a culture of life without the support of every human being,” Murphy stated. “Peace cannot be attained by mere factions.”

Mary Fesaldon, a freshman at The Catholic University of America, held a New Wave Feminists sign proclaiming to be “pro-woman,” “pro-education,” and “pro-life.”

“The secular argument is important because that’s how you talk to people,” she insisted, saying Christianity alone will not reach a secular audience. “We have science to back us in the pro-life movement that we don’t take advantage of enough.”

For her, the “new wave” feminism is not about choice, but a return to “equality.” Women today do not have “equality of information,” but are cajoled into believing that abortion is the only option for an unwanted pregnancy, she said.

The defense of life is not a single issue, insisted the president of Consistent Life, Bill Samuel. In addition to abortion, he said, it includes the topics of war, the death penalty, racism, and poverty.

“It’s all got to be tied together,” he told CNA. “The dignity of every life is important.”

“If we want to end abortion, we’re going to need everyone’s help,” Murphy emphasized. “It’s not going to be a partisan effort alone. It will not be won solely by the Catholics or the Evangelicals.”

Previous Post

January 22, 2015

Masses suspended in Niger due to church burnings

Next Post

January 23, 2015 Pius XII helped Jews in Rome – and an Italian historian has the evidence

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Jesus use to heal deaf man?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Water Fingers in ears Mud Oil