Institute on Religion and Democracy Press Release
January 24, 2017
Contact: Jeff Walton Office: 202-682-4131, Cell: 202-413-5639, E-mail: jwalton@TheIRD.org
“March for Life amplifies how many Christian churches are increasingly united in promoting a culture of life.”
-Mark Tooley, IRD President
Washington, DC—Tens of thousands will gather in Washington on Friday, January 27 to commemorate more than 57 million unborn lives lost to abortion in the United States since 1973 and celebrate the inherent dignity of the unborn. Before the official March for Life gets underway, several Church affiliates are hosting pro-life events.
IRD is co-sponsoring the second annual Evangelicals for Life conference, a pro-life gathering for evangelicals in conjunction with the March for Life. Sponsored by the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and Focus on the Family, the gathering at the J.W. Marriott Hotel January 26-28 will hear from ERLC President Dr. Russell Moore, Focus on the Family’s Jim Daly, and pro-life experts and advocates.
United Methodists gather every year on the morning of the March for Life for a prayer and worship service hosted by the unofficial pro-life caucus of the United Methodist Church. IRD will join Lifewatch and other pro-life Methodists at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, January 27, at the United Methodist Building located at 100 Maryland Avenue in Washington, D.C.
Anglican bishops continue to kindle a strong public pro-life witness with the second-annual Anglican Life Summit, which IRD will participate in. This year’s all-day summit will be held on January 26 and will focus on “Defining and Defending the Sacredness of Life.” Among the many pro-life experts and activists, speakers will be John Stonestreet, President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview; Roland Warren, CEO of Care Net; and Kurt Dillinger, Founder of Life International.
IRD President Mark Tooley commented:
“March for Life amplifies how many Christian churches are increasingly united in promoting a culture of life. Churches perform a vital role in reducing abortion and standing against euthanasia through the message that human life is not disposable.
“Confronted by our current era that is often increasingly hostile to transcendent truths, churches need each other now more than ever in defending the permanent, sacred things of human existence.
“Christian churches give thanks for a significant national decline in the abortion rate, while sounding the alarm about the encroachment of euthanasia laws. The task before us is immense, but those who faithfully bear witness to the teachings of the church contribute to a growing culture which affirms human dignity.”
Comment by Dan on January 24, 2017 at 6:41 pm
You forgot the Missouri Synod Lutherans, who have a consistent and strong pro-life stance – https://www.lcms.org/marchforlife and are also a sponsor of the 35th annual Rose Dinner.
Comment by MarcoPolo on January 24, 2017 at 7:46 pm
By all the standards of celebration that our great country can boast about, it is comforting to see every group get their day in the limelight.
Saturday’s Women’s March on Washington brought hundreds of thousands to the city to share in the mutual respect we all share for issues that are predominantly female related, but are intrinsically always about our overall society. And certainly, family planning is one major factor.
I am reminded by Mr. Tooley’s mention of it, that euthanasia might well be a future concern for all. I’ll hold onto my consistency with the right to choose, in that, when I feel it is MY time to choose to die, I’ll have that personal liberty free from anyone else imposing their authority over it.
Best of everything this coming Friday! I hope the weather makes it even more pleasant to be out with like minded folks, exercising their First Amendment Rights!
Namaste’