Photo by Hank Lohmeyer

Participants in the Delta County March for Life carried their message on the sanctity of all human life “into the public square” during the annual event that took place on Saturday, Jan. 28.

The Delta County March for Life, an annual event that stands for witness for the value of life, brought together dozens of local residents to reaffirm and express their belief in the sanctity of all human life.

"Every human being is a gift from God," said Dr. Hugh Comer, a Delta physician who addressed the almost 70 participants during a pre-rally breakfast at St. Michael's Catholic Church.

The legalization of abortion in the Roe v. Wade decision rests upon a legal argument that "denies personhood" to unborn human life, Comer explained.

There is no scientific doubt that the human embryo is a unique human being, he explained. "Yet, they aren't considered persons."

The Roe vs. Wade decision therefore rests upon the same moral error that was used to justify Hitler's extermination campaign against Jews in the Holocaust, that underpinned segregationist laws in the U.S. and elsewhere, and that propagates countless other moral failings of human society.

"Roe v. Wade denies personhood to the fetus," Comer said.

Drawing examples from the Bible to illustrate his remarks, Comer pointed out that abortion is a direct violation of God's blessing and commandment to Man "to be fruitful and multiply."

The power that humans have over life and death "is absolutely in the hands of women" since Roe vs. Wade. Comer read from Psalm 107 as God condemned the Canaanite pagan religious practice of "sacrificing their sons and daughters to demons."

And still, abortion, which has taken an estimated 55 million lives since Roe v. Wade was handed down 39 years ago, is only one example of the social ills including divorce, euthanasia, contraception, and genetic engineering that God's servants need to reject.

March for Life organizer Dan O'Donnell of Crawford told the gathering that abortion works against efforts for social justice. "How do you care for the poor if you are killing their babies?" he asked.

"Once you step into the dark side, you are on the dark side. St. Augustine tells us, 'The reward for sin is sin.' And now even U.S. foreign aid to countries is tied to policies permitting abortion," O'Donnell said.

"Christians need to be Christians in the public square," he added. "Jesus told us, 'Go and make disciples.'"

Comer added, "I would suggest a way to make disciples is to have big, fruitful families."