On Saturday, February 10, 2024, the annual “March for Life” took place in Adelaide, organized by the “Love Adelaide” organization advocating for the right to life. This event marked the 5th consecutive year of protests against abortions.
The event, held in Pennington Gardens (in front of the Adelaide Oval), drew around 5,000 attendees, marking one of the largest gatherings in its 5-year history. In attendance were numerous public figures advocating for the right to life, including the Archiepiscopal Vicar of Adelaide, Bishop Silouan of Sinope, representing Archbishop Makarios of Australia. Federal and state deputies and senators from various political parties were also present, including members from the Liberal Party such as Alex Antic, Nicola Centofanti, Dennis Hood, Heidi Girolamo, Laura Henderson, and Claire Scriven from Labor Party, as well as Frank Pangallo from SA Best Party.
The event began with a series of speeches. These speeches highlighted the global efforts of pro-life organizations and underscored the ongoing mission to expand “Love Adelaide” to reach across Australia. Last year’s successful inaugural “March for Life” in Sydney was a promising start towards this goal.
A particularly poignant moment during the speeches was Professor Joanna Howe’s address. She, a prominent advocate for the right to life, had been a key voice in the public discourse leading to the enactment of South Australia’s current abortion law. During these deliberations, the opponents of the bill emphasized the concerning potential for abortions to occur, as it regrettably did, even after the 23-week gestation period. This meant there was a very real possibility for the fetus to survive outside the uterus, even until the end of the nine-month pregnancy. Supporters of the bill, including the rapporteur and spearhead, then Minister of Justice Vickie Chapman, explicitly denied that such a scenario would occur. This ultimately led to a marginal vote against a relevant amendment aimed at protecting the embryo from being terminated.
After the speeches, as in previous years, the sound of a fetus’s heartbeat was heard live through the event’s sound installations, serving as a poignant reminder to the participants of the cause they are advocating for.
The contribution of the Archdiocesan District of Adelaide to the fight against abortion is particularly important. The Holy Archdiocese of Australia has been a steadfast supporter of the “March for Life” event since its inception, offering logistical assistance and consistently drawing a significant turnout from its clergy and parishioners. This year marks the inaugural participation of the Archdiocese, represented by the Central Philoptochos Brotherhood, providing its mobile kitchen that offered food and drinks to all participants. There was also a special discount for the event volunteers. This initiative greatly enhanced the festive and familial ambience of the event, earning sincere appreciation from both the organizers and the participants. It serves as a promising indicator of future collaborations and enhancements for upcoming events.
Translated by Thanos Chrysanthopoulos
