Thousands rally at state capitol for life

Texas Rally for Life from Diocese of Corpus Christi on Vimeo.

On Saturday, Jan. 25, Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbot made here first public appearance as the state’s first Hispanic first lady before thousands of pro-life supporters waving signs for protection of the unborn. She read a letter from her husband, Gov. Greg Abbott, thanking them for their support in protecting lives of the unborn and improving the health of women.

“It has been my honor to defend life while serving as attorney general and protecting the unborn will always be a priority while serving as your governor,” Gov. Abbott said in his letter.

He said pro-life activists had been responsible for Texas adopting comprehensive pro-life reforms during the last legislative session. He said the legislation, HB 2, “spared pain” to the unborn and improved “safety standards for women.”

Through his wife, Gov. Abbott said the most important title he has is that of father. He thanked God and “the woman who was strong enough to give” her daughter a new life with their family.  The governor and his wife Cecilia adopted their daughter Audrey.
“That is why I believe so strongly in promoting adoption as an alternative to ending a child’s life,” the governor said.

He said that the choose life license plates, which he supported, raised more than $100,000 go promote adoption.

“There is more we can and must do,” the governor said through his wife. “We must fight to give every Texas an opportunity to succeed,” from conception to natural death.

In his keynote address, newly-elected Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush said, “by standing here today we know every life is created in God’ own image.” He thanked rally participants for making Texas one of the strongest states in the country in regards to protecting the rights of the unborn.

The rally was held in front of the south steps of the State Capitol in Austin. Pro-life supporters came from across Texas, including the Diocese of Corpus Christi who brought nine busloads of supporters, including many students from St. John Paul II and Incarnate Word high schools.

Thousands of pro-life supporters marched up Congress to the capitol and were met by handful of supporters of legal abortion who were holding a counter rally in the north steps of the capitol. The massive numbers of pro-life marchers easily drowned out the abortion supporters.
Other speakers at the rally, sponsored by the Texas Alliance for Life to mark the 42nd anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, included Abby Johnson, Claire Caldwell, Joe Potjam, Cynthia Wenz and Cory Tabor.  Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood clinic manager turned pro-life advocate, served as master of ceremonies.

Johnson said that one thing she remembered from her Planned Parenthood days was that the organization taught its workers that when “prayer soldiers” were outside and abortion clinic, it increased the number of “no shows” by 75 percent.

Caldwell, who survived her mother’s abortion attempt–her twin sister did not, said that “life is a gift not a given.”

Austin Bishop Joe Vasquez gave the invocation. Prior to the rally on the capitol grounds pro-life supporters gathered to celebrate Mass at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Austin.