Photo Caption: Participants in the 2013 Walk for Life make their way through downtown Peoria on Thursday evening, Jan. 17, prior to the Sanctity for Human Life Rally.

By: By Tom Dermody

After 40 years of praying, marching, and working against legal abortion and promoting respect for life from conception, those in the pro-life cause in central Illinois had an evening of encouragement Jan. 17 at the Sanctity of Human Life Rally in downtown Peoria.

“When someone stands for truth, it’s really hard for lies and evil to flourish,” said Sharon Slater, president of Family Watch International and the keynote speaker for the program at Riverside Community Church. “Never underestimate the power you have by being in this room, walking on that street, sending the message that you support the cause of life.”

The evening — just days before the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decisions legalizing abortion — began with an open house at the Family Resources Center, the free loan library that is a pro-life outreach of the Diocese of Peoria’s Respect Life Board. The crowd, many carrying signs with pro-life messages, then assembled outside the Peoria County Courthouse before taking part in the annual Walk for Life through downtown Peoria.

“Be witnesses and champions for life,” urged Father Charles Kitheka, parochial vicar at St. Mark’s Parish in Peoria, who led the crowd in prayer before the four-block walk to the church.

At the rally, the encouragement continued, including via an unscheduled appearance near the end of the program.

Adele Wheeler of Delavan took the stage, carrying her 9-month-old son Neko and holding the hand of her daughter Nyriah, age 4.

“I planned to have my child aborted,” she said, looking at Neko. “But something didn’t feel right.

“I believe it was all of you praying,” Wheeler continued. “Thank you, and I celebrate his life tonight because of your prayers.”

The crowd of nearly 200 stood and applauded as the trio left the stage.

“EVERY ONE IS IMPORTANT”
Sondra McEnroe of Central Illinois Right to Life earlier had asked the group to understand the God-given value of each human being and said that “every baby we save is an eternal gift.”

A veteran of the pro-life movement, McEnroe acknowledged that “when we started we didn’t know these days would be so many.” But while the scope of abortion’s victims — the more than 50 million dead and even higher numbers living but affected by the violence — is staggering, McEnroe reminded that some good has ensued after the Jan. 22, 1973 decisions, including the opening of many centers to assist women in need.

“If you think you can’t do something, please pray for the women,” McEnroe advised.

The sentiment was echoed by Denise Bailey of the Women’s Pregnancy Center.

“Every one is important,” she said, listing not only the unborn children but the women who find themselves frightened, pregnant, and in need of help. She said in 2012 the center assisted 350 clients a month.

The political defeats of the recent election and the scope of the task ahead “can be discouraging and depressing,” said Bailey.

“We don’t want to lose heart,” she said, quoting St. Paul’s advice in 1 Corinthians 15:58 to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

“All you are doing through prayer, financial support, and volunteering. It is not in vain,” Bailey added. “Don’t stop. It is God’s work and I believe it is close to His heart.”

SEXUAL RIGHTS REVOLUTION
Keynote speaker Slater — a mother of seven, including three children adopted from Mozambique — told how she co-founded Family Watch International to counter a “sexual rights revolution” that seeks to establish comprehensive sexuality education as a fundamental human right, promote access to abortion, and encourage young people to experiment sexually.

Over the past several years, she told the group, her organization has uncovered evidence how the United Nations system is being manipulated to influence national laws that promote abortion, prostitution, homosexuality, promiscuity and the sexualization of children.

International Planned Parenthood is among the revolution’s chief promoters, she said, because “they have a vested monatery interst in sexualizing the children of the world. It’s a marketing plan.”

Slater, author of the book “Stand for the Family,” said she is often ridiculed when advocating for long held traditional, religious beliefs regarding the family.

“In today’s world of political correctness,” she said at one point in her presentation, “to sin is not a sin, but to call a sin a sin is a sin.”

She has even challenged the Girl Scouts of the USA regarding their positions on sexuality and abortion after finding the International Planned Parenthood pamphlet “Healthy, Happy and Hot” on a resource table after a U.N. workshop for young girls from several nations co-sponsored by GSUSA.

Girl Scout leaders both nationally and locally have denied the allegations, including after several U.S. bishops raised questions, Slater continues to challenge the group and has established the website 100questionsfortheGirlScouts.org.

“We heard a warrior speaking to us tonight,” said John King, pastor of Riverside Community Church before leading closing prayer. Also speaking was the Rev. James McDonald, pastor of Providence Church in Peoria and a board member of Central Illinois Right to Life.