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Published: February 23, 2008
An ambitious goal
Organizers of the Fifth Annual Los Angeles March for Life hope to draw 20,000 to the event
The Fifth Annual Los Angeles March for Life will be held Saturday March 15. After two years in Granada Hills, the March returns to the San Fernando Valley. Beginning from St. Cyril of Jerusalem Church in Encino, marchers will walk two miles down Ventura Blvd. to raise awareness of the plight of unborn children and the sanctity of life.
 Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, the Los Angeles March for Life intentionally does not coincide with the marches in San Francisco and Washington D.C., which are usually held on the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. One of the organizers for the Los Angeles march, John Costello, a former grand knight and chairman of the Family Activities Committee for the Van Nuys Knights of Columbus Council, told California Catholic Daily that the Roe v. Wade anniversary isn’t the most important consideration for scheduling a March for Life.
“I’ve been to about 30 or 40 Marches or Walks for Life,” said Costello. “Some of them are in January because of Roe v. Wade; however, some of them are in April, June, even October. I don’t think we have to restrict it to January, and I’m trying to keep it away from the marches in Washington D.C. and San Francisco, because Los Angeles is the second largest city in the nation -- bigger than either D.C. or San Francisco. California leads the nation in abortions, with about 200,000 a year. One in every five abortions occurs in California, so the date isn’t that important. What is important is awareness. We’d like to get 20,000 people walking down the street to get people’s attention.”
Costello admits that 20,000 is an ambitious goal, since, in the past, the turnout has averaged 400-500 marchers. The organizers are hoping that this year’s high-profile pro-life leaders will draw more marchers. “We’re in year number five for the march, and for many, this is the first time they’ve heard about it. It’s a big secret,” said Costello.
Five national pro-life speakers are slated to address the marchers: Fr. Peter West from Priests for Life; Janet Morana, co-founder and director of Silent No More; Jo Tolck, executive director of Human Life Alliance; Patti Fores, Southern California director of 40 Days for Life; and Kortney Blythe, director of Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust.
Organizers are also hoping that cooperation and support from the archdiocese of Los Angeles and the diocese of Orange will translate into a bigger event. “We want Cardinal Mahony and Bishop Brown to know that they are invited, and so is everyone else from their dioceses.”
Costello invited another well-known figure. “Four to six weeks ago I invited Senator McCain,” he said. “But he gets at least 100 requests per day, every day.”
St. Cyril of Jerusalem Church is located at 11520 Ventura Blvd. in Encino. For more information on the march, contact Nick Bryant at (818) 789-3237 or at www.lamarchforlife.org.
Posted Saturday, February 23, 2008 12:36 PM By mark
Please say a big prayer for all of our brother Knights on this day. Pray & preach the gospel!!
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Posted Saturday, February 23, 2008 7:07 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Mark,
I pray that my brother Knights will finally find the courage that comes from faith to finally force the Supreme and State Offices to take action against the many, far too many, pro-abortion and pro-sodomite Knights in public office that they are currently protecting!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher, Founder & Chariman
Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc.
www.crcoa.com
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Posted Saturday, February 23, 2008 7:43 PM By WB
I'm grateful to the Knights for their many good works and for important pro-life activities like this. The Councils in my diocese are unanimously opposed to the pro-abortion membership in public office. But for some reason their voices aren't getting through to the top leadership -- yet.
This is going to be an important event in LA. -- we should all pray for the Knights that they will continue to press on and bring the light of faith to souls (and to clean up their members who are abusing the Knights' good name).
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Posted Sunday, February 24, 2008 6:35 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
WB,
They not only abuse the Knight's good name, they publicize the fact that they are Knights on their Websites, thus helping them get elected and or re-elected.
The top leadership is cowardly at best!
I would be more than happy to supply you with irrefutable evidence of this.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher, Founder & Chariman Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc. www.crcoa.com
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Posted Monday, February 25, 2008 1:29 PM By Elizabeth
As a Walk for Life West Coast volunteer, I am pleasantly surprised and delighted learning about the Los Angeles walk...
God Bless you all and know all of us in northern California will keep you all in our prayers!!!!
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Posted Monday, February 25, 2008 8:11 PM By Linda Maria
Anyone interested in helping to form a Cenacle of Life prayer group to combat the Culture of Death in the San Francisco Bay Area, please call (415) 820-9648. Cenacles meet weekly in a local church, and were established by Fr. Andrew Apostoli, of the same religious order as Fr. Benedict Groeschel. Two groups (English and Spanish) would be wonderful!!
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