California Catholic Daily

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Published: May 20, 2009

“Didn’t think I’d live long enough to see this happen”

Big crowd turns out for pro-life rally in San Diego

News from the Trenches

A crowd estimated at between 300 and 1100 people gathered on Sunday, May 17, outside the San Diego County Administration Building for a “Choose Life!” rally. The rally was scheduled to coincide with President Barack Obama’s commencement speech at Notre Dame University. Event organizers said the official crowd estimate by San Diego police was 1100.

Speakers included the Rev. Walter Hoye, a Baptist minister who was jailed for violating Oakland’s so-called “bubble ordinance,” and UCLA student Lila Rose, who has spearheaded a series of undercover investigations that have exposed Planned Parenthood cover-ups of statutory rape laws in various states across the country. Pastor Jim Garlow of Skyline Church, who helped organize the event, Pastor David Jeremiah of Shadow Mountain Community Church and Host of The Turning Point, Pastor Mike MacIntosh of Horizon Christian Fellowship, Pastor Shawn Mitchell of New Venture Christian Fellowship, and Pastor Chris Clark of East Clairemont Southern Baptist Church were also featured speakers at the event.

Among the notable Catholics participating in the rally were Thomas McKenna of Catholic Action for Faith and Family, attorney Chuck Limandri, West Coast director of the Thomas More Law Center, Dr. George Delgado of Culture of Life Family Services, Leslie Brunolli, San Diego coordinator of Silent No More, and Fr. Nabil Mouaness of St. Ephrem Church in El Cajon.

“This event was the answer to about 20 years of praying that these men, leaders in the San Diego faith community, would engage the culture and stand in defense of the pre-born,” said Operation Rescue spokeswoman Cheryl Sullenger, who led pro-life activism in the San Diego area for two decades before leaving to work with Operation Rescue at its national headquarters in Kansas. “I didn’t think I’d live long enough to see this happen.”

“Many of the pastors involved have national influence and have the ability to spark a revival that could sweep the nation,” said Sullenger in a prepared statement issued following the rally. “With pro-life sentiment rapidly gaining momentum, the Church may be finally be on the verge of awakening to its responsibility to stop the shedding of innocent blood. We are excited and encouraged by what we are seeing in San Diego.”

The rally was covered by KFMB Channel 8 television news. To see a video of KFMB’s coverage, Click Here.

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