Students, marchers from across state gather in Lansing to defend right to life, remind voters 'we stand with, not against, women'
LANSING — Thousands of pro-lifers across Michigan descended upon the state Capitol building in Lansing to demonstrate their commitment to defending life in all stages.
Right to Life-Michigan hosted the second Michigan March for Life on Nov. 6, admittedly with considerably better weather conditions than the first march in 2023.
Thousands gathered on the Capitol lawn to hear testimonies from a series of pro-life witnesses, including former Detroit TV personality Chuck Gaidica, who emceed the event.
In his testimonial, Gaidica recalled a time when his wife was having complications during the pregnancy of their fifth child. The couple were in the doctor’s office, awaiting test results and discussing what they would do next. The doctor came into the office, saying there was a chance the unborn child showed signs of autism.
“She reached across her desk and handed us a brochure printed on recycled paper — if that made it any better — and it was a brochure on abortion, and she said to us, ‘I’ll be back in five minutes,’” Gaidica recalled. “And she literally was back in five minutes, and she said, ‘What did you decide?’ And we said, ‘Well, we decided before we walked in that whatever is God’s plan is God’s plan,’ and we left.
“I tell this story because I want to let you know that Riley, our fifth child, was born. The doctor may have looked at her as ‘healthy’ — she was not a Down’s child — but it really wouldn’t have mattered; I can’t imagine our life without Riley,” Gaidica said.
The Michigan March for Life is an ecumenical event, with Catholic, Lutheran, and non-denominational groups present, but Michigan’s seven dioceses were well represented.
Lansing Bishop Earl A. Boyea celebrated the Michigan Mass for Life at St. Mary Cathedral, with Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Robert J. Fisher, Bishop David J. Walkowiak of Grand Rapids and Bishop Jeffrey J. Walsh of Gaylord concelebrating.
Bishop Boyea than addressed the assembly before the Capitol building during the rally after Mass.
“I’m blessed to be with my brother bishops from the Catholic dioceses of the state of Michigan; perhaps some of you recognize your own bishop,” Bishop Boyea said. “Make sure that you go up to them and tell them you’re praying for them.”
Ever since the passage of Proposal 3 during the 2022 election, which cemented the legal right to abortion in the Michigan state constitution, pro-life advocates have placed an emphasis on the Michigan March to Life on the anniversary of the Nov. 6, 2022, election.
Rose Maroto of SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Sterling Heights had been going to the national March for Life in Washington, D.C., since 2007 and attended the first Michigan March for Life in 2023.
“I’m here to participate in this initiative to end the culture of death in this country,” Maroto told Detroit Catholic. “I came out today to say, ‘I stand for life.’ To show the whole world and other people that abortion is not good, even for the woman, but for everybody. To show the people who supported abortion in the past that they are wrong and they should reverse the rules and laws that they have enacted.”
Schools from across the Archdiocese of Detroit were also present at the march, including Gabriel Richard High School in Riverview, which brought a contingent of 10 students from the school’s pro-life club.
Kelly Rose, campus minister at Gabriel Richard High School, said it was important for the students to attend a public demonstration for life, even though a few students confided in her some unease about attending a mass demonstration in public following the assassination of political commentator Charlie Kirk this summer.
“To be honest, there is a bit of fear I think with young people wanting to speak out, but we had a productive month in the school with a variety of pro-life events,” Rose said. “Our school prays a multilingual rosary for life with the Spanish and French classes and the Glee Club, and we use the joyful mysteries of the rosary for reflections that are based on pro-life principles.”
Gabriel Richard students filmed the march and interviewed participants to make a short documentary they plan to show the school.
The Michigan March for Life is about creating a public presence of pro-lifers who want to show leaders in Lansing that there are citizens — voters — who care about the protection of life in all stages.
“I hope our friends in the news media who are here with us today — and we’re so honored to have them — I hope they report the turnout,” said Amber Roseboom, president of Right to Life-Michigan. “We have thousands — not hundreds — here in Lansing to stand for life today. Praise God for this beautiful weather. But look around; this is the future of the pro-life movement. We stand with, not against, women facing unplanned pregnancies. We offer compassion, the truth in love, hope, including the practical care and support to make a choice for life.”
Roseboom commended the work of 80 local Right to Life affiliates across the state, staffed by thousands of volunteers who advocate, counsel and support women in crisis pregnancies.
“Abortion advocates want women to believe abortion is their only option, and today we have another message, a hopeful message, a powerful message for women facing unplanned pregnancies: You are not alone. We stand with you shoulder to shoulder; we stand for you,” Roseboom said. “There are resources in every community in our state to support a woman in a choice for life, many of which we’re showcasing here today. If a woman, a couple, a father, or a teen girl is listening to this, facing an unplanned pregnancy and wondering what help looks like, I invite you to call 1-800-712-HELP for free, confidential support. Make no mistake about it, help is out there.”
Other pro-life advocates, lawmakers and organizers thanked the thousands gathered for the march from the state Capitol building to the Michigan Hall of Justice, which houses the Michigan State Supreme Court, for being witnesses for life.
Catholic groups chanted, prayed Hail Marys and sang hymns during the procession.
Fr. John Bettin, rector of the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak, accompanied parishioners and students to the march.
“It’s very important to show support for life because we know God and God alone is the author of life, and without life, nothing else really matters,” Fr. Bettin said. “I wouldn’t really call today a protest, but rather a march in support of the gift of life. As God is the author of life, He is the only one who can give life and take life back to Himself.”
Pro-life ministry goes beyond public demonstrations such as the March for Life, Fr. Bettin added, but is carried out every day, noting that most parishes have robust ministries such as Walking With Moms in Need to support mothers who choose life.
“It’s very important to see clergy out here to support this,” Fr. Bettin said. “We can’t stand at the pulpit on Sundays and other days and preach, but without walking the talk. So we have to walk the talk and participate with the faithful and show others what we truly believe in and be a model for them.”
