By PEGGY MOEN
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The annual Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life rally took place at noon on January 22, just hours before President Donald Trump announced he would attend and address the national March for Life on January 24.
But Trump had a presence at the St. Paul march all the same. One young man in the packed crowd of thousands carried a cutout of President Trump, shown smiling and wearing a suit. He held the placard aloft on the capitol steps. “Re-elect the President” said the caption.
Agreeing with that in more forceful terms was Tony Blondell of Rochester, Minn., who waved a U.S. flag and a banner that read “Trump 2020. No more BS.”
“I’m really pro-life,” Blondell told me. “I have been all my life.”
I asked him if he was hopeful Trump would carry Minnesota this time (he didn’t in 2016.)
“We’re going to make it happen,” said Blondell. “There’s no ‘hope’ about it.”
Standing next to him, Gordon Miller of Minneapolis praised the pro-life convictions of President Trump, his wife Melania, Vice President Mike Pence, and his wife Karen.
He described Trump as “a great guy” who has fostered job growth, improved trade, and helped veterans.
“I’ve never seen the country so safe,” said Miller. “I’m a Trump guy. I’ve been a Republican all my life.”
While these two pro-life stalwarts spoke about their lifetime commitments to the cause, young people graced the crowd in unusually large numbers.
Leo LaLonde, longtime MCCL president, addressed the multitude of pro-lifers from the podium and said: “You see new generations of MCCL-ers,” and they’re “bringing energy and renewal” with them.
LaLonde welcomed the marchers to MCCL’s hourlong program, after a duo called The Preacher’s Daughters sang Amazing Grace. “I’m so proud of each one of you for being here today,” said LaLonde.
The Rev. Tim Skramstad of Living Word Lutheran Church, Eagan, Minn., gave the invocation, praying, “Lord, may none of us be found complacent.”
The rest of the program was devoted to promoting the pro-life agenda and honoring pro-life officeholders.
Prior to the program, Paul Stark, communications associate at MCCL, had told The Wanderer that “we expect a good crowd, an energized crowd…especially in a year where there’s a lot going on.”
MCCL’s Cathy Blaeser declared from the top of the capitol steps: “The crowd is amazing from up here.”
She extended a special welcome to members of Silent No More, an organization of women who regret their abortions and men who regret their lost fatherhood.
Blaeser also said: “As we look forward to the coming year — to pending court cases, to legislative battles, and to the elections this fall that could impact life for decades to come — let’s remember the crucial importance of every single innocent human being.”
She detailed the depth and range of abortion’s lethal power. Since the Supreme Court’s rulings, more than 60 million human beings have been legally killed through abortion in the United States, including about 650,000 in Minnesota. While the number of abortions has declined in recent years, 9,910 unborn Minnesota children lost their lives in 2018 alone, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
MCCL announced support for two pro-life bills in the upcoming state legislative session.
One bill would protect unborn children from abortion after 20 weeks post-conception, when substantial evidence shows they can experience pain.
The other bill would ensure that abortion-seeking women have the option to view their ultrasound prior to undergoing abortion.
Both measures advanced last year in the Minnesota Senate, but failed to do so in the House. Pro-lifers hold a majority in the Minnesota Senate but not in the House. MCCL’s Stark told The Wanderer that it is “obviously crucial” to increase the number of pro-life legislators in the 2020 election.
A national pro-life legislator, Cong. Pete Stauber (R., Minn.), addressed the crowd, introducing himself as a “pro-life father of four” and focusing on his love for his son, Isaac, who he and his wife knew would be born with Down syndrome.
He said that “it breaks my heart” when someone says they would rather have an abortion than accept a Down syndrome child.
“I believe life is a gift that must be cherished and defended. Whenever I look at my son Isaac, I see a marvelous creation from God.”
Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R., Nisswa) and Assistant House Minority Leader Tony Albright (R., Prior Lake) also spoke to the MCCL rally.
Gazelka told the throng: “I am grateful for you as a people…each day standing up for life.”
Congressmen Collin Peterson (D., Minn.) and Jim Hagedorn (R., Minn.) sent written greetings. Many Minnesota legislators, former Cong. Jason Lewis, and former Lt. Gov. Michelle Fischbach attended the pro-life event and were introduced to the marchers.
Several speakers saluted the marchers for braving the Minnesota cold to give witness to life. At 36 degrees above zero, however, the weather was far from the worst Minnesota pro-lifers have faced over the decades. Perhaps the milder weather, the presence of youth, and the pro-Trump signs herald a change in the atmosphere.
After the rally, the crowd dispersed quickly and quietly, some of them no doubt tired after long trips from throughout the state — the Dioceses of St. Cloud, New Ulm, and Winona were represented, and no doubt others were as well.
An Encouraging Thing
Bishop John LeVoir of New Ulm granted a partial indulgence for all Catholics from the Diocese of New Ulm who attended the March for Life in St. Paul. In addition to attending the March for Life, the usual conditions applied for receiving an annulment, according to the diocesan website.
Many of these far-flung Catholics and others attended the Prayer Service for Life at the Cathedral of St. Paul, held the morning of January 22, prior to the march. Fr. John L. Ubel, rector of the cathedral, told The Wanderer that the service had the largest attendance he can remember. Fr. Ubel has served at the cathedral for eight years.
He also noted that the evening of January 21, the cathedral offered a Mass for young pro-lifers on their way to the National March for Life in Washington, D.C., January 24. While four buses of pro-lifers attended the Mass last year, this year boasted six buses, indicating “north of 250” going to the D.C. March, said Fr. Ubel.
He called this “a really encouraging thing to see.”
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