THE HAGUE, December 12, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – An estimated 1,400 people participated in the annual March for Life in the Netherlands held on Saturday, December 10, according to march organizers Cry for Life and Christians for Truth. This is almost double the number of participants at last year’s March and the largest gathering of pro-lifers in the event’s history.
“We are very pleased with the growing numbers at the annual Dutch March for Life,” said Cry for Life President, Dr. Bert P. Dorenbos. He added, “police were well prepared and had to deal with only small incidents caused by counter protestors prior the March.”
The Dutch March for Life commemorates the date the Dutch government passed the Pregnancy Termination Law, December 18, 1980, allowing the availability of abortion on demand for any women up to the 24th week of her pregnancy.
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“The March for Life is held annually in order to raise awareness for the protection of the unborn,” said Dr. Dorenbos. “Every year more and more people participate in the March for Life, thus spreading the truth and raising a silent cry in remembrance of the lives of the large number of children who are not allowed to be born.”
According to Cry for Life, approximately 30,000 abortions are committed in the Netherlands each year.
“We’re not calling for stricter rules … we are called to advocate for the abolition of abortion,” Dr. Dorenbos told those gathered on the Plein Square, located directly in front of the Parliament buildings. “By participating in the silent March participants ask our Queen and government to turn our liberal laws on abortion and euthanasia, which are a threat to the unborn, our elder citizens and the Christian family values.”
Participants heard speakers from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Sweden, India and the United States.
Keynote speaker Dr. P.P. Job from India, highlighted the Christmas message by telling of John the Baptist, who leaped in the womb in joy at the age of six months when Mary came to visit his mother Elizabeth. Dr. Job also spoke about the growing problem of girl child discrimination and the resulting gender-ratio imbalance caused by sex-selective abortion.
Two post-abortive mothers from the United States witnessed to the years of emotional consequences they suffered – physically, emotionally, relationally and spiritually – following their abortions. They told the crowd that now, after their conversion, they travel the world with the organization Operation Outcry to proclaim that abortion is never the solution.
At 2 pm. the March started off through the center of The Hague. “The silent March caught the attention of shoppers who stood by watching, impressed by the dignified atmosphere spread by the March,” event organizer Michael van der Mast told LifeSiteNews.
“After returning to the square the Dutch politicians Cees van der Staaij of the Christian Party (SGP) and Joel Voordewind of the CU, clearly encouraged by the large number of people who stood up for life, spoke about the need for discussing the abortion issue in the Parliament,” van der Mast said.
“Evangelist Jacques Brunt ended the March for Life with a powerful call from the Scriptures to be intercessors for our country and people.”
Visit the Cry for Life website for more information and photos of the Dec 10th March For Life in The Netherlands.