GDANSK, October 15, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – On Sunday, thousands of Poles joyfully marched for life and family with multi-colored banners and flags through the streets of the city where the Solidarity movement was founded. This was the fourth March for Life and Family to take place in Poland. Each year it is co-organized by Human Life International – Poland.
The march began at the symbolic monument to the Shipyard Workers victims of communism, which displays three crosses with crucified anchors. Some of the marchers carried long strips of cloth on which was inscribed the full text of the Vatican document, Donum Vitae (The gift of life) which addresses respect for human life at its origin and the dignity of procreation.
The special guest for the march was Bertrand Bisch of France, a participant of large marches in defense of marriage and the family in Paris. In his speech he called for the active defense of fundamental rights of the family, insisting that every child has a right to a father and mother not parent 1 and parent 2. He warned that in Poland (like a year ago in France) a scenario is implemented to destroy the authority of the Church, to weaken its opposition to the destruction of families and implementation of gender ideology.
Polish senator Anthony Szymanski, who is in his sixth term of office, presented “The message of the Fourth March in Defense of Life and Family”, which was received with acclamation.
The gathered were also addressed by Archbishop Leszek Sławoj Głódź, Metropolitan of Gdansk, who stressed the importance of respect for family values by all, even by public authorities.
The marchers, chanting and shouting pro-family slogans, arrived at St. Mary's Basilica walking through the streets of the old town. On the route there were stops with prepared testimonials on the protection of the conceived child, then dangers of in vitro procedures, the joy of having a large family, and about NaProTechnology.