NEW YORK (LifeSiteNews) — A coalition of pro-life activists gathered on the sidewalk across from St. Patrick’s Cathedral today to bring attention to the abortion crisis.
Organizers of the rally, hosted by Irish Pro-life USA, urged that a pro-life group, marching with its own banner, be included — not excluded — from the parade honoring St. Patrick.
“We are shocked and bewildered as to why the parade organizers do not rush to allow a pro-life group march in this massive parade honoring St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland and of the Archdiocese of New York,“ said John Aidan Byrne, the founder and president of Irish Pro-Life USA. “We urge the parade leaders to show courage, backbone and fortitude in the face of any pro-life hostility it may be facing in the ranks of government and City Hall.”
Led by Irish Pro-Life USA, the pro-life witnesses used the world’s largest annual St. Patrick’s Day parade to protest permissive abortion laws in New York state, Ireland and elsewhere.
“Our coalition of pro-life groups, individuals and families is gathering to show solidarity with the universal pro-life movement in opposition to the legalization of abortion in Ireland and New York, across the U.S. and worldwide,” Byrne stated in a press release sent to LifeSiteNews.
“On the Feast of St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland and of the Archdiocese of New York, we pray for the end of taxpayer funded and legalized abortion in Ireland and New York, and that resources and political attention focus instead on assisting mothers and families coping with crisis pregnancies,” he continued.
“We … urge the Irish government to listen to the many voices of compassion and decency in the pro-life community as it conducts its Three Year Review of Ireland’s abortion law, which was enacted in late 2018. Finally, our thoughts and prayers are with all who are suffering and have lost their lives because of the brutal conflict in war-torn Ukraine.”
Byrne told LifeSiteNews via email that the pro-life demonstrators were warmly congratulated by Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels, an anti-violence crime prevention group and a former New York City mayoral candidate.
“Great job, everyone,” Sliwa reportedly said. “Love what you’re doing.”