SALT LAKE CITY — The 10th annual Utah March for Life brought hundreds of people to the Utah State Capitol on Jan. 25 to show their support for the unborn.
Not even the cold weather prevented people of all ages, from older adults to families with toddlers, from gathering to celebrate in conjunction with the National March for Life that took place in Washington, D.C. to take a stand for the unborn under the theme “Fight for Life.”
The local event started with Bishop Oscar A. Solis leading the recitation of the rosary on the steps of the Capitol.
After thanking those present for attending, the bishop said, “We are here today to pray and stand for the most vulnerable in our society, for the protection of our loving God and for the unborn children as well as for all the children in the eyes of God.”
Among the Catholics at the event were Father John Evans, vicar general; several other diocesan priests; Deacon Gregory Werking, assistant chaplain of the diocesan prison ministry; Crystal Painter, director the diocesan Office of Family Life; Maria Cruz Gray, former director of the diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry; and members of the Utah Knights of Columbus and various parishes in the diocese.
“We need to make [people] aware of what is happening in this country” regarding abortion, said Tim Lozano, Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus Council 5214 at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Kearns, noting that although the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision that had allowed abortion in the United States was overturned, abortion remains legal in some states. “It still happens; abortion is a real factor in this culture of death. There has to be someone that stands up for those who don’t have a voice.”
In Utah, a law that would ban most abortions except in cases of rape, incest or fatal abnormality to save the life of the mother is suspended, pending the outcome of a lawsuit by Planned Parenthood.
Under Utah law, the removal of a miscarriage, stillborn or ectopic pregnancy is not illegal and not considered an abortion.
At the March for Life, Mary Taylor, president of Pro-Life Utah, said from the podium that no action on the lawsuit brought by Planned Parenthood is expected until April of 2026. However, “last year we saved 141 babies from abortion, doubling the number from 2023; this is a phenomenal rate.”
In an interview, Painter said that it is more important than ever for people to stand up and give voice to the voiceless. “I think a lot of people are under the misconception that because Roe v Wade was overturned abortion is no longer happening, and that’s not true.”
Access to chemical abortion is increasing, she said, which means that women can make the decision to end their pregnancy “so much easier; now more than ever we need to accompany and walk with these families and these women and support them.”
Many women who have abortions do so out of fear or are coerced, she said, so “We need to support them and show them that they don’t have to be afraid.”
Lozano agreed, saying, “Now more than ever respect for all life is important because of our faith as Catholic Christians. That’s what we believe. We stand for life since its conception to natural death – all life deserves respect, and we need to celebrate it.”
Among the young people attending the march was Ronak Tathireddy, 16, who said that he was there that day because for him regardless of where people came from, the language they speak or the way a person looks or thinks, “it is important that we all stand up for any opportunity of life.”
Deanna Holland, executive director of Pro-Life Utah, said that “abortion ends the lives of the most vulnerable and innocent of God’s children. We are in it for the long haul; we all can help by donating either money or our time as volunteers. … The list of things our volunteers have done to help and support our moms is long: We fix sinks, we drive women to family in other states to escape domestic violence. … We give rides to prenatal appointments, we give rides home from the hospital after birth. ... The list is endless, because when we ask ourselves, ‘What would we do to save a life?,’ the answer is always more.”
Holland gave special thanks to the Utah Knights of Columbus for their support over the years, as well as to the 41 legislators who sponsored the march.
A few people protested the March for Life, including a man with a megaphone who expressed his discomfort, stating that everyone is free to choose; and a young woman who ran between the march participants holding a sign saying, “my body my choice.” A small group holding pro-choice signs also was present.
Stay Connected With Us