Despite the waves of the COVID pandemic, the annual sidewalk gathering of pro-life supporters still has momentum across the country.
Life Chain is taking place in 200 locations across Canada Oct. 3. Meant to be a silent vigil, it brings pro-life activists holding signs such as “Abortion hurts women” and “Adoption, the loving option” while facing drivers and passersby on busy roads in Canadian cities.
Participants are asked to bring masks and hand sanitizer, to physically distance, and to follow any other applicable local health regulations. They are asked to not attend if they feel ill or suspect they have COVID-19.
In the Archdiocese of Vancouver, Life Chain will take place in Abbotsford, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Mission, Sechelt, Surrey, and Vancouver. Several other locations have been listed, but not confirmed.
The first Life Chain was held in California in 1987, and became championed in Canada by Campaign Life Coalition in 1990.
Last year, the pandemic did not quash the effort; Life Chain went ahead in-person at many locations in 2020. Burnaby Life Chain organizer Anthony Craig told The B.C. Catholic last year the event is naturally outdoors and spaced out, so the pandemic did not pose as big a challenge to Life Chain as it did to other events that were forced to go virtual.
“In my view we are a humble but prophetic ‘voice crying out in the wilderness,’ with few seeming to hear our words,” he added. “Nevertheless, we are compelled to do and say something about the horror of abortion and euthanasia. We are met with opposition and indifference (even in our parishes) but we persevere.”
To read more about Life Chain or to find a location, click here.
