Since we’ll be starting the Archdiocesan 40 Days for Life Campaign on Ash Wednesday, we should look at some professional athletes who have shown the courage to announce that they are pro-life.

Even though a majority of Canadians and Americans oppose abortion in some way, it is very difficult facing the backlash a vocal minority will spew at us for speaking up in support of life issues. Imagine then the potential professional dangers faced by athletes who speak up around a hostile media.

Of the major North American professional sports, it is football that provides the most leadership on life issues. Given that the Super Bowl just ended, let’s look at a few NFL players who have pursued the pro-life cause.

For most top pro athletes, their handlers and agents prevent them from answering any questions that relate to their faith or political hot button topics.

While not all pro-life athletes are Catholic, an American organization called Life Athletes has made pro-life videos consisting mostly of Catholic athletes. The organization was started by the late Wellington Mara, the very devout Catholic owner of the New York Giants.

Catholic Athletes for Christ (CAC) is another organization that has a speakers bureau to address many issues regarding life and faith. Kellen Clemens is part of CAC and has been a quarterback in the NFL for many years. He has been involved in many life issues and during U.S. elections he is known for promoting the message that voters should cast their vote for the candidate who is most pro-life.

Fellow quarterback and future Hall of Famer Philip Rivers led his L.A. Chargers team to the conference semifinals this year. Rivers and his wife Tiffany, who are expecting their ninth child, have been very vocal and promotional in pro-life and family issues for many years in San Diego and now in Los Angeles. They have a foundation that supports foster children, and he has been nominated for the Walter Payton Humanitarian Award by the NFL.

Tim Tebow, who first played in the NFL and is now playing baseball in the New York Mets system, has long been an advocate for life. His mother was told she should have an abortion when she was expecting Tim due to serious health risks. After a great amount of prayer, she refused to do so and now she and her son are enthusiastic pro-life advocates.

Benjamin Watson, a tight end for the New Orleans Saints (who reached the conference finals this year) is adamant about the role he feels men play in the abortion debate. “We as men must stand up for the lives of the innocent unborn and their mothers who are in crisis,” he says. “The father is the most influential factor in the decision.” He supports projects that help mothers through the pregnancy.

Retired Super Bowl champion Kurt Warner was a quarterback during his long career. Besides being a voice for the unborn, the evangelical Warner also does great work for the developmentally disabled and he has won humanitarian awards. Warner and his wife have seven children and are involved with projects that encourage and support adoption.

Matt Birk was a lineman with the Baltimore Ravens when they won their lone Super Bowl in 2013. He has won the Walter Payton Award and describes himself as “unabashedly pro-life.” He says his Catholic faith and his own fatherhood were the foundations of his pro-life stance. “Life is a gift that is given to us. It is not our choice whether a baby lives or not.”

After Birk first participated in the March for Life he called it “one of the coolest things I have done in my life. Our society wants to push us (those with pro-life views) aside and silence our voices but I am glad for the platform that football allows me. For me it comes down to what is right and what is wrong. What is God’s will?”

It is interesting that all these NFL stars respect and protect life and family in every aspect, from foster parenting and adoption to supporting those with developmental disabilities, the teaching of purity, and protecting women in crisis. In almost every case the NFL has recognized their efforts.

We may not have a platform like a football star, but we all have impact on others around us and as Catholics who love Jesus it is incumbent on us to effect change for life, even one person at a time.

For those who coach and play sports, let’s be example to our teammates and fellow coaches and we can start by being at the 40 Days for Life in Vancouver or the annual March for Life in Victoria.