“IT’S crunch time”.
That’s the message from Brisbane’s pro-life leaders to Catholics and others opposed to the decriminalisation of abortion in Queensland as calls go out for their participation in next Saturday’s Rally for Life to be held in Queen’s Park in the CBD.
Cherish Life Queensland (CLQ) state president Teresa Martin said she hoped people will be “shocked into action” by the savagery of Victoria’s laws “which permit abortion up to the day of birth and force doctors and nurses to participate in such operations”.
National Civic Council (NCC) state president Luke McCormack said a new website votersforlife.org.au, similar to one which successfully recruited more than 1000 volunteers to campaign against pro-abortion candidates in last year’s Victorian election, will be launched at the rally.
Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane will be among speakers at the rally which kicks off at 1.15pm.
Ms Martin said it was crucial as many people as possible take part in the Rally for Life.
“This is a matter of life and death for the unborn,” she said.
“Please come and show your support for them and for women under pressure to have an abortion as well.
“We know (Premier) Anna Bligh will come under increasing pressure to decriminalise abortion while she’s still in power.
“A large turnout will send a message to Anna Bligh and the pro-abortion lobby in general that the decriminalisation of abortion is unacceptable.”
Ms Martin said it was a “matter of shame” that Brisbane with a population of around 2 million people only had 800 to 1000 people attending last year’s rally.
“San Francisco a city of around 800,000 had 35,000 attend a similar pro-life rally last year,” she said.
“Statistics show that in 2006 there were 621,000 Catholics living in Brisbane archdiocese – and at least that many Christians across all the other denominations.
“If even a small percentage of this number was to attend the rally, it would send a clear message to the Government that such legislation is not a vote winner.”
Mr McCormack said the new Voters For Life website would be used to guide voters in the next State election towards pro-life candidates.
The website will also be used to enlist volunteers to spread relevant information.
“In a tight election such information can be crucial to the final outcome,” he said.
“In Victoria’s election last November, the website managed to enlist about 1000 volunteers to attend polling booths in order to encourage votes for pro-life candidates.
“Out of around 20 MPs targeted who had voted in support of Victoria’s abortion bill, 10 were unseated and the rest were left with very small margins.”
Organisations sponsoring the Rally for Life include CLQ, the NCC, Right to Life Australia, Australian Family Association, Family Voice Australia, Lutherans for Life, Catholic Medical Guild of St Luke, Fertility Care and JPII Centre for Family and Life.
