1000 Expected to Attend ‘Walk-for-Life’ Asking the Question: Who is a Person?
Largest Annual Display of Ecumenical Church Solidarity
Rochester, NY—1000 pro-life people from the Rochester area representing scores of churches from both Protestant and Catholic traditions are expected to converge on the Highland Bowl this Saturday May 4th at 9 A.M. to celebrate the dignity of women and the personhood of pre-born boys and girls. Over the last 15 years thousands have gathered for the annual Walk-for-Life and family festival hosted and promoted by local medical pregnancy care provider, CompassCare.
Given recent debate over expansion of abortion in New York as well as the gruesome trial of Philadelphia abortionist, Kermit Gosnell, CompassCare’s Walk-for-Life is expecting record turn-out. The Walk has always represented the largest ecumenical display of unity in Rochester every year. With all the controversy surrounding the recent over-the-counter release of Plan B to minors, Cuomo’s abortion expansion agenda, and the nationwide abortion abuses, the pro-life base is activated like never before. 
The Walk raises approximately $130,000 in funds for CompassCare every year. CompassCare is a non-profit organization dedicated to erasing the need for abortion. CompassCare facilitates the delivery of baseline pre-natal visits for women facing unplanned pregnancy as well as STD testing and treatment for both men and women. 95% of CompassCare’s pregnancy patients are at-risk for abortion. According to patient exit surveys, when asked to rate CompassCare’s services on a scale of 1-10 CompassCare’s average score is a 9.8. “We are proud of the fact that women feel like they are treated with dignity at CompassCare,” said James R. Harden, M.Div longtime President of CompassCare.
“CompassCare’s experience is that when women feel supported and secure more often than not they choose to have their babies,” said Harden. “Treating a woman with dignity means we support her autonomy and trust her with all the information about her options. Women most often have abortions because they feel there is no other choice. We empower women with the freedom to make the most difficult choice to have the baby. If she decides to abort after that, well then, it’s a truly free decision, isn’t it?”
Harden went on to say that, “When women get the information and care they deserve that most of the time they carry their babies to term.”
In light of recent national concerns over the safety risks of abortion and abortion-related drugs important questions are arising in the national conscience. Questions like, “What is abortion?” But even more importantly, “What is a person?” A child in the womb was denied personhood status by the Supreme Court in 1973 paving the way for abortion on demand. But the question as to who determines the criteria for personhood is one of grave concern. What’s to keep that same group of people from changing the definition to exclude other groups from the rights of humanity? “Personhood is what the 2013 Walk-for-Life is all about this year.”
You can sponsor a walker or register to walk online by clicking here.