CHARLOTTE — More than 200 people took part in a peaceful procession and prayer vigil June 1 outside the future Planned Parenthood facility in Charlotte.
The mile-long procession took participants from St. Patrick Cathedral down the tree-lined streets on Dilworth Road East to South Torrence Street, where Planned Parenthood expects to open an abortion facility in July.
Before the procession Father Christopher Bond, parochial vicar, offered Mass, recalling in his homily the words of Matthew’s Gospel (Chapter 5:13-16) in which Jesus tells His disciples to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
“‘You are the light of the world.’ Jesus says this to His disciples and I say it to you. But, my friends, it’s not because you have your own light. You are not the sun, you are the moon,” Father Bond said. “Point yourself constantly toward the Son, towards Jesus Christ.”
“The world thinks it is its own light,” he said. “We are about to process through the streets of Charlotte to a place where very little light comes out. In fact, they close the shades in buildings like this so very little light comes in as well.”
He continued, “We will be standing outside shining brightly before man, because we will have the light of Christ burning within our hearts, radiating from the depths of our souls, because we are Christian. But most of all because we will have the True Presence – the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity – dwelling within our bodies.”
“Reflect the truth of Jesus Christ” he urged. “Reflect His mercy for all souls, reflect His love for all human beings.”
The Mass and procession were the culmination of a Forty Hours Devotion at St. Patrick Cathedral that began May 30.
It was among several prayer efforts underway in response to news that Planned Parenthood is expanding its services in Charlotte.
The building at 700 South Torrence St. will be a larger location for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic’s Charlotte Health Center, currently located on Albemarle Road.
The new facility will be the fourth abortion facility in Charlotte, where more abortions are performed than in any other city in North Carolina. Read more here.
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor