More than 200 people braved frigid temperatures last year to attend the 19th annual Charlotte March for Life. The upcoming march will take place Friday, Jan. 9. (File, Troy C. Hull | Catholic News Herald)
CHARLOTTE — Under mild temperatures and overcast skies, approximately 150 faithful attended the 20th Charlotte March for Life, parading down Tryon Street to advocate for the rights of those who couldn’t attend – the unborn.
The March for Life is an opportunity to publicly advocate for the dignity of life from conception to natural death.
The annual January event coincides with the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion nationwide. In 2022, the Supreme Court reversed that in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson and left abortion restrictions up to individual states. The Charlotte march is held ahead of the National March for Life in Washington, D.C. This year, the event is slated for Jan. 23 and is scheduled to feature Vice President J.D. Vance.
Despite North Carolina law limiting access to abortions to under 12 weeks, abortions have surged due to the state’s location as one of the few states in the Southeast where abortion remains legal through the first trimester, according to statistics from the Guttmacher Institute.
This has inspired Catholics involved in the pro-life movement to increase efforts to protect the sanctity of the most vulnerable human lives.
The morning started at St. Patrick Cathedral with Mass offered by Father Peter Ascik, pastor/rector and director of the Diocese of Charlotte Family Life Office.
He began with the classic Dickens sentence, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” to sum up today’s pro-life movement.
“It was the best of times,” Father Ascik said. “Roe v. Wade was overturned. Several states have effectively outlawed abortion.”
He said the long-time goal of defunding Planned Parenthood is in reach, young people are becoming passionate pro-life leaders, and the message of the dignity of life is spreading.
“On the other hand… it is the worst of times to be pro-life.” Father Ascik said. “Despite the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, there are still more children dying by the hundreds of thousands a year in our country. Several states are responding to the overturning…by not only leaving abortion legal but expanding it.”
Pro-abortion propaganda is ablaze, he explained, and mail-order abortion pills are available in many states.
After Mass, attendees gathered at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, where they were greeted by Tina Witt, a St. Patrick parishioner who coordinates the march through the non-profit group March for Life Charlotte.
Witt explained why the March for Life is needed even more now.
North Carolina is now dubbed an abortion access hub, with 36% of women crossing state lines due to North Carolina’s looser restrictions. N.C. Department of Health and Human Services statistics show that abortions were on the rise in 2023, up to 42,954 – and of those, 27,146 were North Carolina women. In 2021, before the Dobbs decision, there were 32,454 abortions in the state, according to NCDHHS.
At noon, marchers carried rosaries, signs, praying and singing as they made their way to the intersection of Trade and Tryon streets.
Some traveled long distances to experience the march.
Mercedes Tchang, a parishioner of St. Dorothy Parish in Lincolnton, traveled with her six boys to attend for the first time.
“This is our first year coming; we decided to come out just to support the babies,” she said. “By keeping babies safe, then the rest of humanity has a chance.”
Also present were students from the diocese’s Catholic schools. Lucas Kowalonek, a 13-year-old from Holy Trinity Middle School, marched alongside his classmates holding a banner, while his parents followed with his 1-year-old brother.
His mother Lenore explained, “I was always Catholic, but all my life was pro-choice.”
She was surprised when her son came home overwhelmed with excitement about joining the school’s pro-life program, and even more so when he eventually became the vice president of the school’s Right to Life group.
“This was all led by Him. God put it in his heart,” she said. “I wanted to support my son, became more educated about the issue, and was moved to also become pro-life.”
Then, she found out she was pregnant in her early 40s, after her son prayed to have a sibling. “And, here he is, holy hope he appeared,” she laughed, showing off her toddler.
The marchers gathered at Independence Square to hear guest homilist Father Brian Becker.
Father Becker, the diocese’s vocations promoter and an alumnus of Holy Trinity Middle, recalled his days as a youth in Charlotte marching and praying, and he described what an honor it was to preach at Independence Square.
“The reason we have big microphones out here and the reason that we are doing this publicly,” Father Becker said, is that “we want to bring the Gospel to our brothers and sisters here in our beloved city.”
Becker reminded the faithful that they were placed here by God in this moment.
“Our Lord is always writing something new every day of our lives,” he said.
He then reminded the crowd that everything done for God is a win.
Whether sidewalk counseling, fighting legislation, marching or praying, the victories have been felt not only nationally but within the diocese, he said.
As Father Becker noted, “We are not out here by ourselves. And we are not out here just leaning on each other, but rather, in this work, we trust in the action of God.”
— Lisa M. Geraci. Photos and video by Troy C. Hull and Brian Segovia
Get involved
As Father Peter Ascik told the crowd during the March for Life, “The last 50 years in the United States were defined by Roe v. Wade. Roe v. Wade is now gone. What the next 50 years will be like is being defined right now by the actions we take and the witness we give, and ultimately the love we show for mothers and for unborn children.”
Father Ascik applauded the efforts made but said there is more to be done. He encouraged people to reach out to representatives, peacefully pray on abortion clinic public sidewalks, and assist in pro-life ministries.
“Let’s work together to write a new chapter in the history of our country – a pro-life chapter,” he said. “So, in the next 50, 100 and 200 years, we’ll be a pro-life nation that embraces and defends every human life from the moment of conception until natural death.”
Support and supplies
Birthright of Charlotte – From the moment of conception, they are a resource for prayer, counsel and supplies. Birthright provides a listening ear, clothes, pregnancy care kits, gifts for newborns and more. Visit 4435 Monroe Road, Charlotte, 28205, call (704) 975-8572 or visit https://birthrightofcharlotte.org/
Walking With Moms in Need – Services very per parish.
WWMIN St. Matthew in Ballantyne and Christ the King Mission in Kings Mountain provide monthly giveaways for mothers in need – anything from new or gently used strollers, highchairs and cribs to toys, clothes, formula and diapers. The three requirements are to be a mother, have a need and show up.
St. Matthew WWMIN holds a “Hand Up Day” every first Sunday of each month, and Christ the King WWMIN opens a supply store from noon to 1 p.m. on the third Saturday of every month.
WWMIN St. Vincent De Paul in Charlotte works with Birthright to ensure expecting or new moms’ needs are being met. A ride, a meal or even company at the hospital —whatever the unique need is, the group is ready to assist.
Residential and Education Programs
MiraVia in Belmont and Charlotte – MiraVia offers temporary housing on the Belmont Abbey campus for pregnant college students while assisting them academically and emotionally. MiraVia also has an outreach center on Tyvola where expecting moms can receive supplies and attend support groups. Visit https://miravia.org/.
Room At The Inn in the Triad – Room at the Inn provides homeless pregnant mothers temporary housing, spiritual direction, education programs, aftercare support and more. Visit https://roominn.org/.
Counseling and advocacy
Catholic Charities – Catholic Charities provides free counseling and refers expecting parents to places that can help. Contact 704-370-3262 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
To keep up to date on pro-life legislation and get tools to contact representatives, sign up at www.respectlife.org/prayer-and-action.
