ST. GEORGE – The Dixie Republican Forum has been invited to participate in pro-life events, Jan. 22, marking the anniversary of the legalization of abortion in the U.S. with the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade.
On Jan. 22, from 10 a.m. to noon, a vigil will be held on the sidewalk outside of the St. George Planned Parenthood Office, at 600 S. Bluff Street in St. George. Participants may bring their own sign or use a sign provided by the organizers.
That evening there will be a special fundraising concert by Irish singer, David Parkes, at Kuzy Hall, next to the Catholic Church in St. George. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. and close promptly at 7 p.m. for the concert. The concert is free, but donations are encouraged, as all proceeds will be used to purchase a sonogram machine that will be used to help crisis pregnancy mothers with their pregnancies. Seating is limited and attendance is subject to availability.
About David Parkes
Several years ago, David Parkes was a man with everything to live for – a young family, star professional footballer, and standing on the brink of a promising pop music career. But he was diagnosed with severe Crohn’s disease and he was staring death in the face. After 10 major operations, he was informed by his medical team that there was nothing more they could do for him.
David faced not only a hopeless future, but severe financial problems as well. According to his publicity bio, after a fundraising event run by his friends, an invitation was issued to David and his wife Anne to travel to Medjugorje, a tiny village in the mountains of the former Yugoslavia where they had spent their honeymoon. Medjugorje had become a pilgrimage destination for many since 1981, when two young Croatian girls, and others after them, saw apparitions of a “Lady on the hill,” apprehended by Catholics as the Holy Mother of God, bringing daily messages of peace and healing, both spiritual and physical.
It was thought this would be David’s last trip before the disease, and death, overtook him. While there, David received a miraculous healing and then decided to dedicate his life witnessing to the great healing power of God.
Rita Silvestri, a resident of St. George and member of the St. George Catholic Church, came to know Parkes, she said, during one of her many visits to Medjugorje. Impressed with his singing and testimony, Silvestri wrote of him in her book, “The World Needs Medjugorje,” published in 2012. She reached out to him and asked him to come to St. George to give the benefit concert. He agreed, she said, on the condition that every penny earned from the concert go to pro-life causes. Silvestri will also offer her book for sale at the concert, with all gross sales proceeds also going to national and international pro-life organizations.
Roe v. Wade
In 1973, the Supreme Court issued its 7-2 decision in Roe v. Wade, finding a state law that banned abortions, except to save the life of the mother, was unconstitutional. Among other things, the court held that the state statute violated the woman’s right to privacy – at least during the first trimester of pregnancy. It further held the states have an interest and could regulate aspects of abortions during the second trimester for the protection of the mother’s health; and, in the third trimester, upon “viability” of the fetus, it could regulate or deny abortion except in cases where the mother’s health was at risk.
The law established by Roe v. Wade has been expanded and tested and is far from settled in the minds of its opponents. Today, the decision remains the subject of strident debate from advocates on both sides of the abortion issue and those in the nation’s legal community where some maintain the decision was activist and historically unfounded – or, as dissenting Justice Byron White described it, “an exercise of raw judicial power.”
St. George News Editor-in-Chief Joyce Kuzmanic contributed to this report.
Event details and ticket information
- Pro-life events on Jan. 22:
- 10 a.m. to noon | Vigil held on the sidewalk of the St. George Planned Parenthood Office, at 600 S. Bluff Street in St. George
- 7 p.m. | David Parkes Concert at Kuzy Hall, next to the Catholic Church in St. George
- For free David Parkes concert tickets, call Rita Silvestri at 652-2048, 668-5022, or 632-6771.
Related posts
- Demonstrators converge before Planned Parenthood; STGnews videocast
- Perspectives: Choice lies in the bedroom, not at pregnancy; common sense morality
- Planned Parenthood: Sexual Education Before Abortion as STDs On the Rise
- Abortion in Utah Legal but Availability Limited, Especially in Southern Utah
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its ironic how the “pro life” crowd are the ones most likely to not support assistance programs to low income single parents…
that’s just asinine…what exactly is right across from the Catholic Church? Oh that’s right the Care and Share. Do they have a Catholic thriftstore there, too? Yep. Just who are the Knights of Columbus? I bet you don’t know, but wikipedia does…
The catholics and other religious need to quit trying to force their ideology on the rest of us. At least you guys got a new pope, which was a big improvement…
These people are INSANE. regardless of if you are pro life or choice YOU CANT GET AN ABORTION AT THIS PLANNED PARENTHOOD, you cant get one ANYWHERE in St.george, all they are doing is deterring young girls seeking affordable medical assistance from planned parenthood.
Interesting that I, as a defender of innocent babies would be accused of not caring for the poor and the downcast. Two years ago, my husband and I took a homeless man from Care and Share into our home. We provided him with warmth and comfort, fed him, clothed him and got him medical care. He was Bi-Polar and needed his SSRIs to function. We helped him find a job and when he did, we put him on a bus and sent him to the city where the job was located with plenty of money in the pockets of his new clothes to keep him in food until his first paycheck came in.We provided him with a phone, before the government did and we called him weekly to check on him at the motel we paid for with our credit card. He has never called us, but that is ok. We did this because he was like a son to us and he is one of God’s children. I keep warm clothes and blankets in my car for those suffering from the cold. Oh, by the way we rescue animals too and provide medical help for them as well. I am a Catholic and blessed to be one. What have you done lately aasdfgh? Just so you know, our taxes go to help those out there getting free phones and buying cigaretts with government handouts. God bless you.
Your not a defender of innocent babies, this is about busybody control freaks! I’m sure you wouldn’t mind strangers telling you what you can and can’t do with your body, based on some whacked out belief of a false idol!
Yes, Ken, she is a defender of innocent babies. Your political rant isn’t ever going to change reality.
Last I checked no one can buy cigarettes with food stamps. My point proven…
But in Colorado you can buy marijuana with your EBT (same as food stamps) card. Hey in Colorado you can get high at the taxpayers expense.
nope, wrong
I will admit that I am wrong. Marijuana cannot be bought with EBT cards in Colorado…YET. But it has been proposed by the Democratic state legislature and is being considered now. Why should the taxpayers of that state be required to support an individuals habit of using marijuana? Just as I am against federally subsided abortions…which there are currently many of. Maybe the local Planned Parenthood facility does not perform abortions, but many in other areas of the nation do.
I said mostly. Yes there are exceptions, but I was stating a fact. The ‘pro life’ folks motto should be “love the fetus, hate the child”.
I cannot understand how those liberals who spout their love of abortion and the right for women to do with their body what they want, are the same liberals who are anti-second amendment (anti-gun) and demand others give up their guns, and claim that guns are only for killing….are the same ones who see no problem with the wanton killing of innocent infants in their mothers womb (and at times…out of their mothers womb).
Such rampant hypocrisy and, above all, ignorance that is displayed by these bleeding heart liberals. Where is their love of children?? Where is their compassion for the sanctity of life???….especially innocent life? They have none!! Pure evil and hypocrisy in its grandest form.
Fact is it’s none of your business what people do with their pregnancies. If a person is gonna go to hell for getting an abortion then that’s their ‘cross to bear’ then isn’t it. I know people’s religious ideals lead them to think they need to dictate and interfere in other’s lives. luckily we have law’s that protect them from that.
As far as gun control, I’d like to see it so that a known mental case couldn’t go into the local walmart and buy a military grade m16 and loads of ammo and then run down to the local elementary school and blast up a bunch of innocents. But apparently the gun lobby is too strong, so we can’t have that.
Can you even define what a “liberal” is???
Typical clueless liberal. NO ONE can go into “the local walmart and buy a military grade m16”. And apparently the abortion lobby “is too strong”, to give a care about killing infants, “so we can’t have that”. So, bub….do you advocate killing infants?? Thought so.
ar15 is just an m16 w/o full auto so it’s the same… I hate abortion but if u ever go to a place like India where overpopulation is so bad that humanity is just viewed as a product to be used and discarded u will see that it’s necessary.
You pro-life kooks need to mind your own business instead of everyone else’s business.
Why? Aren’t you proud of being infant killers? And people killing infants are not classified as “kooks”? Ok…you are not kooks. You are pure evil murderers!! So, Pam S., how many children have you aborted?
I think DoubleTap might be a craigslist troll…
Typical liberal response….cannot or won’t make a valid argument. So bub resorts to name-calling. Nothing new…..
I have to laugh at someone whose only recourse is to start everything out with liberal this and liberal that! If life were only so easy but reality is totally different. Why do you want the government to tell women what to do with their body but not tell you what to do with your guns? I like guns and own plenty, but freedom shouldn’t be regulated by governments. You want government regulation when it fits neatly into your agenda and not someone elses. Take a chill pill and enjoy life!!
Doubletap might be a closeted liberal o_O
Four.
This makes me somewhat upset. Im not pointing fingers at you though, really I think its everyone else that is responsible.