On January 24, under beautiful San Francisco skies, tens of thousands of pro-lifers of every age and race — religious and secular — came from all over the United States to stand for women and children at the 22nd Annual Walk for Life West Coast.
The day-long event began at 9:30 AM with the Walk for Life Mass at an overflowing St. Mary’s Cathedral, celebrated by San Francisco’s Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, who was joined by six other Catholic bishops.
The Walk rally began at 12:30 PM at the city’s Civic Center Plaza, with an invocation given by the Right Reverend Vasily, Bishop of San Francisco and the West of the Orthodox Church in America. Bishop Vasily, introduced by Archbishop Cordileone, spoke of the “solidarity of all Christians when we stand for truth and affirm all life.”
The first speaker was ordained pastor and Executive Director of Life Services, Glendie Loranger. She shared the story of her abuse, abortions, redemption, and healing, and said that “what most people don’t understand about abortion is that it is a perfect hiding place for abusers and traffickers.”
She was followed by human rights activist and film producer Jason Jones, who echoed Bishop Vasily’s words by paraphrasing St. Pope John Paul II: “The body of Christ today is breathing with both lungs when protecting the unborn child in the womb.”
He described the repeal of Roe v. Wade as “a modest first step” into a culture of life, but emphasized that it was not nearly enough. More work must be done, he said, because “we want to leave our descendants a civilization of love.”
Walk co-chair Eva Muntean then introduced Abortion Pill Reversal advocate Elizabeth Barrett, telling the crowd that 63% of abortions in 2023 were via the abortion pill.
Barrett shared her story of taking the abortion pill and immediately regretting it. She and the father quickly found an abortion pill reversal doctor online who prescribed progesterone.
Barrett then introduced her family, including her daughter Evelyn, whose life was saved by the abortion pill reversal procedure.
Following the rally, participants marched down Market Street to Embarcadero Plaza, filling the street for more than a mile. Approximately 90 people protested the Walk across the street from the plaza, and a few individual protesters tried to obstruct the march, but the San Francisco Police Department quickly cleared the path.
Rally co-chair Eva Muntean said, “After 22 years I still find it hard to believe how blessed we are. When I see the enormous crowd that we had today — especially so many young people standing up with love and hope for women and children — I am filled with gratitude and hope. You can’t come to the Walk without seeing the promise of a better world!”
By Eva Muntean for LifeNews
Thank you for posting this. I’m always encouraged by the number of people, especially young people and young families, who attend (as also happens at the March for Life in Washington DC). Both are ignored by almost all news media. If a fraction of the number here turned out to protest almost anything else, the news media would give it coverage. I’ve observed how the police presence has changed since the first Walk, when the police officers lined up equally for walkers and counter-protesters. It didn’t take long before a much smaller number lined the streets for the walkers, even taking off their riot helmets, while many were assigned to keep the relatively miniscule number of pro-abortion protesters from disrupting the walk or being violent. The cops could see that families with babies in strollers and children wanting their photos taken with the horse mounted officers were not the threat. The walkers didn’t even throw their trash on the streets or leave it when picnicking at the end of the walk. And, they thanked the police officers for being there. One of our godchildren even distributed clear plastic bags with needed items to the homeless along the walk route! God bless them all. They encourage and inspire others and are a witness to those in the city who see them.
I too want to thank you for posting this story on a wonderful initiative to support the unborn of America. End Abortion Now! Adoption is the option.
Was Fr. Joe Pedigo there? He’s a big social justice activist who sometimes is a Catholic priest. I read that he has a secular job now; doesn’t even work as a priest anymore.
You are right: “Fr.” Jon Pedigo no longer has a priestly assignment. He is now full-time executive director of a lib agitating organization.
https://www.kqed.org/news/12066314/as-immigration-enforcement-escalates-how-one-south-bay-priest-is-pushing-back
You would never find him at a pro-life rally because he’s a Democrat agitator. You will find him trying to undermine and circumvent our nation’s immigration laws and their enforcement. The kind of man with a questionable vocation.
Why does Bishop Cantu allow that? A priest is supposed to be a parish pastor, seeing to people’s spiritual needs and dispensing the sacraments, not a secular community activist involved in political issues.
Although not listed on their bulletin, the Diocese of San Jose shows Rev. Pedigo and his rainbow stole assigned to St. Lucy Church in Campbell, in what has been described as “the most gay friendly diocese in the US.” I’ve never seen him at the Walk for Life West Coast. Has anyone reading here seen him there?
Thank you for the above post. Rev. Pedigo says publicly:
“As a priest, we believe in the spiritual dimension of sacramental life, meaning that that it’s the divine is you disclose in ordinary, everyday things that we do. The the divine emerges from the hearts of the people. … my work now is really focused on building power. ”
The interviewer stated, “I’m getting the sense that in some ways you found your role as a priest a bit limiting.” To which he replied, “Very limiting. I think there’s there’s very limiting. I think that some would say, No, that’s what you do as a priest. It’s all you and that is what is fully expected of you. For me, I found it I needed more than the sacramental and the pastoral dimension… there has to be something more to helping people make real decisions, to to to move them from, you know, isolation, desperation, and fear into realizing their own potential, their inner potential. … Believing that there is a divine spark in every human being, believing in the power of the divine to shape, change, and transform the person and society, knowing that with the divine, with God, all things are possible.”
I think that gives us insight into his view of the priesthood. (If you think I took things out of context, please read the interview.) It seems Rev. Pedigo misunderstands his vocation as a priest.
Priests are not social workers in Roman collars. Sacraments and Word are primary.
Why?, Why does Bishop Cantu continue to have an abortion-promoting gender-confusing president at the only diocesan high school?
Pray for him. He, like all of us, will be accountable for his actions (and inaction).
At Vatican II, it was decided that Catholic clergy and laity may make their own decisions — and no longer be “bossed” and “told what to do” in the Church. That is a big deal among post-Conciliar prelates and popes. I have detested it from Day One– because it is so wrong. Irresponsible, dishonest– and extremely sinful. No moral conscience. Try telling that to your bishop– he won’t care. He will just laugh and say, “That’s Vatican II.”
You can easily attend any Mass or any event, that your Bishop is involved in– and stand in line, maybe with your spouse (if married) and greet him, afterwards. You can then tell him a big concern of yours, and see what he might say. Let’s say, you are concerned about a teacher of your son or daughter, at the Catholic high school, who tells the class that she is a lesbian who plans to “marry” another woman– and volunteers with abortions at Planned Parenthood, on weekends. Would the Bishop be willing to talk further about this problem? Maybe with a group of concerned parents? What does he say?
Dear “Reply to why,”
The Second Vatican Council does not teach that. Have you read the documents? Both as a layman and when ordained 15 years ago (long after the Council), it was clear that I was not to simply make my own decisions. In fact, no disciple of Jesus is “free” to do that. We are not a “make it up as you go” religion. God revealed HImself fully in Jesus Christ. Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition must be followed, if one wants to be a follower of Jesus. I encourage you to read the Vatican II documents, starting with the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium) and the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum). You’ll see that God is still God, we are not. And, the Church is still the Church, with Christ as Head, handed down to us through the Apostles and bishops since it began. That’s why we’re still around, even in spite of times of massive defection from the Faith on the part of both clergy and laity. I hope that helps.
The Council Fathers actually twisted psssages from
Dignitatis Humanae” and “Gaudium et Spes,” in this case– about making your own decisions and following your own conscience– “primacy of conscience.” Of course– your conscience must be properly formed– but that point was disregarded, for an individual’s “freedom of conscience.” There was a big shift in handling of Church authority. Strict “rule-following” was discarded. For example– a Jesuit superior would now “make his own decisions” on his school– and the diocesan bishop must not “boss him.” The pastor of a parish may hire an actively gay man— and that is “his decision”– the diocesan bishop must not “boss him.” Very few excommunications. Love and respect for all, and their decisions, according to each individual’s conscience. “Catholic” lawnakers like Nancy Pelosi –or her clerical friends– will likewise tell you, “That’s Vatican II.” Big horse-laugh!
I think your Eastern Catholic church may be more strict, and may revere its ancient, sacred beliefs and traditions a lot more than the Latin Rite Church. For example– I have never heard of a bunch of “women’s libbers” in Eastern Catholic or Orthodox churches making demands, and getting their way. I have never heard of decisions to “wreck-o-vate” (remodel) your churches, to “update” them. I have never heard of your clergy or laity marching for “gay marriage” or “abortion rights.” I have never heard of an active gay or lesbian first grade teacher– or high school teacher– in a Byzantine Rite family school. The Latin Rite Church is corrupt.
Mamy years ago, I asked a question of Fr. Benedict Groeschel, about his speaking schedule. I had no idea what I was getting into. I was the only one there. He began a very long talk– very shocking!– about his “woes”– as he had just gotten kicked out of St. Joseph’s Seminary– a premier seminary for the New York Archdiocese. Fr. Groeschel said they did not like him to teach the orthodox, authentic Catholic Faith. I felt so badly for him. And he did not even know me. He then told me a long story, about all the Catholic seminaries and universities he had gotten kicked out of. I had also previously talked to others just like him, with the same fate, since Vatican II. He is now gone, like many others, with the same unfair, tragic fate.
I’m not saying things from the Second Vatican Council weren’t taken out of context and twisted, with disastrous results. I’m simply encouraging people to read the actual documents of the Second Vatican Council, starting with the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium) and the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum). People across the ecclesial spectrum can share their opinions about the Council’s documents. Yet, it’s more helpful and honest to see what was really taught than it is to read a blurb from James Martin S.J. or Taylor Marshall or someone here about what they think the Council meant. No more “spirit of Vatican II” rhetoric. Let’s talk about what the Council documents actually said, in the context of each document and the other Council documents (and even previous ecumenical Councils). That’s not easy or simple enough for internet posts, yet it is necessary.
Post hoc ergo propter hoc is a common logical fallacy. Just because the Church spiraled into crisis after the Council does not mean that that disaster was caused by the documents produced at the Council. America and the Western world were undergoing sexual and cultural revolutions, and many Catholics, including clergy, went along with it. That’s why Pope Benedict (even before he was pope) warned us of the “dictatorship of relativism.” The fundamental issue is fidelity to Christ and His teachings.
Most people have read those documents many times. The problem is that Church leadership simply has their own ways — and there is nothing that anyone can do about it. Read all you want. And read the Bible and Catechism, too. How much of what you read is actually practiced? One time, long ago, a Bishop (now deceased) smiled at me, when I complained about something very serious, at the SF Cathedral. He said, “now, that’s Vatican II. Don’t you have a particular debate with the Church on something? You have the freedom to do as your conscience tells you. Enjoy it!”
I replied that such awful ideas were not at all “enjoyable.” The Church has “gone nuts.”
The final sentence in your comment of Jan. 30 at 10:08pm, is what I have always believed and stood by: . “The fundamental issue is fidelitty to Christ and His teachings.” Christ calls us always to our responsibility to stand by Him, faithfully, come what may. Nothing else matters. And He stands faithfully by us, always, no matter what, to life’s end– and beyond. We belong to Him.
To the reader who posted, “Most people have read those documents many times,” that simply is not true. It’s now again required at St. Patrick’s Seminary, but for years, men were ordained to the priesthood who had not read them. How are they to serve in a post-Vatican II Church without knowing what the Council documents teach? Have you read all the Council documents (at least the major ones)? If so, I commend you. I, too, read them while in graduate school at a truly Catholic university. Ignorance of the Council documents is why so many, including some clergy, get away with misleading people “in the spirit of Vatican II.” The “spirit” of Vatican does not contradict the actual Council. This is what Pope Saint John Paul and Pope Benedict frequently taught and they were at the Council.
So, I encourage those who have not read the major Council documents, specifically the two I recommend they start with, to do so.
Thank you for posting this article of the most positive protest of the most heinious human rights abuse. There is such a great sense of hope, joy, and love among these protesters. They will stop abortion and have already begun to bring love and life into this dark world. Thank you to all the walkers and organizers. Truely a witness of Love!
Some priests and prelates– even cradle Catholics– may be superficial about their Faith — and may view it more in cultural terms– not necessarily as very serious, even something to die for. These types of Churchmen may enjoy intellectually collecting lots of degrees– even Ph.D.’s– or the equivalent– in their field. But beyond that– their religion may not be as serious to them. They may be more interested in the trends of the day, and what their parishioners are doing.
Tragically, it seems that may be true in too many cases.