FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2020
MEDIA ADVISORY:
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, Diocese of Arlington, and Parishioners from Across the Diocese to Participate in Second Annual Virginia March for Life
Thousands of Pro-life Virginians to Take Stand for Life, Begin Day with Mass
ARLINGTON, Va. - This Thursday, February 13, 2020, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, Diocese of Arlington, and countless parishioners from across the Diocese are traveling to Richmond to take a stand for life. This is the Commonwealth's second annual Virginia March for Life, with last year's drawing more than 6,000 participants. The event takes place less than one month after the national March for Life in Washington, D.C., the largest pro-life event in the world. Bishop Burbidge will offer the invocation at the beginning of the rally.
Extensive participation in the Virginia March for Life from the Diocese of Arlington includes many buses from parishes and Catholic high schools, including one for public school students that is departing from Holy Family Catholic Church in Woodbridge, VA.
“The Virginia March for Life demonstrates the unwavering commitment of those who value the sacredness of all human life, from conception to natural death. I am proud that Catholics from throughout the Diocese will come and make their voices heard,” said Bishop Burbidge. “Sadly, this march takes place just weeks after a majority of the Commonwealth's elected leaders voted to remove basic health and safety regulations that have been protecting Virginia's women and unborn children for decades. These injustices embolden our commitment and zeal to stand up for the unborn and for women in need of help. As we join in prayer, peaceful public witness, and advocacy with our legislators, our hope is that all hearts and minds will embrace the beauty and value of each human life.”
Virginia March for Life Events
Thursday, February 13, 2020
9:15 a.m.
Mass concelebrated by Virginia's two Catholic Bishops, the Most Rev. Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, and the Most Rev. Barry C. Knestout, Bishop of Richmond, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center
10:30 a.m.
Visit your Virginia General Assembly member offices The Virginia Catholic Conference will be providing talking points.
11:45 a.m.
Rally at State Capitol
12:45 p.m.
March for Life
On January 29, 2020, Bishop Burbidge and Bishop Knestout issued a statement on the passage of companion abortion bills by the Virginia House of Delegates (HB 980) and the Virginia Senate (SB 733) saying,
We are saddened and deeply disappointed that a majority of Virginia's elected leaders have chosen to pass bills that strip Virginia law of many longstanding provisions that protect unborn children and the health and safety of women. A just society respects life from the moment of conception until natural death, and we continue to call upon the Virginia General Assembly to reject any legislation that increases abortion access… As the Senate now takes up consideration of HB 980 and the House takes up consideration of SB 733, the Virginia Catholic Conference urges pro-life Virginians to continue to voice their strong opposition to these bills. Voices of truth must be heard by our elected officials.
The full text of the statement is here.
The Virginia March for Life is sponsored by the national March for Life Education and Defense Fund, the Virginia Catholic Conference, the Family Foundation of Virginia, and the Virginia Society for Human Life. For more information on the Virginia March for Life, visit here.
For information on maternity support and services in the Diocese of Arlington, visit the Catholic Diocese of Arlington's website.
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The Catholic Diocese of Arlington was established on August 13, 1974, and is home to 70 parishes and more than 460,000 Catholics. There are currently 276 priests serving in the Diocese and 49 seminarians discerning a priestly vocation. The Diocese has 37 parish (K-8) schools, four diocesan high schools, four independent Catholic schools and five free-standing (not connected with a parish school) pre-schools, serving more than 17,000 students.
Geographically, the Diocese includes the seven cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Winchester and the 21 counties of Arlington, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, King George, Lancaster, Loudoun, Madison, Northumberland, Orange, Page, Prince William, Rappahannock, Richmond, Shenandoah, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Warren and Westmoreland.
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