CHICAGO – Conservative, pro-life Republicans in Illinois are being scolded all the time in online discussions by not-so-conservative party leadership for being stubborn and "one-issue" voters. They'll be just a little more frustrated with pro-lifers after next week's emphasis on Chicago's annual March for Life, it appears.
The March for Life Chicago leadership is speaking out about a bill Republican Governor Bruce Rauner signed into law forcing Illinois taxpayers to fund abortions for low-income women and state employees.
A lawsuit to stop the law that went into effect January 1st is being appealed to higher courts.
On behalf of the 6,000+ pro-life advocates expected to fill Chicago’s Loop for the January 14 event, March for Life Chicago Board of Directors President Dawn Fitzpatrick expressed dismay over the law forcing Illinois state taxpayers to pay for tens of thousands of abortions in the New Year.
“The March for Life Chicago expects lawmakers to respect all life and to follow the rules they themselves designed, not break them on the backs of the unborn,” Fitzpatrick said in a statement, focusing on the allegations that the bill never went through the required legislative steps to become law.
“All who will attend the March for Life Chicago, the Board of Directors, and our supporters from across the business and religious community, are vehemently opposed to this horrific law," she said. "We are appalled that Governor Rauner went against his word and his promise to veto this bill.”
Fitzpatrick continued, “It makes no sense that the Illinois General Assembly should support this. Not only will this law facilitate the death of thousands of additional babies in Illinois, but now we are all forced to pay for these abortions out of our taxes. This is an utterly heinous violation of our consciences, which tell us that every life is sacred.”
“The Thomas More Society, one of our March for Life Chicago sponsors, has filed a lawsuit against Illinois state officials over the improper procedures, lack of budgeted monies, and mandated taxpayer funding of abortion brought about by HB 40,” added Fitzpatrick. “We at the March for Life Chicago applaud their work on behalf of life.”
Fitzpatrick remains optimistic, declaring, “Despite the notorious image that HB 40 gives Illinois, we are heartened by the support shown for the March for Life Chicago by surrounding states, from which we expect hundreds of participants.”
The 2018 March for Life Chicago is Sunday, January 14, 2018, beginning on Chicago’s Federal Plaza at 2 p.m. (Central). Archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, and the Chicago Bears’ co-owner Pat McCaskey are among the featured speakers at the annual event to proclaim the sanctity of human life and call for an end to abortion.
