50-plus gather to support life, Petition gathers signatures to support sanctuary county for the unborn

WORLAND - About 50 people gathered at the first Celebration of Life rally and March for Life in Worland.

Nationally a March for Life has been held every year since 1974, one year after the historic U.S. Supreme Court decision of Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion.

According to the March for Life website, "The March for Life began in Washington, D.C. as a small demonstration in direct response to the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Taking place every year since 1974, the March for Life rapidly grew to be the largest pro-life event in the world. This peaceful gathering of hundreds of thousands is a powerful witness to the truth concerning the greatest human rights violation of our time, legalized abortion on demand.

"The March for Life was originally founded by Nellie Gray and other pro-life advocates in opposition to the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case decision. The original March for Life was held on the 1-year anniversary of Roe v. Wade, January 22, 1974."

Now, the March is held on the Friday closest to the anniversary to stand up for the 61 million lives lost since Roe. The national March for Life was on Friday.

Worland's March and Celebration of Life, organized by the Knights of Columbus, was on the actual anniversary of the Supreme Court decision, Saturday, Jan. 22, starting at Pioneer Square.

SANCTUARY

Dr. Amber Moss spoke as a mother of a four, a follower of Christ and a believer in the science that has shown that life begins at conception.

Moss said so often law makers compromise on legislation and that leads to decisions on when and where abortions are made.

However, she said, 43 communities across the country have become sanctuary cities for the unborn, which means that abortions are prohibited in those communities.

She said Lubbock, Texas, was one of the first sanctuary cities for the unborn. The city was sued by Planned Parenthood and the city prevailed.

"We can do this in Worland. It's tempting to think this is not our problem," Moss said, but noted that in 2017, 170 abortions took place in Wyoming with hundreds more taking place across state lines.

Moss said, "For the Sanctuary Cities that have already passed ordinances, most city councils have voted 'yes' for the ordinance. Lubbock, Texas, city council voted 'no' for the ordinance but that led to the ordinance being placed on a ballot. The citizens then voted 'yes' on the ballot and the ordinance passed."

She said she started a petition to gather at least 500 signatures to present to the county commissioners and council members and make "Washakie County a safe place for the unborn."

Municipal councils pass ordinances and according to Wyoming State Statute 22-23-1001, "An incorporated city or town having a commission form of government may propose a municipal ordinance by an initiative petition signed by 10% of the qualified electors registered in the city or town and filed with the municipal clerk. The petition shall contain the proposed ordinance, the signatures and residence addresses of electors signing the petition, and the date of signing the petition. A petition proposing an ordinance must be submitted to the municipal clerk within 10 months of the date of the first signature supporting the petition."

After the clerk verifies the signatures, it is then "certified to the governing body." Per the statute the council then has 20 days to adopt the ordinance or submit it to a vote of the people within 60 days.

County board of commission do not pass ordinances. They can pass a resolution.

PRO-LIFE

Several speakers spoke in favor of life, specifically life at conception. The rally was followed by a march around the block where the city hall is located. There was a luncheon and a movie at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church following the march.

Kathy Forck, 40 Days for Life campaign director in Columbia, Missouri, was the emcee of the event. She is also the program manager for Sidewalk Advocates. She asked those gathered to pray for a change and pray for Roe vs. Wade to be overturned in a case the U.S. Supreme Court is slated to hear in June. She said the Court could throw out Roe vs. Wade and let each state decide on their own whether or not to legalize abortion.

"I know Wyoming will say no way," Forck said.

She added that people in the meantime can pray, fast and attend or organize vigils like the one on Saturday.

Forck said prayer works, noting the 40 Days for Life group in Missouri prays outside Planned Parenthood and abortion clinics. In 2009 there were 11,000 abortions performed in Missouri. In 2020 there were 39 across that state.

"Support life with action. Every woman needs to know she has the support of everyone of us," Forck said.

She said it is important that women know the resources available, such as the Serenity Pregnancy Centers in Cody and Powell. According to the Serenity website, they are a "Christ-centered ministry which exists to provide alternatives to abortion, offer post abortion support, and empower mothers and fathers in crisis pregnancies to value and choose life in all circumstances."

"Every human life is a gift of the almighty God and it is worth the sacrifice to protect life," Forck said.

She noted that when her own mother was pregnant with her, she was spotting blood and went to the doctor. The doctor told her mother he was going to "remove some tissue" to which her mother told him no.

Forck concluded her remarks telling those in attendance to create a culture of life in Washakie County.

Regarding resources, Katie Schmeltzer spoke about Eden's Gift, a program named for Eden Rose Lockard, daughter of Tyler and Molly Lockard. Schmeltzer said, "Though Eden's time with us, here on earth, was only a few precious hours, the impact and value of her life is eternal and we wanted to honor and acknowledge her memory and her family's commitment to God-given life as we named this ministry."

Eden's Gift "gives opportunities for people who are pro-life to put hands and feet to their convictions – to make a tangible difference in the lives of those facing hard choices. Eden's Gift currently provides baby showers for those couples who have chosen life and we also have given necessary baby items to couples as well."

Schmeltzer said they have hosted three or four baby showers already for families who have "chosen life but who don't necessarily have a lot of resources or support.

"We are excited to begin expanding the ministry in the near future by providing health care workers with equipment such as ultrasounds to help couples see the life they can choose."

She said the equipment, whether it is portable ultrasounds or other equipment physicians needs, becomes the physician's personal equipment.

Schmeltzer said for families who might not want an actual baby shower they are working on developing "starter packs" that can be provided to those families.

Eden's Gift is a ministry of the Crosspoint Baptist Church Women's Ministry. Anyone wanting more information or to donate can contact Crosspoint at 347-4442.

She told her own story about her son David, now 13 with Down's Syndrome, and the fact that she and her husband Nate "chose life for David."

A prenatal diagnosis for Down's Syndrome for some means a justifiable and rational reason to end a pregnancy, she said.

The prenatal diagnosis has led to a high percentage (over 80% in most studies) of abortions.

She added, "The reality is that God chose life for David and we simply agreed with that fact and acted out of the deep gratitude of our own salvation, bought with the blood of our Lord Christ Jesus who chose life for us that day on the cross 2,000 years ago."