Source link : https://love-europe.com/2024/10/29/hungary/cne-news/
After the violence erupted in Cologne last year, 2024 became more peaceful for the nation’s Marsch für das Leben (March for Life). So far, March for Life has come to Berlin and Cologne and will expand to Munich next year.
Alexandra Linder, who is chairwoman of the pro-life organisation Bundesverband Lebensrecht (Federal Association of Right to Life), says that the police in the Cologne March for Life were more prepared this year. Although pro-abortion activists occupied one of the key bridges in Cologne, the event was still well-attended, with thousands of people standing and chanting for life. Linder says that 8000 people attended those in Berlin and Cologne. The next March for Life in Berlin and Cologne is 20 September 2025. Another March for Life, organised by a different organisation, will occur in Munich in May of next year.
The first marches in Berlin were planned as a sort of funeral procession. They wore black clothes and carried white crosses that remembered those lost to abortion or assisted suicide. The pro-life events were often faced with aggression from counter-protesters. Linder recounts that some “aggressive anti-lifers” would often shout at them and engage in physical acts of hostility.
The aggressions against the “1000-cross-march” and the march for life were always high and dangerous until the police changed their strategy some years ago to avoid more violence. Some people tried to occupy the stage in Berlin during the journey blessing after the march, and others tried to block the march and put a possibly dangerous liquid on the street, she says.
Now, Linder says that the events have transformed into a pro-life celebration – many colours are worn along with pictures of families, pro-life statements and music. There are still crosses to commemorate the unborn, but they are now placed at the front of the stage. After the event, bishops and pastors offer a blessing and a prayer from the stage. While the events are kept politically and religiously neutral, many who attend represent various Christian denominations.
Outside of the marches, Bundesverband Lebensrecht also organises conferences and holds lectures on the ethical implications of abortion and assisted suicide. They have featured medical professionals and bioethical experts who discuss widely debated topics such as prenatal blood tests and surrogacy. In addition to holding educational events, the members of the association, pro-life organisations, and foundations offer financial support to families and assistance through crisis pregnancy helplines.
“The future is pro-life – for our children, grandchildren, and grandparents,” she says.
On 21 September 2024, Hungary held its March for Life campaign. More than 3,000 attended the event called Everybody’s Birthday, which included a large birthday cake and singing Hungary’s Happy Birthday song. Several pro-life organisations also joined hands to organise the march.
Some may wonder – why hold a birthday party at a pro-life march? Edit: Frivaldszky, head of the organisation Együtt az Életért Egyesület Together for Life, explains that everyone has a birthday. That is important, she says, as birthdays commemorate the gift of life. Together for Life has mobilised young people to speak out on pro-life issues and has collected signatures for petitions. Frivaldszky, a devout Catholic, said she has worked on several pro-life projects and organisations for several years.
Throughout her experiences, she has seen many young people get involved in spreading the pro-life message. Hungary’s Youth for Life initiative provides training sessions for young people who want to encourage others to choose life in their lives. “Now we can see the fruits in the new generation,” Frivaldszky says.
Although Hungary’s government has many politicians who have voted for pro-life policies, the debate surrounding the end of life remains ongoing. Frivaldszky says that more attention is needed to discuss palliative care and its existence. But as for now, Together for Life remains focused on helping women in need and on talking about loss, whether that is during pregnancy or after an abortion.
Frivaldszky also mentions that confronting the realities of abortion and shifting more attention to the biological processes of conception is also important for the future. “If the focus is on losing a child, a person is more willing to talk about it,” she says.
Marches for life Central Europe
Poland:
What: Narodowy Marsz Życia National March for Life
Where: Warsaw
Organiser: Fundacja św. Benedykta (The St. Benedict Foundation) and co-organiser, Koalicja dla Życia i Rodziny (Coalition for Life and Family)
When: April
Marching since: 2023
What: Marsze dla Życia i Rodziny or National March for Life and Family
Where: Warsaw and over 150 additional cities
Organiser: Fundacja Centrum Życia i Rodziny or Life and Family Centre Foundation
When: June or September
Marching since: 2006
Hungary:
What: Mindenki Születésnapja séta
or March for Everyone To Have a Birthday
Where: Budapest
Organiser: Several pro-life organisations, including Together for Life (Együtt az Életért Egyesület)
When: September
Marching since: 2024
Germany:
What: Marsch für das Leben March for Life
Where: Three cities: Cologne, Berlin, and Munich
Organiser: Stimme der Stillen e.V.- Voice of the Silent
When: Berlin and Cologne- September
Munich- May
Marching since: 2002, in Munich since 2020
Switzerland:
What: Marsch fürs Läbe March for Life
Where: Zurich
Organiser: Marsch fürs Läbe has its own association and organising committee
When: Usually in September
Marching since: 2010
Austria:
What: Marsch fürs Leben or March for Life
Where: Vienna
Organiser: Marsch fürs Leben has its own organising committee.
When: October
Marching since: 2011
Czechia:
What: Pochod pro život or March for Life
Where: Prague
Organiser: Hnutí pro život- Movement for Life
When: April
Marching since: 2001
Slovakia:
What: Národný pochod za život or National March for Life
Where: Košice (occasionally also in Bratislava)
Organiser: Various pro-life organisations that are affiliated with the Conference of Bishops of Slovakia
When: September
Marching since: 2013
Slovenia:
What: Pohod za življenje or March for Life
Where: Three cities: Ljubljana, Koper, and Maribor
Organiser: ZAVOD MREŽA ZA ŽIVLJENJE IN ENAKOPRAVNOST or Institute of the Network for Life and Equality
When: October
Marching since: 2020
Feel free to let us know if some data need to be corrected or added. This overview is open for change.
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Publish date : 2024-10-29 07:54:00
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The post CNE.news first appeared on Love Europe.
Author : love-europe
Publish date : 2024-10-29 08:24:22
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