17th annual local Life Chain
will be Oct. 1
Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published September 22, 2006
Metro Area For the 17th straight year, people from across the nation will line busy roads, peacefully display signs, and hold a silent, prayerful vigil to support a fetus's right to live.
The event, called the National Life Chain, started in 1987 with a small community near Sacramento, Calif., and has since spread across the nation with participation from churches and pro-life groups. It has grown popular among Catholic communities in the Archdiocese of Detroit.
This year, the Life Chain is scheduled for Oct. 1, marking the beginning of October, which has become known as Respect Life Month.
Each year, more than 1,000 locations are designated for life chains, where people can display a sign and join the vigil, typically between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
"We all want to stand up for life," said William Cullem, a parishioner of Holy Cross Parish in Marine City who has organized a Life Chain in the city for the past eight years. "Because of the very fact that we do stand up for life, maybe my little town will never have an abortion clinic."
Signs displayed during the National Life Chain read, "Pray to end abortion," "Jesus forgives and heals," "Abortion kills children," "Abortion hurts women," "Adoption, the loving option," and "Lord forgive us and our nation."
As it's meant to show support for the unborn and mothers, organizers of the national event ask that participants only use approved signs and refrain from confronting people during the Life Chain.
The signs and the peaceful vigil, participants hope, will let onlookers know that defending life is a noble cause, and an important one.
"I hope they know that the pro-life movement is alive and well and brings it to their consciousness," Cullem said.
Organizers at each Life Chain equip participants with approved signs. To learn more about the National Life Chain, visit www.nationallifechain.org or www.lifechain.net.
The following are life chains in the metro Detroit area, arranged by city. Life chains are from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted:
- Belleville Main Street from Five Points to Belleville Lake Bridge; (248) 478-8878.
- Dearborn Telegraph and Cherry Hill roads; (734) 283-9753.
- Dearborn Heights (north) Telegraph Road at Ford Road to Hass Street; (734) 478-8878.
- Dearborn Heights (south) Telegraph and Van Born roads; (734) 283-9753.
- Detroit Gratiot Avenue at Six Mile Road; (248) 478-8878.
- Highland M59 at Milford Road; (248) 478-8878.
- Lake Orion Lapeer and Indianwood roads; (248) 693-4792.
- Lapeer Main Street (M-24) and M-21; (810) 664-2463.
- Lincoln Park Fort Street at Champaign Road, and Goddard and Southfield roads; (734) 283-9753.
- Livonia Middlebelt Road at Jamison, south of Five Mile Road; (248) 478-8878.
- Marine City 300 S. Parker St. in front of the Marine City Library; (810) 765-3760.
- Milford 620 General Motors Road, between South Milford Road and Main Street; (248) 478-8878.
- Monroe Telegraph Road north of Elm Road; (734) 654-9942.
- Mount Clemens Gratiot Avenue from 15 Mile to 16 Mile roads; (248) 478-8878.
- Riverview Fort Street and Sibley Road; (734) 283-9753.
- Royal Oak/Huntington Woods/Berkley Woodward Avenue between 11 Mile and 12 Mile roads; (248) 478-8878.
- Southgate Fort Street from Eureka Road to Northline Road; (734) 283-9753.
- Taylor Telegraph Road near St. Alfred Church; signs at Northline and Wick roads; (734) 283-9753.
- Trenton Fort Street and King Road; (734) 283-9753.
- Walled Lake Pontiac Trail from Maple Road to Walled Lake Drive; 2 to 3:30 p.m.; (248) 478-8878.
- Westland Warren Avenue and Wayne Road; (248) 478-8878.
- Wyandotte Fort Street from Eureka Road to Northline Road; (734) 283-9753.
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