AUSTRIA / LIFE: Austrian police arrest 34 after attacks on pro-life demonstration

Video: Austrian police arrest 34 after attacks on HLI's pro-life demonstration

by Joannes Bucher

Thu Aug 01 3:47 PM EST

SALZBURG, Austria, August 1, 2013 (HLI Worldwatch) - Last week on July 25, on the 45^th anniversary of the publication of Pope Paul VI's prophetic encyclical Humane Vitae, 34 radical protesters were arrested after trying to disrupt a peaceful pro-life demonstration in Salzburg, Austria which Human Life International helped organize.
The "1,000 Crosses for Life" march has sparked violence and attacks on Human Life International's office in Austria in the past. The protesters launched several violent attacks against our peaceful procession, which required a police escort through the streets before gathering for prayer in front of the statue of the Immaculate Conception in the Cathedral Square in Salzburg.
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The abortion activists carried a big black banner depicting the HLI logo inside of a condom which read, "Prevent forced reproduction. Abortion on demand for everyone!" Local media captured video of the protesters.
Those in our procession carried white crosses representing lives lost to abortion, images of the unborn, and a large image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Organizers of the march along with HLI included Europrolife, Youth for Life, the Prayer Initiative, and Salzburg Pro-life Centre.
The rally in Salzburg, led by Auxiliary Bishop Laun, called attention to both the dignity of every life and to the sins against life we face in this world.
In a memorial ceremony, 100 roses were symbolically thrown into the Salzach River accompanied by a peal of bells – the flowers serving as reminders for all the babies who were not allowed to see the light of the world. To those unborn children we say, "We will not forget you, we love you, we will give you our voice."
This article originally appeared on HLI Worldwatch and is reprinted with permission.