Procession to graves of the unborn to mark Roe v. Wade

Denver, Colo., Jan 21, 2009 / 11:24 am

Thursday, as people around the country gather to make known the tragedy of abortion, Catholics in Boulder, Colorado are organizing a Mass and procession through a cemetery where 6,000 aborted babies are buried.

The ceremony to honor those killed by abortion is being held to commemorate the Supreme Court ruling Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion on-demand on January 22, 1973.

While protests will be held around the nation tomorrow, Sacred Heart of Mary’s candlelight procession will be unique since protesters will make theis way through Sacred Heart of Mary Cemetery, where 6,000 aborted babies are buried.

The story of how the babies came to be buried in the parish cemetery is unusual in its own rite. In 1996, the Boulder Abortion Clinic contracted with a local mortuary to cremate and dispose of remains of the children it aborted. The mortuary secretly sent the cremated ashes to Sacred Heart of Mary for burial and a prayer service.

The parishioners at Sacred Heart of Mary also maintain a Memorial Wall for the Unborn near the cemetery that lists the children buried there with a name that was given to them.

"‘The Wall’ promotes healing for anyone who has lost a baby to abortion, miscarriage or stillbirth," said Suzie Lavelle, chairman for the Memorial Wall for the Unborn committee.

"Individual burials continue at the Memorial Wall, and mass burials are available on request," she added.

The events will begin with a Solemn Mass at 6:00 p.m., followed by a Rosary for the unborn and the candlelight procession at 7:45 p.m.