St. Raphael parish display brings attention to the negative effects of abortion

Springfield, MN - Respect Life Sunday, October 5, 2003 marked the 31st anniversary of an educational program, which was started by the Catholic bishops of the U.S. in October 1972. That year, and each succeeding year, the bishops have focused on many critical concerns connected with the gift of life.

To bring attention to the negative effects of abortion, St. Raphael Parish Pro-Life Committee of Springfield, MN, initiated a display of 3,500 pink and blue flags in memory of the children killed by abortion in America everyday. This is 146 abortions every hour. Adults and youth from St. Raphael parish participated in putting up the flags. The goal of this project was twofold. First, the display served as a visible symbol of the number of daily abortions in our country, and secondly, it brought attention to the plight of the millions of women who have been harmed by abortion physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually.

The display remained up through Respect Life Sunday, October 5 through October 16, 2003 in commemoration of the 11th annual International Week of Prayer and Fasting.