Life

Over 3,500 People March for Life at the Colorado State Capitol

The Colorado march for life drew over 3,500 participants from all over the state and was marked by joy, love and optimism, which might be surprising considering Colorado is one of the most pro-abortion states in the nation.

The event was held on Friday, April 11 and co-hosted for the second year in a row by the national March for Life committee and Pro-Life Colorado. The theme was “Why We March.”

National March for Life put together a fun reel capturing the “whys” for a number of Colorado marchers.

Sister Mary Grace of the Sisters of Life, spoke at the rally, radiating love, joy, humor and God’s desire to preserve life. She gave the message “God is breaking in.”

“Every human life is the icon of the divine breaking into a dark world,” she told the crowd.

She continued, “God is not in the business of giving up on your life. Intervention is God’s profession. Every second your heart beats, God is bestowing life into you.”

Her message not only affirmed the lives of preborn babies but conveyed the Gospel message.

Jeff Hunt of 710 KNUS interviewed the Sisters of Life before the speech, who said their religious community is founded on the love of human life – a belief that we are made in the image of God and we are inherently sacred. You can watch the interview below.

Focus on the Family was proud to be one of 25 organizations hosting a table at the event along with Pro-Life Colorado, Bella Health and Wellness, Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center, 40 Days for Life, Students for Life of America, Sidewalk Advocates for Life and more.

March for Life’s new president Jennie Bradley-Lichter gave a welcoming speech to attendees. She encouraged marchers to let the rally and march inspire them to continue to advocate for life. 

Bradley-Lichter acknowledged that mothers and preborn babies have very little protection in Colorado and said we have a lot of work to do in this state.

“Despite the challenging legal, political and cultural landscape in Colorado, don’t be discouraged. We know how this story ends. We know that life wins.”

Bradley-Lichter encouraged marchers with the fact that pregnancy help organizations are one concrete reason for hope within the pro-life movement.

Today there are nearly 3,000 pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes helping women and babies nationwide.

Bradley-Lichter exhorted attendees to support their local pregnancy resource centers and to petition the governor to veto state legislation that would legalize on-demand, taxpayer-funded abortions for Medicaid recipients.

The measure, HB25-183, would require the state to cover abortions as part of its Medicaid services and force Colorado taxpayers to spend millions of dollars every year paying for abortions against their consciences.

Focus on the Family’s the Daily Citizen reported on this bill last month when a pro-abortion lawmaker gave shocking testimony arguing it’s cheaper for the state to pay for abortions than pay for a baby to be born and live.

The fiscal note on this measure estimates abortions will cost taxpayers $5.9 million in the first full year.

Pro-Life Coloradans, even if you weren’t at the march, you can join us in the call to action!

Please contact Governor Polis and urge him to veto HB25-183 to protect preborn babies, their mothers, and the conscience rights of millions of Coloradans who do not support abortion.

Image credit: Macy Bennett

Oppose Colorado’s Radical Abortion and ‘Transgender Rights’ Legislation

There are currently two pieces of radical legislation that would force taxpayers to pay for abortions and threaten parental rights. Focus on the Family needs our Colorado friends to stand firm against these two bills.

Abortion Bill

First, an extreme abortion bill – HB25-183 – has already been passed by the Colorado State Assembly and is awaiting Governor Jared Polis’ signature.

If signed, HB25-183 would:

  • Require the state to cover abortions as part of its Medicaid services.
  • Force Colorado taxpayers to spend millions of dollars every year paying for abortions against their consciences.

The fiscal note on this measure estimates abortions will cost taxpayers $5.9 million in the first year.

After passing the Colorado abortion amendment last fall, abortion activists are more brazen than ever in building Colorado’s reputation as an abortion destination state, and they want to force Colorado taxpayers to pay for it.

Daily Citizen reported this last month when a pro-abortion lawmaker gave shocking testimony, arguing it’s cheaper for the state to pay for abortions than pay for that baby to be born.

Please contact Governor Polis and urge him to veto HB25-183 to protect preborn babies, their mothers and the conscience rights of millions of Coloradans who do not support abortion.

“Transgender Rights” Bill

Second, a radical “transgender rights” bill – HB25-1312 – threatens parental rights and free speech.

If passed, HB25-1312 would:

  • Threaten parental rights by compelling parents to affirm their minor child’s gender confusion or potentially lose custody.
  • Threaten free speech by forcing schools and businesses to have gender-affirming policies or be sued for discrimination.

The bill unconstitutionally limits free speech, religious freedom and parents’ rights to provide for the care, nurturing, and moral and religious upbringing of their children.

It forces parents to support dangerous, experimental drugs, hormones and surgeries for their children struggling with sexual identity confusion.

This extreme measure would turn Colorado into a “trans-sanctuary.”

Erin Lee, a Colorado mom and the Executive Director of Protect Kids Colorado told the Daily Citizen:

CO HB 25-1312, on its face, is a blatantly unconstitutional violation of free speech and parental rights. What I find especially dangerous is defining non-affirmation of gender confusion as “coercive control” and allowing the courts to use it against parents. They are essentially bullying parents into transitioning their children, or else lose them.

Parents have long been bullied by the suicide myth, that you must transition your child or else they will kill themself. Now the state is adding to that: Transition your child or else we will take them from you. It fortifies our status as a wrong-sex mutilation sanctuary state, encouraging more people to move here and transition their children.

To learn more read the Daily Citizen’s analysis of the bill.

HB25-1312 has already passed the House and will now be considered by the Senate.

Urge your senator to vote no, and please consider testifying – in writing, remotely or in-person – against the bill when it goes before a Senate committee soon.

Please contact your state senator and the governor today to oppose these extreme measures.

We need your bold voice to defend life, parental rights and free speech.

Image from Shutterstock.

Pro-Life Coloradans: Let’s March for Life

Focus on the Family invites our pro-life friends to join us Friday, April 11, as we march for life at the state capital in Denver.

National March for Life is partnering with Pro-Life Colorado to host the second annual joint Colorado march for life to promote pro-life values in the state.

The rally and the march aim to promote life-affirming values in our state.

It’s a family-friendly event, so plan on bringing your kids and show them what it means to peacefully advocate for life.

The day will kick off with a pre-rally concert at 10 a.m., followed by an hour-long rally on the steps of the Capitol and the march at 12 p.m.

Participants will march about one mile around the capitol complex.

Marchers are encouraged to bring homemade signs that communicate their pro-life values. For sign inspiration, click here.

Speakers at the rally will include:

  • Jennie Bradley-Lichter, president, National March for Life
  • Dr. Marcus Button and Mrs. Jennifer Button, Button Family Practice
  • Rep. Rebecca Keltie, Colorado House of Representatives – District 16
  • Rich Bennett, Life Network
  • Beverly Jacobson, Mama Bear Care
  • Tamra Axworthy, ACPC Life Services & Women’s Clinic
  • Lauren Castillo, director of Mission Advancement & External Relations, Bella Health + Wellness
  • Bishop Jorge Rodriguez, Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Denver
  • Rev. James Maxwell, district president, Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod

This year, the call to action is to encourage state legislators and the governor to oppose SB 25-183, which would require the state to cover abortion as part of its Medicaid services and force Colorado taxpayers to spend millions of their tax dollars every year funding abortions against their conscience.

As reported by the Daily Citizen, the bill captured the attention of the nation this past month when a pro-abortion lawmaker gave testimony arguing it’s cheaper for the state to pay for abortions than pay for a baby to be born.

The measure is currently being considered by the state General Assembly.

Many pro-life organizations will have tables at the event, and mobile ultrasound units will also be open for tours.

Focus on the Family will have a table at the event, so please stop by and say hello.

If you are interested in volunteering for the march for life, sign up here.

If you plan on attending and posting about the event on social media, be sure to use the hashtags #whywemarch and #COMarchforLife.

To get more information about parking, marching and advocating for life, visit Colorado March for Life.

We look forward to seeing you there!

BREAKING: Trump Administration Moves to Freeze, Cut Funding to Planned Parenthood

The Trump Administration plans to freeze $120 million in funding to Planned Parenthood and other family-planning organizations while it investigates whether those organizations used federal funds for DEI efforts.

The Wall Street Journal broke the story on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the situation. The administration is expected to publicly announce the funding freeze sometime this week.

A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said grant recipients are under review as they monitor for compliance with President Trump’s executive orders, including directives for DEI be removed from all aspects of the federal government.

The action will freeze roughly $20 million in grant money slated to go to Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood is responsible for performing nearly 400,000 abortions every year which is roughly half of all abortions performed in the United States.

Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, told The Wall Street Journal,

“The Trump-Vance-Musk administration wants to shut down Planned Parenthood health centers by any means necessary, and they’ll end people’s access to birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and more to do it.”

News of restricting funding to Planned Parenthood has been received with great appreciation from the pro-life community.

President of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Marjorie Dannenfelser, told LifeNews, “This is a victory for the unborn and for taxpayers. … This is about protecting life and respecting the conscience of Americans who don’t want their money supporting abortion.”

Other pro-life leaders took to X to celebrate the news.

Lila Rose from Live Action wrote,

Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life shared,

Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA also posted,

Many in the pro-life movement are calling on the Trump Administration to completely defund Planned Parenthood of all $700 million in tax dollars. Indeed, not a single cent of taxpayer money should go to an organization that kills 400,000 preborn children every year.

The Daily Citizen is very grateful for HHS’ decision and will keep you updated on this developing story.

At Focus on the Family, we have defended the rights of preborn children for decades, and we won’t rest until every preborn baby is loved and welcomed into the world. Through our Option Ultrasound program, we’ve helped save over half a million preborn babies since 2004.

You can learn more about Option Ultrasound and partner with us to help save lives.

If you are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy and want to learn more about your options, visit My Choice Network.

Related Articles and Resources

My Choice Network

Counseling Consultation Request Form

Considering Abortion?

Focus on the Family Pro-Life

Option Ultrasound Program

Support Your Local, Pro-life Pregnancy Medical Clinic

Alternatives to Abortion: Pregnancy Resource Centers

Hopeful Choice: What is a Pregnancy Help Center? 

Image from Getty.

New Video: Young Expecting Mom Says No to Abortion and Yes to Jesus

In a touching video making its way around the internet, a young, expectant mother tears up, saying she will be “forever grateful” to the sidewalk counselor who talked to her outside an abortion clinic, the women celebrating her baby with a baby shower and for finding Jesus in the process.

The video was recently posted by the pro-life organization Love Life on their TikTok page and is now being shared on all social media platforms. It has over 187,000 views on X.

@love.lifeusa

We first met Momma C outside Planned Parenthood when she was five months pregnant. Since then, she has surrendered her life to Christ and is now faithfully attending Destiny Church in her community. And this Saturday, we had the incredible honor of throwing her a baby shower! Thank you Jesus!!! 😭🙏🩵

♬ original sound – love.lifeusa

In their TikTok post, Love Life explains that they met “Momma C” on the sidewalk outside of Planned Parenthood when she was five months pregnant.  “Since then,” they say, “she has surrendered her life to Christ and is now faithfully attending Destiny Church in her community. And this Saturday, we had the incredible honor of throwing her a baby shower!”

The video captures the tender moment when Momma C stood up at her baby shower to say thank you to the large gathering of women and children.

“You guys don’t even know me and you guys did all this. I will forever be grateful.”

The young mom then went on to recognize the woman who met her on the sidewalk before she stepped into a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic.

She said, “This wouldn’t be possible today if it wasn’t for Brenda, who stopped me the day I was probably going to make the worst decision of my life.”

Momma C then joyfully tells the women that she’s been going to church, and she’s found Jesus — which is met with cheers and applause.

The video beautifully encapsulates what the pro-life movement is all about: Loving women. Loving babies. Standing in the gap for them and with them.

Empowering women to say yes to life because they feel the support of a community that will walk with them before birth, after birth and be a resource through all the parenting stages.

This is the future of the pro-life movement. It is how we will change hearts and minds about abortion one person at time, so that one day abortion will be unthinkable.

Praise God for Momma C and her willingness to say yes to life and to Jesus.

Praise God for Brenda, the sidewalk counselor who was willing to step out of her comfort zone and talk to an abortion-minded mother.

And praise God for the pro-life community who comes around women every day to celebrate life. 

Image from TikTok.