“You just watch – the sun will come out, and just in time.”
Those were the words of outgoing March for Life president Jeanne F. Mancini as we parted ways on a cool and drizzly Saturday May morning back in 2019.
We were together for Focus on the Family’s “Live From New York” rally in New York City’s Time Square. In what would become the state’s largest pro-life rally ever, the image and sound of Abby Johnson’s preborn baby Fulton would soon be seen and reverberate from massive digital screens in the middle of Manhattan.
The outdoor event was scheduled for Saturday afternoon, but the weather was looking dreary and ominous that early morning. Jeanne had come to the Fox News building to participate in a joint interview on Fox & Friends with Focus president Jim Daly. Walking between the raindrops, we were lamenting whether the wetness would put a damper on the festivities.
As president since 2012 of the world’s largest human rights demonstration every January in Washington, D.C., Jeanne was accustomed to braving the elements – snow, ice, cold, wind – nothing ever stops or stalls the annual March for Life.
Maybe that’s why Jeanne was so optimistic, but maybe she wasn’t even referring to the physical sun in the sky.
A pro-life advocate for decades, Friday’s celebration is Jeanne’s final March as president. Jennie Bradley Lichter will be taking her role – but there’s no way she can take her place.
Jeanne Mancini arrived at the March for Life well credentialed – she earned a degree in psychology from James Madison University and a Master’s degree in the theology of marriage and family from the Pope John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family.
But what first lit a fire under her to get involved, to try and right what many consider to be the greatest wrong of our time?
“Two women in my life had abortions, and they profoundly regretted those abortions, and they suffered the wounds of it,” Mancini said. “There’s always hope and healing. And so anyone who has been involved in that, if they have sadness around that or grief, it’s important to know there are so many ways to reach hope and healing.”
Prior to assuming responsibilities with the March, Mancini served with our friends at the Family Research Council (FRC) on a variety of efforts to champion the dignity of every life. She’s also served inside the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Office of the Secretary.
Focus on the Family has never had a better friend for life. Gracious, humble, indefatigable, Jeanne has paid no attention to titles or territory. Over the years she’s partnered with the ministry on various events, appeared on broadcasts, and regularly turned down honorariums, requesting that any personal remuneration be funneled back into the fight for life.
Jeanne Mancini has also been fearless, taking on some of the most ferocious pro-abortion zealots and propogandists. She’s testified before Congress to advocate for pro-life legislation and policies, conferred with heads of state, and waded into the many challenges of the now state-by-state battle to protect innocent life.
Jeanne and her husband David are not just pontificating, but also living the principles they preach.
In one of her final media interviews as president of the March, Jeanne shared:
“What I would say to someone who doesn’t see eye to eye, first of all–hopefully just have compassion and mercy and listen to them, and I pray that they would do the same with me, to hear me out. Mostly, I would do whatever I could in my power to help convince them that abortion doesn’t solve a problem, it just actually creates others.”
Whatever happened on that rainy New York City Saturday?
As if on cue from a Hollywood director, the rain stopped, and the clouds parted only minutes before “Alive from New York” was scheduled to begin back in 2019. And sure enough, the sun warmed Times Square, just as Jeanne had predicted it would. The show went on.
Jeanne Mancini’s steady hand of leadership has helped shepherd the pro-life movement through all kinds of physical and metaphorical weather. But she’s been successful because she’s been guided by the other Son – her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We’re indebted to her – and she will be missed.
Thank you and God be with you, Jeanne Mancini.
Image credit: Jeanne Mancini.
