Pregnancy Care Center celebrates
Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
On Sunday, Jan. 23, the Pregnancy Care Center of Aroostook will commemorate National Sanctity of Human Life Sunday (SOHLS) to raise awareness about the inherent special nature of human life and what the community can do to support women facing unplanned pregnancies. The Pregnancy Care Center will join hundreds of similar organizations across the country who will be sharing at churches and other forums about their work and inviting individuals to volunteer, participate in the sixth annual Line-Up for Life or Baby Bottle Fundraiser.
“Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is a day kind of like a holiday. This is a day which is recognized in most churches as it was initiated by President Reagan in 1983. It is not recognized publicly so this year we wanted to do something extra to bring awareness to this day and to the work of Pregnancy Care Centers,” said Pregnancy Care Center Executive Director Christie Corey.
National Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is held on the Sunday in January that falls closest to the day on which the Roe vs. Wade and Doe vs. Bolton decisions were handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 22, 1973.
Pregnancy Care Centers are currently located in Presque Isle and Houlton.
“We are in the process of opening a center in Fort Kent,” added Corey.
Corey explained, “Sanctity of Human Life is an opportunity for Americans to reflect on the intrinsic value of human life and the fundamental right to life. We acknowledge that abortion tragically ends a human life but with love, practical help and support, women and men in our community have made life-affirming choices. Today, we celebrate those lives, grieve those who have been lost and recommit ourselves to providing support to women and couples facing these tough situations.”
Each year, Corey said her organization gives out 4,000 brochures to churches from Fort Kent to Danforth to bring awareness to Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.
“We also provide baby bottles for members within the church who collect change for six weeks and then return the bottles to us. This fundraiser brings in about $17,000. This year Fort Kent will be joining us for the first time,” Corey said.
Corey said the Center is also preparing for the sixth annual Line-Up for Life.
“The Line-Up for Life is a way we can go out on the street and be a silent witness to the value of all human life from the womb to the grave. We meet at the Northeastland Hotel at 1:45 p.m. and people can pick out the sign they would like to hold. We line the streets at 2 p.m. and usually the Catholic Church rings their ‘Bells for Babies.’ We stand quietly for one hour and then return to the hotel for refreshments,” said Corey.
All interested individuals are welcome to participate.
Founded in 1985, the Pregnancy Care Center of Aroostook provides practical help and compassionate support, including a variety of educational programs and services, to empower women to carry their pregnancy to term. For more information, call 764-0022 in Presque Isle or 532-6380 in Houlton, or visit www.pcc-hope.org.
