The Knights of Columbus hold a prayer vigil outside Planned Parenthood in Wilmington on the first Saturday of each month, but on Feb. 3 they were at a new clinic that has opened near Elsmere. A group of Knights and others gathered outside AllGyn, which is on Kirkwood Highway just north of the ramp to Route 141.
According to its website, AllGyn offers various health care for women, including breast examinations, pap smears, ultrasounds and annual exams. It also offers testing for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, along with family planning, including birth control, along with abortions and vasectomies. It is open six days a week.
Moira Sheridan, executive director of Delaware Right to Life, said the organization is trying to get a regular vigil going at the site.
“It’s very difficult because our troops are scattered very thin,” she said.
Father Michael Darcy, the pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Elsmere, was disappointed to see the clinic operating just a few miles from the church.
“As a teenager I remember protesting at the now closed abortion clinic in Stanton, which I drive past nearly every day,” he said. “It has been a sudden shock to me to see this evil reappear in our community. We will work diligently to end the scourge of abortion and to support pregnant mothers to bring their God-given children to term.”
Right to Life is holding an event in Dover to promote life and to address various topics with state legislators. That will take place on March 27, the Wednesday before Easter.
“There’s so much legislation and so many negative things happening. We have a lot of work to do to change that,” Sheridan said.
The event will begin with a short prayer vigil at Planned Parenthood at 1 p.m., then a march to Legislative Hall, where a rally will be held before marchers meet with their representatives and senators.
Danielle Pimentel, the policy counsel at Americans United for Life, will speak about how to successfully lobby legislators. She testified in Dover last year against the assisted-suicide bill.
Felix Spitelle, the life coordinator for the state Knights of Columbus, said it is important to keep these issues in the public eye.
“It’s still important that we recognize that innocent life is precious,” he said.
The Knights are sponsoring a bus to Dover from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Bear. To register for the bus, go to derighttolife.org/calendar.
Sheridan said pro-life advocates in Delaware are “in the headwind forever. It can be very discouraging, but on the other hand, look at the entire history of pro-life. It’s filled with miracles.
“You can never lose hope.”
