Brian Kelly,
Cyril Doll walks so unborn children can live.
The Western Standard writer and five other young adults are participating in the first Crossroads pro-life walk in Canada.
A similar walk has run in the United States for more than a decade. The Canadian walk started in Vancouver on May 19 with an expected end date in Ottawa on Aug. 11.
“That’s where the movers and shakers are,” said Doll Sunday in Sault Ste. Marie.
They plan to hold “prayerful demonstrations” outside the Supreme Court and Parliament Hill.
It’s hard to miss the Crossroad team’s message.
Their white T-shirts, which they wear “pretty much non-stop”, bear the words Pro Life in large, bright blue letters.
Doll, who is walk leader, acknowledged “everyone and their mother” is walking, cycling, or in-line skating across the country raising awareness for a variety of concerns including drinking and driving, kidney disease and multiple sclerosis.
He counts on some divine help to make sure his group’s stance touches Canadians.
“It’s one thing that we’re going to have to just rely on God for getting the message out to whomever needs it the most,” said Doll, 30.
He doesn’t expect Parliament to ban abortions. Instead, Doll counts on Canadians turning “their minds and their hearts towards Christ.” “If people realize every time they have sex there is a possibility a baby is going to come into this world, they’re going to have to accept that responsibility and there won’t be anymore abortions,” he said.
“That’s what we pray for as we go along.”
Canada is one of a small number of countries that has no criminal law restricting abortion.
In 2004, there were 100,763 abortions in Canada, according to Statistics Canada.
Doll was part of an advance group that was in the Sault this weekend to speak during four masses at Precious Blood Cathedral.
The Crossroads group is expected to walk through the city on Tuesday.
Crossroads was created in 1994 by a Franciscan University student in response to Pope John Paul II’s call for young people to be active in the pro-life cause.