Annual event draws hundreds to state Capitol as Missouri lawmakers propose initiative to undo Amendment 3
I will help you.
When someone is facing an unexpected pregnancy, those four simple words can make a profound life-saving impact, David Bereit told participants who attended the Midwest March for Life in Jefferson City.
The founder of 40 Days for Life cited a study showing that six out of 10 women said they never would have gone through with their abortion if someone had been willing to help with practical support.
Despite abortion becoming legal again in Missouri, Bereit encouraged participants to stay the course not only in their efforts to undo a recent ballot initiative to enshrine abortion in the Missouri constitution, but also in walking with moms in need.
“Yes, you faced a setback, but what you do next is going to show the rest of the nation the character of pro-life Missouri, and that you are the ones who will set the example to turn the tide for our entire nation,” he said. “Even before Amendment 3 is overturned, if you are willing to walk with mothers and their children and say and live, ‘I will help you,’ you can make a life-saving difference, and you can end abortion for each and every one of them, one at a time.”
Bereit joined nearly a dozen speakers on May 1 at a rally on the steps of the state Capitol as part of the 16th annual Midwest March for Life. He and others encouraged Missouri to be a leader among states in ridding their constitutions of abortion on demand. They also spoke about helping mothers in need, featured personal testimonies and called for continued pro-life advocacy, especially among a younger generation.
Hundreds of people from across the state participated in the rally, followed by a march through downtown Jefferson City featuring signs, prayer and pro-life chants. A prayer walk, May crowning and Rosary were held before the rally. Several Catholic schools were recognized with awards for their dedication to pro-life activities, and numerous organizations handed out information to rally-goers.
St. Louis native Bishop Edward Rice of Springfield-Cape Girardeau later preached at Mass at the Proto-Cathedral of St. Peter near the Capitol, concluding the day’s activities.
“Your presence here at the Capitol is a profound witness to the sanctity of human life,” Bishop Rice said. “Your presence here is a reminder that the issue of life is of utmost importance, and the issue will never go away, even if we have the best legislation to protect human life. We should gather year after year after year as a reminder of just how important it is to respect life, regardless of any legislation that might be passed.”
Efforts to undo Amendment 3
The Missouri Senate is expected to vote on a new initiative to undo Amendment 3 and add new language to the Missouri constitution prohibiting most abortions in Missouri. House Joint Resolution 73 would allow abortions in medical emergencies and for fetal anomalies any time throughout pregnancy and in cases of rape and incest up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.
The measure also would reinstate health and safety inspections at abortion facilities, require parental consent for minors receiving medical procedures, require physicians performing abortions to have nearby hospital admitting privileges, ensure access to care for medical emergencies, ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages and provide medical malpractice protections.
If passed, the measure would be placed on the ballot for Missouri voters to decide in November of 2026. The legislative session ends May 16.
Gov. Mike Kehoe also signed off on a new law April 24 allowing the Missouri attorney general to appeal preliminary injunctions in decisions where the state is enjoined from implementing or enforcing constitutional provisions, laws or regulations.
Attorney General Andrew Bailey the same day filed an appeal to a Jackson County judge’s preliminary injunction that struck down several Missouri abortion laws earlier this year. The full trial is scheduled for January 2026. Limited surgical abortions have since resumed in St. Louis, Kansas City and Columbia.
Young voices present
Eighth graders from Immaculate Conception School in Union and St. Alphonsus Millwood School in Silex received honorable mentions as part of the Pro-Life School of the Year Awards presented by Midwest March for Life co-founder Kathy Forck. The two were among nearly a dozen Catholic schools and churches from the Archdiocese of St. Louis that were represented at the march.
Immaculate Conception eighth grader Morgan Bailey and her classmates have been learning about life issues in their religion class and said that events like the march are a good way to publicly show that young people are pro-life. Students participate in activities during the school year, including helping at a local pregnancy center and donating items for moms and babies.
Morgan was moved by speaker Christina Bennett, who shared that her mom made a last-minute decision to not go through with her abortion after an encounter with a hospital custodian who told her God would give her strength and encouraged her not to go through with it.
“One single moment can change someone’s perspective,” Morgan said.
St. Paul School in St. Paul has sent students to the march in previous years; eighth grader Cassie Vogelgesang said she was looking forward to getting her turn to come to Jefferson City to witness for life. She said she feels more people need to know about the side effects of abortion — and most importantly that it’s the killing of innocent human life.
“You shouldn’t do it because you’re killing an innocent life (who) could turn into something very good,” she said. “You’re not giving it a chance to live just because you don’t want to have it.”
Several dozen people from St. Francis de Sales Oratory in St. Louis attended the march and rally as part of a 100-person group with Missouri Right to Life. Hearing different perspectives from speakers who have had personal experiences with abortion is important in building a culture of life, said Abbé Alex Barga of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.
“It’s very important that they’re here, supporting (life) and also learning, hearing the speakers,” he said. “Because a lot of them … they’re for life through their families, but they see (the speakers) all that they’ve been through — this is important for our children, for their formation.”
Oratory parishioner Donna Bambao, vice chair for Missouri Right to Life’s Eastern Region who helped coordinate the trip, chaperoned several youngsters and noted that families at the oratory instill in their children a message about the value of all human life from the moment of conception.
Bambao said she hopes the march will demonstrate to lawmakers “what we believe in … It’s important for the children, because they’re our next generation to witness this, to see it firsthand, and to see that there are other people who believe that life is important.”
Other pro-life legislation
Missouri lawmakers have proposed several other pro-life measures this session, including tax credits for pregnancy centers, funding to help mother’s make life-affirming choices and more. They include:
Alternatives to Abortion funding: It would designate a record high of nearly $15.5 million for the Alternatives to Abortion program, which provides services and support for women in carrying their unborn child to term, caring for their child or placing the child for adoption. (HB 11)
Pro-life tax credits: The House has increased state income tax credits from 70% to 100% for donors to pregnancy centers, maternity homes and diaper banks. (HB 798)
Born-Alive Abortion Survivor’s Protection Act: This measure would give a child born alive during or after an abortion or an attempted abortion the same rights, privileges and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of Missouri, including any other live-born child. (HB 195)
Safe Haven Baby Boxes: Provides $10,000 in funds for “newborn safety incubators” at fire stations and allows parents to relinquish a child up to 90 days after birth, instead of 45 days. (HB 121)
