CMA Stands “With Every Woman, For Every Child” at March for Life

January 25, 2024

By Nadia Smith

Dr. Michelle Stanford and Catholic Medical Association members from Virginia, Washington D.C., Colorado, Maryland, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Georgia braved the snow and cold at the 51st  annual March for Life, Friday, Jan. 19, where thousands gathered to stand in solidarity ‘with every woman, for every child,’ the theme of this year’s March.

Some of the CMA members gather for a picture at the 51st annual March for Life, where they braved the cold and snow to stand “with every woman, for every child. “

“It was great to build new relationships and strengthen already existing relationships with other people and organizations in the fight for human dignity for babies in the womb as well as the whole family – mothers and fathers,” said Dr. Stanford. “I was also extremely grateful to march with physicians who want to protect the most vulnerable human beings on earth and be able to represent CMA members who could not attend the March.”

Despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision two years ago, which determined that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion, the federal government’s efforts to undermine state enacted protections for the unborn demands the continued national presence of pro-lifers in D.C. This is in addition to efforts at the state level, where Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life Education and Defense Fund, said marches would be taking place in all 50 states in the coming years.

“We will keep marching every year at the national level, as well as in our states, until our nation’s laws reflect the basic truth that all human life is created equal and is worthy of protection,” Mancini said during her address at the National Mall.

President Dr. Michelle Stanford and member Dr. Marguerite Duane join the live, in-studio EWTN broadcast of the March.

To date, two dozen states have banned abortions at 15-week gestation or earlier and have put safety-measures in place, including 15 states requiring patients to receive in-person care by a physician before being prescribed mifepristone, one of a two-medication regime used to induce a medical abortion.

However, the Food and Drug Administration is allowing pharmacies to dispense mifepristone while its safety and use is being challenged in the courts, and the U.S. Department of Justice is allowing the U.S. Postal Service to continue mailing the abortion pills, even in states where abortion is severely restricted or banned. Further, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is using the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) to say that doctors must perform abortions in emergency departments, even in states where abortion is illegal. Currently, the Supreme Court is set to hear a case about whether abortions can be provided under the EMTALA. And HHS is cutting off funding to pregnancy resource centers by a rule change in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) which forbids states from using TANF dollars to support these life-supporting, pro-women centers.

Executive Director Mario Dickerson and President Dr. Michelle Stanford with Bishop Earl K. Fernandes of the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio after the closing Mass of National Prayer Vigil for Life.

“Misguided approaches where politics and not evidence-based medicine are dictating health care is a medical travesty,” Dr. Stanford said. “CMA sees a just world being one that does not allow for the intentional killing of the most vulnerable in our society and puts safety measures in place to protect women’s lives.”

CMA members also attended the USCCB Pro-Life Leaders Mass, and the closing Mass of National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Additionally, CMA leaders took the opportunity while in D.C. to strengthen partnerships with allied organizations such as Alliance Defending Freedom, Susan B. Anthony List, and the Heritage Foundation.

“CMA continues to be at the forefront to protect the unborn and advocate for authentic women’s health care and conscience rights of medical professionals,” said CMA Executive Director Mario Dickerson, who also attended the March. “Our effort is made stronger by our partnership with organizations sharing the same goal.”