News & Views From You | Column/Opinion

Wake Up Arkansas

Published: January 21, 2015

By Kasandra Barker

Kasandra Barker

Wake Up!

1 Samuel 3:2-3 “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

On Jan. 18, 2015, before I drove to LR for the March for Life, Fr James West said in his homily at St. John Baptist in Hot Springs that legalized abortion has been our “national suicide.” Near the sanctuary, there is a brightly colored crib the Knights of Columbus set up ready to accept baby bottles filled with loose change to support Change Point Pregnancy Care and Parental Resource center’s ultrasound ministry, which resulted in 60 saves from the death of abortion in Hot Springs during 2014. After Mass, some who could not attend the march in Little Rock marched to the memorial for the unborn at Calvary Cemetery in Hot Springs.

At the Capitol, I joined about 3,000 people gathered to listen to prominent voices in AR government agree that a child is not a choice - he or she is a child made in the image of God entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The experience was empowering and inspiring, and we were not disappointed- the governor and AR representatives in the general assembly, U.S. House and Senate are listening and have joined the ranks of 53 pro-life candidates elected for the first time in our nation’s government. Our governor Asa Hutchinson said he will sign the bill banning webcam abortions in Arkansas.

During the gorgeous afternoon with the sun shining, people from different faiths in AR joined in one spirit with peace and hopefulness, giving witness that life is listening and will prevail in a country finally waking up from its long slumber, poised to face the ugly truth about abortion.