By Pål Johannes Nes
Oslo, Norway, Dec 10, 2024 / 13:00 pm
The parish community of Our Lady’s Church in Ålesund, Norway, came together on Monday for a special day of prayer dedicated to the unborn, following the enactment of new abortion laws in the country.
This year, the celebration of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was moved to December 9th due to the second Sunday of Advent. The day commenced with Mass, followed by adoration and the recitation of the rosary, emphasizing the sanctity of human life from conception onwards.
The parish’s initiative was partly in response to recent changes in Norway’s abortion laws, which now permit sex-selective abortions and “twin reduction” procedures for the first time.
Furthermore, the new laws extend the legal abortion limit from 12 to 18 weeks, with provisions for abortions beyond that timeframe upon approval by a medical board.
These legislative changes have sparked debates within Norwegian society and church communities, prompting ethical and moral concerns. In light of these developments, the diocese took a proactive approach through prayer, reflection, and education.
Father Dariusz Buras, parochial vicar of Our Lady’s Church, shared that he drew inspiration for the pro-life event from the examples of Sts. Teresa of Calcutta and Gianna Beretta Molla.
In her Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in Oslo in 1979, Mother Teresa emphasized the vulnerability of the unborn in our current era.
