Scontras Speaks Powerfully at 2008 Hands Around the Capitol Rally
By Mike Hein
Jan 15, 2008 - 2:30:06 PM
Prayer Service, Rally, and Ceremony Among Day's Pro-Life Events
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| Dean Scontras |
Over four hundred Maine pro-life supporters turned out on Saturday, January 12, for the
2008 Hands Around the Capitol Rally and Ceremony in Augusta. Some on-hand observers estimated the participants at over five hundred, while a
Kennebec Journal news article gave a total of only "nearly 300."
Among those in attendance at the rally were Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland Bishop Richard Malone, State Senator Carol Weston, State Representative James Hamper,
U.S. Congressional candidate Dean Scontras, former State Senators Paul Davis and Carolyn Gilman, and local clergy Rev. Matthew McNutt (
Boothbay Baptist Church
Associate Pastor), Rev. Paul Nielsen (Pastor of the
Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, LCMS, in Waterville), Rev. Lester S. Dow, Jr. (Richmond Corner Baptist Church Pastor), Rev. Paul Dumais (St. Joseph's University Chaplain), and Rev. Louis Phillips (St. Michael Parish Pastor).
The rally was led by Maine Right to Life staff and board members and featured speeches by Bishop Malone, Cheverus High School student Kelly Thomas, Carl Maddaleni of the Maine Vitae Society, Sen. Weston, and Scontras.
Maddaleni encouraged parents to have their children visit the Maine Vitae Society's new Teen Breaks website at
www.teenbreaks.com. The site features pro-life resources for teenage girls and their parents.
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| Paul Madore, Mike Heath, and Dean Scontras |
Scontras spoke emotionally to the near capacity crowd in the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church gym about his bid for Congress and his "unequivocal" pro-life stand.
He said, in part, "I never thought that being pro-life would stir so many emotions both in myself and in the people I meet. Believe me when I say that most people I meet are very happy to hear that they will have a pro-life candidate on the ballot. Some people, mostly political pundit-types, ask me why –'Why would you run as a pro-life candidate – You might lose?'
"Still others, and mostly those of you who are solidly pro-life, view my declaration a bit more skeptically, as possibly a purely political move. I was eager to seek support of this community, and frankly, I guess I did take for granted the fact that I would have to earn your support.
"After all, the pro-life community has often been misled, even been taken advantage of at times by pundits and politicians who place politics before principle. Some people will do anything to win. Anything.
"In my race I am facing a primary opponent who is taking money from pro-abortion groups, from groups who have as their goal the removal of the pro-life plank from the [GOP] Party Platform. I share the concerns of those of you who might require some reassurance before you put your support behind another politician claiming to be pro-life.
"When you ask me, 'Dean, are you unequivocally, without exception, for life?' I will answer, 'Yes, I am!'"
Read the full text of Scontras's remarks by clicking here
The large pro-life crowd processed to the Statehouse after the rally for the ceremony acknowledging the 35th anniversary since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion nationally. Joining those who participated in the ceremony were members of the League's Board of Directors, who met in Augusta earlier in the day at the League's Ben Bubar, Jr. headquarters on Sewall
Street. After the ceremony, the League held its annual open house for those who participated in the ceremony. League Executive Director Michael Heath took the opportunity of the open house to announce
the League's endorsement of Scontras for Congress. The endorsements of both
Scontras and
Gov. Mike Huckabee for President were decided that morning by the League's Board of Directors.
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| Rev. Lester Dow |
The day's pro-life events started an hour prior to the rally, at 10:00 a.m., with two religious services held in Augusta. St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church held a mass conducted by Bishop Malone and the
Elim Christian Fellowship church building held its first annual
Hands Around the Capitol Prayer Service, led by Pastor Lester Dow of the Richmond Corner Baptist Church.
The prayer service started with praise for God and Jesus Christ for the gift of life, and transitioned into corporate prayer for homes, families, the preservation of life, medical personnel, lawmakers and policymakers, and for those suffering from abortion-related decisions.
Pastor Dow read from his original poem "The Life That's Well Lived," written earlier in the month specifically for the prayer service. The poem reads in part:
"Two parents have shared in the mystery of life,
The plan of our God, procreation;
And now when the birth time has finally come -
Happy and joyful proclamation!
"The Word of our Lord is our basis so strong
For life, and for all that is sacred;
Our lives now today were received from God's hand,
With obedience to Him, life is blessed!"
To read the full text of the poem click here
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