Record pro-life rally in Spain gathers over a million demonstrators

A spasm of life in the Catholic country of Spain:

A massive crowd of pro-life Spanish citizens captured international headlines Saturday after marching on the country's capital to protest plans to loosen abortion restrictions in the country.

Estimates for the numbers of those in attendance varied, with mainstream media such as CNN and the New York Times reporting simply "thousands" or "tens of thousands." However, the Christian Post reports that Madrid's regional government estimated the numbers of attendees at around 1.2 million, and a spokesman for one of the pro-life organizers said 1.5 million people attended. The U.K.'s BBC and numerous other media outlets also put the crowd at over a million. According to Agence France Press, police put the number at 250,000.

... Since 2000, Spain's abortion rate has climbed a whopping 59% - compared to a 10% rise in Britain and France, and falling rates in Italy and Germany - earning Madrid the title of the "abortion Mecca" of Europe from local pro-life leaders. The country now sees the killing of over 100,000 children in the womb each year. As many as 1 out of 5 of its pregnancies end in abortion.

... Saturday's rally also received endorsement by leaders of the Catholic Church in Spain. The Catholic News Agency reports that Bishop Demetrio Fernandez of Tarazona voiced his support for the March last week in a pastoral letter, warning that Europe is 'terminally ill' due to abortion. (LifeSiteNews)