Pro-Life Montanans Seek Mary’s Intercession Against Radical Abortion Legislation

Big Sky ballot initiative would amend the state Constitution to ‘prohibit the government from denying or burdening the right to abortion before fetal viability.’

Pro-life Montanans process with a statue of Our Lady of Fatima on Sunday, Oct. 13, for the defeat of the pro-abortion constitutional initiative.
Pro-life Montanans process with a statue of Our Lady of Fatima on Sunday, Oct. 13, for the defeat of the pro-abortion constitutional initiative. (photo: Lauren Wilkins)

GREAT FALLS, Mont. — A constitutional amendment to amend the Montana Constitution to “prohibit the government from denying or burdening the right to abortion before fetal viability” will be on the ballot in November. 

In the face of this political danger, pro-life Montanans are not backing down in the battle for protection of the unborn. 

On the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, Oct. 13, 25 parishioners gathered at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Great Falls at 2 p.m. to pray the Rosary in a peaceful procession throughout the city. Four male participants carried an Our Lady of Fatima statue with a golden crown on her head while others held pro-life signage and rosaries. Community members joined in prayer for the victory of a culture of life in Montana. 

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Participants hold 40 Days for Life posters on Oct. 13. (Photo: Lauren Wilkins)


Bystanders in the community looked on the procession with curiosity. 

Fittingly enough for the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, three children who were watching the procession had the courage to speak up and ask, “What is this?” When they heard the statue was of Jesus’ Mother, one child jumped off his bike and announced, “I know him! I love Jesus. He’s so great!” The other child smiled and said he was happy the pro-life citizens were protecting babies. 

One touching moment occurred when the third young boy stopped playing in his yard. He yelled, “Are you guys praising God?” To which an individual happily said, “Yes!” The boy was elated and said with such conviction, “I’m a Christian too!” 

Our Lady’s image made an impact on these three children who knew her Son, and the children’s courage to witness their love for God made many of the participants smile. 

The procession ended back at Our Lady of Lourdes, where the participants finished praying the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary. 

The pro-life contingent has an uphill battle as Nov. 5 nears.

The on-the-ballot amendment also generates major concern for marginalized women, potentially giving traffickers and assaulting individuals the opportunity to cover up their crimes by paying for and aiding in the victim’s abortion. It states, “The government shall not penalize, prosecute, or otherwise take adverse action against a person for aiding or assisting another person in exercising their right to make and carry out decisions about their pregnancy with their voluntary consent.” 


Lauren E. Wilkins, a 2024 EWTN Summer Academy participant, is a freelance journalist and photographer.