Slovakia: Thousands gather in Bratislava for National March for Life

Vatican News

Thousands of people from across Slovakia gathered in Bratislava on Sunday, 20 September, for the fifth National March for Life.

The event was organized under the patronage of the Slovak Bishops’ Conference, and was centred on the capital’s Freedom Square.

The Bishops’ news agency announced a programme featuring speeches, music, and a procession through the city.

Speaking to Vatican News, Fr. Ivan Ružička, Secretary General of the Slovak Bishops’ Conference, expressed gratitude for the Church’s support for the march.

“We came together to stand for the dignity of every human life, from conception until natural death,” he said.

Supporting women and families

Fr. Ružička said the march’s aims combine the protection of unborn children with assistance for those facing difficult circumstances.

“Our long-term goal is the protection of every human life, especially the lives of unborn children,” he explained. “At the same time, we want to support women and families in difficult situations. No mother should feel that abortion is her only option.”

Calls for a complete ban on surrogacy

Surrogacy was another central concern of this year’s March for Life.

“We believe that a child can never become an object of a contract, and a woman’s body should not become a means to fulfil someone else’s wishes,” Fr. Ružička said. “That is why we are calling for a complete legal ban on surrogacy in Slovakia.”

According to the organizers’ statement, the campaign seeks legislation fully implementing the constitutional prohibition on surrogacy.

Organizers say the proposal before Parliament would prohibit only certain forms of surrogacy.

Their petition calls on lawmakers to prohibit all agreements to bear a child for another person, rather than limiting the prohibition to cases involving the exploitation of women.