Crosses erected for abortion awareness

JASONVILLE, Ind. (WTHI) - One thousand white crosses line the lawn of a Jasonville church.   

Pastor Jerry Ross of Blessed Hope Baptist Church said each cross represents something very special.

“Each one of them representing 60,000 aborted babies and we thought that would draw some attention to the issue and cause people to begin the conversation again,” said Pastor Ross.   

This year, America will pass 60 million abortions that have taken place since 1973.  

Planned Parenthood of America states 1 out 3 women in the U.S. have an abortion by the time they are 45-years-old.   

On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade.  That rule states it's a woman's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy.  

Pastor Ross said this is exactly why he chose this month to tout his cause.

“Almost every January, we put something on our church marquee mentioning the fact that Roe vs. Wade was passed this month, drawing attention to the issue. We felt, with the 40th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, we ought to do something that would draw maybe a little more attention to the issue,” said Pastor Ross.

Pastor Ross said they chose the color white to symbolize the death of innocents.   

Pro-lifers claim life begins at conception and therefore abortion is killing an innocent human being.  

But pro-choice proponents believe abortion is a right that shouldn't be limited by governmental or religious authority.   

They say this outweighs any right claimed by an embryo or fetus. They argue pregnant women will resort to unsafe illegal abortions if there is no legal option.   

Pastor Ross hopes by making this bold statement, he'll help bring the conversation back into play.

“Abortion is an out-of-sight, out-of-mind kind of issue. 3,500 babies are aborted every day, and yet, most Americans never have one thought that’s going on, because it’s happening where we don’t see it,” said Pastor Ross.