By KATIE JOHNSON
Niles Daily Star

A small group of people gathered outside the Michiana Abortion Clinic in Niles to pray Friday, the 37th anniversary of the historic Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States.

About half a dozen members of the Knights of Columbus gathered on a sidewalk between the abortion clinic, 703 East Main St., and Women’s Care Center, 621 East Main St., which offers pregnancy counseling and testing.

Mory Vanlaecke of Niles, who helped lead the “Hail Mary” prayer, said they were there for both clinics.

“They are doing what they think is right, and they are doing what they think is right,” he said as he gestured to the buildings. “We just want to pray for all of them. They are all children of God.”

This was the first time the Knights have prayed on the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.

“No picketing – just prayer,” said Vanlaecke, who believes the “bickering” about abortion rights has not resulted in progress.

“We pray for divine intervention,” he said.

The 1973 Roe v. Wade decision concluded that a woman and her doctor could choose abortion in the earlier stages of pregnancy with no restrictions.

The alias “Jane Roe” was used for Norma McCorvey, who filed the suit alleging the Texas abortion law violated her and all women’s constitutional rights. Dallas County, Texas district attorney Henry B. Wade was the defendant.

McCorvey, who later converted to Christianity and was baptized Catholic, was one of 27 people arrested in May 2009 at a University of Notre Dame pro-life rally protesting President Obama’s visit as the university’s commencement speaker.