Pro-life walker tragically killed in Indiana was eager to serve God and help unborn children

By Mary Ann Garber

Andrew Moore felt called to walk across America this summer with pro-life college students to help save the lives of unborn babies in at-risk pregnancies.

The 20-year-old Concord, Calif., collegian joined a group of Crossroads volunteers walking from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., to pray for an end to legalized abortion and educate people about the holocaust which has killed more than 54 million babies in the U.S. since 1973.

Tragically, while trying to save unborn babies’ lives, he lost his own life early on July 20 when he was hit by a car and killed instantly as he walked along a highway in west-central Indiana with another Crossroads participant.

It was about 5 a.m. and the collegians had only been walking along U.S. 40 near Stilesville for about 15 minutes when they decided to cross the highway at County Road 450 West so they could see oncoming traffic while they prayed the rosary.

They were wearing reflective safety vests, and the Crossroads van with other walkers was just ahead of them along the south/central walk route to the nation’s capital.

With just 600 miles to go, the collegians were on schedule to participate in a pro-life rally on Aug. 11 at the U.S. Capitol.

Although some talks at Indianapolis parishes were canceled after Moore's death, the 18th annual Canada, northern, central, south/central and southern walks continued in his honor because the walkers said "that is what he would have wanted them to do."

Moore was a student at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, Calif.

Before the walk, he wrote a reflection on why he decided to spend his summer giving pro-life talks and praying outside abortion centers en route to Washington.

“I had already been involved in the pro-life movement for several years,” Moore wrote. “When I am at home, I pray in front of the local abortion mill almost every day and try to speak to the people going in.

“Crossroads sounded like a good way to serve God and help his children,” he wrote. “… I have been considering a vocation to the priesthood for some time, and Crossroads is a great way to work on my discernment—prayer, sacrifice and separation from the distractions of the world.”

Moore enjoyed posting updates on social media sites during their trek through the West and on to the Midwest.

Two days earlier, Moore and other Crossroads walkers had recorded two radio interviews with Msgr. Lawrence Moran, Father John Hollowell and Mike Moroz for broadcast on WHOJ-FM (91.9) in Terre Haute.

Moore was scheduled to speak at several Indianapolis area parishes last weekend.

Jim Nolan, president of Crossroads Pro-Life, wrote on the organization’s website that “the entire Crossroads family is devastated by the loss of such a courageous young man. Andrew will be missed deeply by all who knew him. His memory will be preserved in the work of Crossroads and all work to build a culture of life. Andrew was praying the rosary at the moment he was hit. He is now resting in the merciful love of God.”

American Life League president Judie Brown issued a statement on July 23 to pay tribute to Moore’s distinguished volunteer service on behalf of the unborn.

“… Moore testified that his decision to play such an active role in saving all of God’s children was also a way to serve his God,” Brown wrote. “His selflessness demonstrated a remarkable strength of character. We have lost a dedicated and inspiring budding leader in Andrew. May he find rest in God’s perfect peace.”

His father, Joseph Moore of Concord, Calif., commented on the Crossroads website that his son loved God, embraced the Cross and “died to one’s self for the sake of God through the selfless love of others.”

Father Bernard Cox, pastor of Mary Queen of Peace Parish in Danville, anointed Moore’s body at the scene and prayed with the collegians.

After they prayed for the repose of their friend’s soul and for his family, Father Cox said, the college students asked him to say a prayer for Terry King of Fillmore, who was en route to work when he accidentally hit Moore near the edge of the grassy median of the divided highway in rural Hendricks County.

“It was undoubtedly the worst thing that I have encountered in 21 years of priesthood so far,” Father Cox said of Moore’s tragic death. “It was very sad.” †