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Marching for Life
By Fr. Frank Pavone
HERALD Columnist
In 1973, seven out of nine justices declared that the children in the womb are not persons under the Constitution. They thereby excluded a whole segment of the human family from the protection of the law, and from the recognition that all are created equal.
On every single day of the 26 years that have since passed, the older brothers and sisters of these children throughout America have called on the nation to restore love and protection to them. And each year tens of thousands of pro-lifers have come to Washington, DC on the day of that tragic decision.
This January 22, we will come again.
The
March for Life is a great annual family reunion for the pro-life movement.
Tens of thousands from across America arrive by bus and plane, and gather
for a midday rally on the Ellipse, between the White House and the Washington
Monument. They are encouraged by speeches from pro-life leaders, legislators
and clergy. Miss Nellie Gray, who has led the March from the beginning,
effectively calls the participants to focus on the goal of the pro-life
movement: full protection of each and every human person from fertilization.
After the rally, the march itself takes the
crowd on a route from the Ellipse to the Supreme Court, where prayers and
hymns continue, and friends greet each other. Many also go to lobby their
elected officials at this time. The whole
event is well organized and peaceful.
Although most participants come only for the
march itself, there is actually an entire convention on the previous day.
Participants are educated in the life principles and taught practical strategies
for
defending life. This convention is open to
all. The entire event concludes with a beautiful banquet, the Rose Dinner,
which honors the many people who work in the pro-life movement.
What does the March actually accomplish?
1. It gives voice to the children. Yes, abortion continues unabated. But it does not continue unchallenged. The presence of marchers in Washington is a prophetic call to the government and to the nation. When a tragedy goes on and on, the voices of those who defend the victims must only increase, not fall silent.
2. It gives encouragement to our friends in government. Those in Congress who support the right to life need to hear from us. They need to see that we are out there in great numbers, so that they can continue to call for an end to abortion.
It encourages us. Participants come away from
the march invigorated and inspired for another year of work. They see those
laboring with them across the country, and know they are part of a
great movement.
It trains young leaders. I received my own inspiration to be active in this movement when I attended the March for Life as a high school student.
Countless other young people receive similar inspiration from this event each year. United in a cause that we can never let go of, and filled with new hope, let us join each other in Washington, D.C. again this year.
For information on the March for Life program,
plus hotel and travel arrangements, contact March for Life, P.O. Box 90300,
Washington, DC 20090, or call 202/543-3377; email: info@marchforlife.org
and website: http://www.marchforlife.org
Father Pavone is the International Director of Priests for Life
and an official at the Vatican’s Council for the Family.
Contact Priests for Life at P.O. Box 141172, Staten Island, N.Y. 10314, Tel. 888 1PFL-3448, fax 718-980-6515, email pfl@priestsforlife.org, web site http://www.priestsforlife.org/.
Copyright ©1999 Arlington Catholic Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.
This article was published in the Arlington
Catholic Herald,
200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 607, Arlington, VA 22203; Vol 24, No 2,
dated Jan 14, 1999, on page 5.
.
E-mail:
letters@catholicherald.com
Fax: 703/524-2782;
Editorial: 703/841-2590;
Advertising: 703/841-2594;
Circulation: 703/841-2565
A note from the Web Master:
It is noteworthy and honorable that some folks are willing to stand up for a ban on Partial-Birth Abortion. Let us not forget that Abortion is also murder. We must understand that murder is still murder no matter the method. Because one method of abortion seems to be horrifying does not justify the other less repugnant methods. We should be sickened by any Abortion regardless of the method. The Fifth Commandment spells it out clearly: "Thou shalt not kill." A fetus is a person, a human being with a God given soul. Imagine the pain the Lord must feel when any Abortion occurs. Please, please, please contact your Senators and Congressman, via letter or phone, to let him/her know how upset you are that Abortions are legal and to pass and support legislation to stop Partial-Birth Abortions and all other Abortions as soon as possible.
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