WASHINGTON D.C., January 23 (CNA/EWTN News)
.- Young people from across America made up a significant amount of the
huge crowds that gathered in Washington, D.C. for the annual March for
Life.
John Hughes, an 18-year-old student at Seton Hall Preparatory School in New Jersey, told CNA that he supports the event because "to not be pro-life is to be ignorant."
"Science has shown that life begins in the womb," he said, arguing that abortion advocates demonstrate a "lack of responsibility" in ignoring the science of fetal development.
Even most U.S. states, Hughes added, recognize an unborn baby as a living child if both mother and baby are killed in a violent crime.
The college student was among the massive crowds of young people who weathered fog and rain in the nation's capital to attend the annual March for Life on Jan. 23.
Organizers said they believe the event attracted more participants than last year's estimated 400,000.
The march was held one day after the 39th anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in the United States.
Hughes said that he is "one hundred percent" hopeful about the future of the pro-life movement, given several legislative pro-life efforts on the state level such as abortion restrictions or Planned Parenthood defunding.
"It's a youth movement," he said.
Kari Boyd, a student at Michigan State University, added that she believes abortion hurts women.
She explained that Planned Parenthood and other organizations that support abortion "are not telling women the truth" when they say that an unborn baby is a "blob of cells" and fail to show women that the fetus they carry is "another human being."
Support for women's rights does not create the "right to kill an innocent unborn child," Boyd said. "Women don't have the right to murder."
Matt Menendez, age 20, is the president of Harvard right to life. He explained that although the United States is largely pro-life, there are only a small minority of students at Harvard "who are willing to speak up" in defense of life.
"We're always fighting an uphill battle," he said. While the work is "very difficult," it is also "very, very rewarding."
He said that the group regularly receives calls and emails "from people who say they're afraid to be prolife."
Menendez described the group's work as "fighting an intellectual battle" in the hopes of "opening discourse" on a topic that is considered somewhat "taboo" and is "often ignored" at Harvard.
"It's really energizing to be part of that movement," he said.
Luciana Milano, another member of Harvard's right to life group, attended the march for the first time this year. She explained that attending Harvard strengthened her pro-life views because she was forced to defend her beliefs to those who disagreed with her.
She said that although the experience "has been difficult," it has made her "a stronger believer" in the dignity of all human life."
Describing the march as "awesome," Milano said that she was impressed and overwhelmed by the large number of people attending the event.
"The second that I saw large amounts of people, I almost cried," she said.
John Hughes, an 18-year-old student at Seton Hall Preparatory School in New Jersey, told CNA that he supports the event because "to not be pro-life is to be ignorant."
"Science has shown that life begins in the womb," he said, arguing that abortion advocates demonstrate a "lack of responsibility" in ignoring the science of fetal development.
Even most U.S. states, Hughes added, recognize an unborn baby as a living child if both mother and baby are killed in a violent crime.
The college student was among the massive crowds of young people who weathered fog and rain in the nation's capital to attend the annual March for Life on Jan. 23.
Organizers said they believe the event attracted more participants than last year's estimated 400,000.
The march was held one day after the 39th anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in the United States.
Hughes said that he is "one hundred percent" hopeful about the future of the pro-life movement, given several legislative pro-life efforts on the state level such as abortion restrictions or Planned Parenthood defunding.
"It's a youth movement," he said.
Kari Boyd, a student at Michigan State University, added that she believes abortion hurts women.
She explained that Planned Parenthood and other organizations that support abortion "are not telling women the truth" when they say that an unborn baby is a "blob of cells" and fail to show women that the fetus they carry is "another human being."
Support for women's rights does not create the "right to kill an innocent unborn child," Boyd said. "Women don't have the right to murder."
Matt Menendez, age 20, is the president of Harvard right to life. He explained that although the United States is largely pro-life, there are only a small minority of students at Harvard "who are willing to speak up" in defense of life.
"We're always fighting an uphill battle," he said. While the work is "very difficult," it is also "very, very rewarding."
He said that the group regularly receives calls and emails "from people who say they're afraid to be prolife."
Menendez described the group's work as "fighting an intellectual battle" in the hopes of "opening discourse" on a topic that is considered somewhat "taboo" and is "often ignored" at Harvard.
"It's really energizing to be part of that movement," he said.
Luciana Milano, another member of Harvard's right to life group, attended the march for the first time this year. She explained that attending Harvard strengthened her pro-life views because she was forced to defend her beliefs to those who disagreed with her.
She said that although the experience "has been difficult," it has made her "a stronger believer" in the dignity of all human life."
Describing the march as "awesome," Milano said that she was impressed and overwhelmed by the large number of people attending the event.
"The second that I saw large amounts of people, I almost cried," she said.
WASHINGTON D.C., January 23 (CNA/EWTN News)
.- Pro-life politicians spoke to participants at the March for Life in
Washington, D.C. about the need for America's leaders to guide the
country in affirming the value of every human life.
U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) explained that "life and liberty" are two foundational principles that are intertwined to "form the core of our national character."
"When we affirm the dignity of life, we affirm our commitment to freedom," he said. When we fail to defend life, "freedom itself is diminished."
Hundreds of thousands of Americans, including many young people, gathered in the nation's capital for the annual March for Life on Jan. 23, one day after the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States.
Prior to a march to Capitol Hill, attendees gathered on the National Mall to hear from congressmen and pro-life leaders.
Speaker Boehner delivered opening remarks at the march, in which he affirmed that "human life is not a political or economic commodity."
The Speaker explained that he has 11 siblings. "So I've never considered 'pro-life' to be a label or a position," he said. "It's just who I am."
Defending life is "not a matter of party," he said. Rather, it is "about standing on principle."
Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), who is co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, told the crowd that the violent death of innocent children "is not an American value."
He thanked those present at the march for their "selfless struggle by prayer, fasting and works" to participate in what he called "the greatest human rights movement on earth."
The congressman also criticized President Obama for instituting policies and funding decisions that promote abortion throughout his last three years in office.
He explained that by appointing abortion advocates to key administrative positions, the president has worked to integrate abortion into national and international programs.
Rep. Smith observed that under President Obama the federal government has given more than $100 million dollars to the U.N. Population Fund, an organization that supports China's one child policy, which relies on forced abortions and sterilizations.
The administration is also "lavishly" funding embryo-destroying stem cell research, he added, and organizations including Planned Parenthood are now titled "partners" of the U.S. government.
In addition, Congressman Smith warned, the pro-life movement is being threatened by the president's "systematic undermining of conscience protections."
He pointed to a federal contraception mandate that was finalized by the Health and Human Services Department on Jan. 20, as one of those actions by the Obama administration that is targeting people with pro-life convictions.
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said on Jan. 20 that the administration would not expand a religious exemption for employers who object to a requirement that insurance plans cover contraception as part of "preventative services." The policy requires free coverage for sterilization and contraception, including some drugs that can cause abortions.
"Everyone must comply regardless of moral objections or religious tenets simply because Obama says so," Rep. Smith said.
He also noted that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was recently "thrown out" of a federal grant program to aid human trafficking victims because it would not offer referrals for abortion and contraception.
The congressman emphasized the importance of the 2012 presidential election and said that if President Obama is elected to a second term, he will work "aggressively" to force "conformity and complicity" on the matter of abortion.
"No one who values life can sit this one out," he said.
U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) explained that "life and liberty" are two foundational principles that are intertwined to "form the core of our national character."
"When we affirm the dignity of life, we affirm our commitment to freedom," he said. When we fail to defend life, "freedom itself is diminished."
Hundreds of thousands of Americans, including many young people, gathered in the nation's capital for the annual March for Life on Jan. 23, one day after the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States.
Prior to a march to Capitol Hill, attendees gathered on the National Mall to hear from congressmen and pro-life leaders.
Speaker Boehner delivered opening remarks at the march, in which he affirmed that "human life is not a political or economic commodity."
The Speaker explained that he has 11 siblings. "So I've never considered 'pro-life' to be a label or a position," he said. "It's just who I am."
Defending life is "not a matter of party," he said. Rather, it is "about standing on principle."
Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), who is co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, told the crowd that the violent death of innocent children "is not an American value."
He thanked those present at the march for their "selfless struggle by prayer, fasting and works" to participate in what he called "the greatest human rights movement on earth."
The congressman also criticized President Obama for instituting policies and funding decisions that promote abortion throughout his last three years in office.
He explained that by appointing abortion advocates to key administrative positions, the president has worked to integrate abortion into national and international programs.
Rep. Smith observed that under President Obama the federal government has given more than $100 million dollars to the U.N. Population Fund, an organization that supports China's one child policy, which relies on forced abortions and sterilizations.
The administration is also "lavishly" funding embryo-destroying stem cell research, he added, and organizations including Planned Parenthood are now titled "partners" of the U.S. government.
In addition, Congressman Smith warned, the pro-life movement is being threatened by the president's "systematic undermining of conscience protections."
He pointed to a federal contraception mandate that was finalized by the Health and Human Services Department on Jan. 20, as one of those actions by the Obama administration that is targeting people with pro-life convictions.
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said on Jan. 20 that the administration would not expand a religious exemption for employers who object to a requirement that insurance plans cover contraception as part of "preventative services." The policy requires free coverage for sterilization and contraception, including some drugs that can cause abortions.
"Everyone must comply regardless of moral objections or religious tenets simply because Obama says so," Rep. Smith said.
He also noted that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was recently "thrown out" of a federal grant program to aid human trafficking victims because it would not offer referrals for abortion and contraception.
The congressman emphasized the importance of the 2012 presidential election and said that if President Obama is elected to a second term, he will work "aggressively" to force "conformity and complicity" on the matter of abortion.
"No one who values life can sit this one out," he said.
WASHINGTON D.C., January 23 (CNA/EWTN News) .- Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston told over a thousand young people at a prayer vigil in D.C. that the pro-life movement depends on their loving witness in the face of a hostile culture.
"You are a good infection," the cardinal told the youth gathered at the opening Mass for the National Prayer Vigil for Life. "Do not underestimate your presence."
More than 10,000 people gathered on the evening of Jan. 22 for Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, including many young people from across the country.
The date marked the 39th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in America.
Cardinal DiNardo, who serves as chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, was the principal celebrant and homilist at the opening Mass, which was followed by confessions, a rosary, Night Prayer and holy hours throughout the night.
The Catholic University of America hosted almost 1,300 pilgrims overnight.
The vigil concluded on the morning of Jan. 23 with Morning Prayer and a closing Mass, at which Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan of New York was the principal celebrant and homilist.
Participants were then able to attend the March for Life in downtown D.C., along Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court building.
In his homily, Cardinal DiNardo spoke about the call of Jonah. Although he first ran away, Jonah eventually realized "that the call of the Lord is serious." When he finally responded to that call, his preaching converted the people of Ninevah.
"We are walking through Ninevah," the cardinal said, emphasizing the need for "personal conversion."
With millions of lives destroyed by abortion in the last 39 years, he noted the need for ministries of conversion, as well as compassion and mercy.
Through the work of such ministries, he said, "we witness the miracle of Christ's mercy and healing grace" as broken hearts are "made whole" and "filled with new peace and hope."
The cardinal also expressed grave concerns that the pro-life movement is threatened by recent attacks on religious freedom in America.
On Jan. 20, the Department of Health and Human Services finalized a rule that will require virtually all health insurance plans to include sterilization and contraception – including drugs that cause abortion – free of charge.
Cardinal DiNardo explained that this mandate violates the religious liberty and rights of conscience of Catholics and other religious employers by forcing citizens "to directly purchase what violates our beliefs."
He called for "timely and unwavering actions" to defend religious freedom.
At the same time, the cardinal expressed hope for the future, observing signs of good news, such as the "record numbers" of pro-life laws passed on the state level in recent years.
In many ways, the youth are "weaving Christ into our culture," he said, urging them to show the loving face of Christ to those who are hostile.
"Don't be compromised in your dedication to the protection of life."
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