I remember the original ruling of Roe v. Wade, probably because of the outrage expressed by my parents when it was handed down. They had been very involved in the efforts to defeat a 1972 ballot initiative in Michigan that would have decriminalized abortion in our state. The measure was defeated by 63% of the voters. I remember the disgust and disbelief expressed by my father. The people of Michigan had voted! We said we did not want abortion legal in our state. And the Supreme Court invents a Constitutional right and overturns the expressed will of the people??!!?? He was mad, as was every life respecting American. Perhaps the court thought these reactions would subside with time but boy were they wrong. Today, 42 years later, some 500,000 people are expected to descend on Washington.
I have been to the March with my daughters many times. These are photos from previous marches. As anyone who has ever been there can attest, the March is full of women, young and old-- especially young.
This was a number of years ago. I was so proud of them. I still am.
One year I even met Denise Hunnel, a doctor and longtime blogging friend. She blogs now at Kitchen Table Chats and is a fellow for Human Life International. If you ever see something written by Denise, be sure to read it. She is ardently pro-life and writes with intelligence and a wealth of knowledge.
The sheer number of people, hundreds of thousands of people, is what is so amazing about the March. And yet, we always seemed to run into 20 or 30 people we knew!
Speakers at the March today included Rev. Joseph Kurtz, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Carl Anderson, the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, members of Congress-- Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-WA), Chris Smith (R-NJ), and Daniel Lipinski (D-IL). Kudos to Congressman Lipinski for standing up for life in spite of his party having abandoned the unborn. Takes a lot of courage to take the opposing stand. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) also spoke as well as Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, and a number of other people.
The March for Life is the largest pro-life event in the world. It is SO impressive. And, as a Catholic, I have always been very proud of the prominent Catholic presence there. So many nuns, priests, statues and banners of the Blessed Mother. It's very beautiful.
It was thought that our Congress would pass today the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This bill would have banned abortions after 20 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest of a minor, and the life of the mother. Because of the opposition of a group of republicans (yes, the ones who are supposed to be on our side), most notably Renee Ellmers (R-NC), the bill was tabled. Ellmers objected that the bill says that a rape victim can get an exception for an abortion past 20 weeks, only if she has filed a police report. Of course, she can still get an abortion any time up until 20 weeks for any reason whatsoever, but if she wants it past 20 weeks she has to have filed a police report about the rape. Is that really such a huge obstacle? Come on. Rep. Ellmers was endorsed by the Susan B. Anthony list and she even said that if the bill were brought to the floor as is she would vote for it.
I am happy to have just read that there is a protest planned for Representative Ellmers office today.
Lifenews.com reported that 84% of Americans would support HR36 the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.
God bless everyone at the March and the millions of pro-life people who continue to defend the unborn!!!!!
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