January 30, 2009
-
When you’ve got a million voices singing…
While estimates of the march attendance are between 200-300 thousand and there was no singing, we did watch “Newsies” on the bus.
The March was amazing. So it was a little dismaying when Obama very quietly signed an executive order to do away with the Mexico City Policy that Friday afternoon, after all the press had left for the day and no one was looking…
Saturday was amazing as well. We had a huge Students for Life of America conference at the Catholic University of America, right in the shadow of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Basilica (appropriate, no?). We heard from an amazing array of speakers, including the co-executive producer of the beautiful film, “Bella.” We heard testimony from many women who have had abortions, who have come to regret them completely, who are not afraid to tell us how destructive and painful they truly are and how the abortion industry tries to cover all of that up.
We also heard from a speaker who began a prayer vigil of 40 days that happens every year in almost every state now and a few Canadian provinces, with over 170,000 across all that. People gather in those cities outside of abortion clinics and simply pray. In just the last couple of years their prayers have saved over 1500 babies (less than half of the number aborted in this country every day, but even saving ONE is worthwhile), have closed three clinics and convinced 13 abortion clinic employees to walk away from their job on site. Amazing, the power of prayer. Then, at the very end, St. Louis University’s Students for Life (my group!!) won the top honor for being the best group in the country! All in all, an amazing experience.
The crowd assembles…
And we’re off!
If you look up between the signs, you can see the river of people flowing up the hill to where there is a street going between the US Capitol and the Supreme Court building.
To give you an idea of the breadth of the column.
And going alllllllllll the way back…
While it was a very civil event full of well-behaved people, there was one notorious rebel…
Co-executive producer of the movie “Bella,” Jason Jones.
Jill Stanek, a former nurse who discovered infanticide was being practiced at her Illinois hospital. She then tried getting laws passed to protect babies, the whole time being opposed by a young senator who has sinced moved on to a house on a higher hill… She has a great blog at jillstanek.com
The National Shrine
All the artwork you see up in the domes, yeah, those are all mosaics; not paintings.
Thank you all for your prayers and kind thoughts! Pray for the unborn…
Post a Comment
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Comments (24)
Sounds like a wonderful event! When I went to the March 11 years ago I didn’t get to be a part of any speaker events (that I can recall), that might have been really interesting. But I do remember going to the National Shrine… it really is an amazing building. I am glad things went well for you.
I wrote about this issue some time ago, while you were at the march. Wondering what you think… link here
no cannons on this?
I can’t WAIT to do this next year!!!
Thanks for taking us there…loved the photos.
This is great and all, but something has been troubling me lately about the pro-life movement…
@QuantumStorm - Like….?
@Ancient_Scribe -
Well… while I commend the pro-life movement for its work, I think a better job can be done to reach the more secular areas of our society. Part of the reason we’re having some trouble is because in many cases, our arguments are based on religious viewpoints. Granted, we do have some that show otherwise, but I think not enough attention is being paid to the latter. We should reach out go groups like the Atheist and Agnostic Pro-Life League (http://www.godlessprolifers.org/home.html). Chances are, there are many non-religious and/or liberal folks who share our pro-life views but are marginalized by mainstream media.
Just my two cents.
I think this is wonderful and important that people speak up and pray. But I think we need to do better at addressing this as a “political” issue because that is how the pro-abortion side sees it. I think that now it would be worth saying to President Obama (on a side note, I always referred to President Bush as just that, President Bush and I did not like him as President at all…I am hoping, respectfully, that we can do the same with our new President) that we know he is not going to change his mind today, for one. But, on the other hand, there is going to be no FOCA bill passed, either. We know that, we honestly should just move on to something more purposeful. Our first message to him should be we support your efforts to reduce the number of abortions by making sure women get good care, and trying to do something about the poor in our nation, because poverty is the main problem behind many abortions. Even if the Supreme Court overturns Roe vs. Wade, it will still be up to states to make the law and probably at least half of them will keep abortions. I just think, from a practical standpoint, we can do better while we pray that hearts are changed.
the 40 day vigil you mention is 40 Days for Life. Sign-ups begin at/around Lent.
Pity abou the “Mexico City Policy” isn’t it?
@living_embers - *sigh* I don’t see how it alligns with his professed desire to reduce the number of abortions… I thought that the policy was doing great while it was in place.
I don’t trust politicans much any more when it comes to promises about how much they value life. Well, I took Huckabee and Palin at face value because you could look at their lives and see them living pro-lifeWhere did you hear that Obama wanted to reduce the number of abortions performed? I have heard the opposite.
@Ancient_Scribe, @LucyWrites, I agree with the sentiments others posted on LucyWrites blog. Just because I ally myself as pro-choice doesn’t mean I want to see more abortions performed. Far from it. I’d like to see less of them, to tell you the truth. As I’ve said here before, Scribe, I only support abortion in extreme cases, and I feel in those cases there should be an option for those who would like the procedure. It shouldn’t be an easy choice or a blanket form of birth control, but it should be monitored and controlled by the government to make sure it is as safe as possible for the women seeking the procedure. It doesn’t have to be extremely easy to obtain and doctors who have no moral quandries on the matter can be in charge of the procedure. I am in that charcoally gray area on this issue, not on an extreme side, where a lot of other people fall.
That being said, it is interesting to read more onyour participation in the March for Life.
On a lighter note, you should check out Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog, if you haven’t seen it yet. Try Hulu.com where you can view all chapters for free. It’s a musical with Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion. Hilarious. There was a Batman sketch on Robot Chicken last night that had me cracking up, about one of the worst jokes that the Joker pulled on Batman. I’d say it’s almost R-rated for raunch and is a homage in many scenes to Shawshank Redemption. Mark Hamill reprised his role as the voice of the Joker in the sketch. It might be up on the Adult Swim in the next few weeks. Been paying attention to BSG? Last Friday’s episode was intense, but really reflects the breakdown of hope as it would be seen for humans who’ve lost it all… I can’t wait to see where they go from here with the plot line, that’s for sure.
Still haven’t caught an episode of The Clone Wars… I’m thinking at this point it’ll be easier to buy the series on DVD and catch up then when they release the first season set. I’m sure I’d enjoy it.
Hope you have a great week!
omg I love all those photos of the church you took! I’ve always been interested in architecture especially Romanesque and Byzantium which are shown here. However I have to say, I have a very different belief in abortions. Women in the first place shouldnt be having unprotected sex, unfortunately bringing an unwanted child into this world will only burden our society even more. I’ve been to Adoption centers in Romania and it is awful the condition they keep abandoned children in. Sometimes I feel its better they had not been brought into this world to face such agony. I know we have absolutely no right in taking innocent lives, but what is the point if they should continue to suffer? I understand your point of view and I have all the respect for it, I know my mother thinks exactly like that as well.
@xXDyingDarknessXx - I know a little bit about Romania, too; I have a cousin who was adopted from Romania. I have also met many who ask that same powerful question, about whether or not it might be better to spare the unborn what is sure to be a hard, sad life.
But then I recall that there once was a very poor young woman who gave birth to her baby in a cave amidst animal dung and straw, wrapping him in cheap cloth and laying him in a trough. When I consider that, it makes me wonder if, perhaps, God didn’t choose to come as one of the most poor for more than a few reasons, one of them being to let us know that no matter how frightening or seemingly hopeless a situation is, He will care for us and provide for us, and He would never ever permit a human life to come into existence if He knew that child could not be taken care of. I see it as a call to faith in God, not as a justification for ending an innocent and beautiful life. I understand and respect your point of view as well, and I wish more people in the pro-life/choice discussion could dialogue with more charity and understanding as you have here. From what I have read in your comment, you have a compassionate heart. I hope you continue to consider asking questions like this, and I hope that you receive the grace to see what God is trying to tell us through all of this, especially what He is trying to tell us through all the suffering in the world. God bless you always and abundantly!
I am not 100% pro life or pro choice. I have been put into a tough situation before, because I became pregnant without wanting to. I admit I had unprotected sex but within 12 hours I took the plan B pill and thought nothing of it after. Then around 7 weeks after I found out I was pregnant even though I took plan B. If I would of kept the baby it would not of been fair to the baby itself, me, or my boyfriend. I drank while carrying the baby a lot. The baby would of been messed up and my life would of been screwed up too. It would of been a bad life for everyone. So this is the only reason I terminated my pregnancy. I am also not religious at all.
Belive it or not sometimes it is for the better to get an abortion. It can be for the baby’s sake too. If you had a choice of being born mentally disabled would you still be born? I feel very relived to not be bringing someone who would have a crappy life into this world.
Hate me if you will, but I believe what I did was the right thing and no one can change my mind on this.
it is so amazing that so many are willing to come forward for and in defense of the unborn.
keep up the good work. the media might not recognize you, but THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD are keeping an ear to your purpose and work.
I agree that praying is an strong argument, to reach a goal. But what i see hear is that thousand people march and let them
see on the street against the clinics,that make’s the prairs and the people stronger. Together.
@xjadersx - I would still want to be born, and I would still have that child. Everyone deserves life.
Jacob, these pictures are awesome. I wish I had been there! I’m so jealous. Maybe… freshman year of college I can go. God bless you!!
It is so exciting to see a vocation like yours. I am friends with Fr. Fessio and Fr. Pacwa. It is good to see a strong faithful Jesuit vocation. Really like your blog. And thanks for the pics of the March.
@bigcatholicmicah - I got to eat breakfast with Fr. Pacwa a few weeks ago; small world!!!! Welcome to my blog; always wonderful to run into another Catholic on Xanga!!
I went to the March this year. It was my first time, and I plan on going back as much as I can!
Did you go to the vigil mass?
@WhenFaithandFearCollide - We didn’t get there until the day of the march, and if you are referring to the Mass at Gonzaga, I made it in just as communion was ending.
I happened upon your site “randomly”-I don’t think anything is random. Why though, brother, do you have Jesus still nailed to the cross on your blog? He has risen-He is alive-He is a miracle–His Spirit moves through us all… Thanks, though, for your positive spirit and influence.. I find the Catholic religion interesting-very ritualistic. I am not Catholic but a reckless follower and lover of our Lord.
@climbingupthemountain - I’ve just been too busy to put up a new background! But I’ll get on that right away. You are right though; HE IS RISEN!!