300.000 pro-life marchers in Washington

More than 300.000 people participated in the March for Life that took place in Washington, D.C., on January 22nd. The date marks the anniversary of the occasion in which, on January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court introduced into American legislation the right to take the life of the baby carried in the mother’s womb even until the ninth month of pregnancy.

Since then, for 36 years, in ever-increasing numbers, participants march for three hours along Constitution Avenue to express their protest against abortion.

This year the manifestation held a particular meaning as it took place two days after the official inauguration of the new American President, Barack Hussein Obama, at the White House. Obama himself, during his electoral campaign, did not care to disguise his convictions on supporting abortion and, as soon as he took office, launched his presidential mandate announcing the suppression of the prohibition, established during Bush presidency, of financially supporting pro-abortion international organizations.

The American Congress also has under consideration the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), the most radical pro-abortion legislative project ever proposed in the US.

This would create a “fundamental right” to abortion, that the government would actively have to back by actively supporting pro-abortion activity, suppressing voices opposing abortion, removing conscience objection from doctors and nurses and “de facto” declaring the end of catholic clinics and hospitals.

There is a great movement against this project in the US. Obama’s election has deepened the ideological polarization in the US where two opposite fronts are more clearly defined: defense of Life and culture of Death.

“Mr. Obama — wrote pro-lifers on a letter sent before the new President took office — we hear about genocide in far away lands, and America is called to stop that evil. Certainly, America wants to stop genocide. Outside and inside its borders.”

It is estimated that 50 million abortions have been performed since the Roe vs. Wade decision. One million three hundred thousand just last year.

Various surveys, including a very thorough one commissioned by the Knights of Columbus, show that a great percentage of the American population thinks it is better to restrict abortion legislation. (”L’Osservatore Romano”, 22 January 2009)

The international stance on this subject was manifested this past January 22, with the vast participation of groups from many corners of the world. Italy was present with a delegation from the Lepanto Foundation, headed by Prof. Roberto de Mattei.

Present too were the Italian group “Voglio Vivere” and the French “Droit de Naitre.”

Most impressive was the large number of young participants and the strong opposition to abortion, unknown to the European pro-life movement. There were many Bishops and religious from diverse orders and congregations. Preceded by the large banners of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, and standing out among the religious images accompanying the marchers, was the statue of Our Lady of Fatima, that miraculously shed tears in New Orleans.

Tags: Abortion, Pro-Life