By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 1/20/05)

The annual March for Life in Washington draws thousands of supporters to the nation’s capital to show their support for protecting life for all humans from the moment of conception.

The 32nd annual March will be held Jan. 24 beginning at noon at the Ellipse of the White House and ending at the Supreme Court.

The theme chosen for this year’s March is "It is the Duty of Each American to Uphold the Life Principles for the Common Good of Self, Neighbor and Country — No Exception. No Compromise. Not even ‘A Little Bit of Abortion.’"

President George W. Bush has been invited to speak at the rally preceding the March. Other invited guests include Norma McCorvey, better known as "Jane Roe" of Roe v. Wade, who is petitioning the Supreme Court to vacate Roe v. Wade; Laura Molla, the third daughter of Peter and St. Gianna Molla; post-abortion men and women; and notable clergy and members of Congress.

Before the gathering on the Ellipse, the Rally for Life and Youth Mass will be held at the MCI Sports Arena, 601 F. St., N.W., Washington, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The rally will feature Father Stan Fortuna, Steve Agrisano and Who Do You Say I Am band; followed by Mass celebrated by Washington Cardinal Theodore McCarrick at 10 a.m.

The March for Life Education and Defense Fund also will sponsor a convention at the Hyatt-Regency Washington on Capitol Hill Jan. 22-23. It will include two sessions on the ill-effects of abortions on society and how to be better equipped to take the pro-life message to government officials. Speakers will include Nellie Gray, president of the March for Life Fund; Laura Molla, daughter of St. Gianna Molla; and local Dr. John Bruchalski from the Tepeyac Family Center in Fairfax. Also delivering testimonies will be post-abortive men and women.

The March for Life’s annual Rose Dinner will be held Jan. 24 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill at 6 p.m. Guest speaker will be Richard Thompson, founder and president of the Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., a public interest law firm dedicated to protecting the sanctity of human life and traditional family values.

For more information on the march, convention or Rose Dinner call the March for Life Education and Defense Fund at 202/LIFE-377 or visit www.marchforlife.org.

For more information on the Rally for Life and Youth Mass call 301/853-4555.

Events at the National Shrine

On Jan. 23 the annual Vigil Mass for Life, sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Shrine and Catholic University, will be celebrated by Baltimore Cardinal William Keeler at 8 p.m.

The National Rosary for Life will be prayed in the Crypt Church at 10:30 p.m.

Night prayer will be celebrated by the Most Rev. Andrew Pataki, Eparch of Passaic, with members of Epiphany of Our Lord Byzantine Church in Annandale in the Crypt Church at 11:30 p.m.

Confessions will be heard in the Confessional Chapel in the Crypt Church from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.

On Jan. 24 Holy Hours will be held by Seminarians for Life International in the Crypt Church from midnight to 6:30 a.m.

Morning prayer will be held in the upper church at 6:30 a.m. followed by Mass of Penance and Prayer at 7:30 a.m.

Other Pro-Life Events

On Jan. 21, Americans United for Life, Feminists for Life, Encounter Books and Advocates for Life will hold a symposium, "The Cost of ‘Choice’: Understanding the Toll of Abortion on Women’s Lives" at the Columbus School of Law room 204, Catholic University, 3600 John McCormack Rd., N.E., Washington, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Panelists include contributors to the book, The Cost of "Choice": Women Evaluate the Impact of Abortion, Dr. Elizabeth Shadigian, OBGYN, University of Michigan Medical School; Serrin Foster, president of Feminists for Life; Dorinda Bordlee, senior legislative counsel for Americans United for Life; and Erika Bachiochi, editor of The Cost of "Choice." The expert panel of professional women will challenge the belief that abortion is necessary for women’s well-being and equality, and will explore the root causes that drive women to abortion, its effects on women and practical solutions. For more information call 202/737-3352.

The American Collegians for Life Student Leadership Conference will be held Jan. 22-23 at Catholic University, Columbus School of Law. The conference will feature talks on topics such as stem cell research, campus resources for pregnant and post-abortive women and on-campus pro-life outreach, including a talk by Serrin Foster on Jan. 22 on "Women-Centered Solutions: Developing Pregnancy Resources on Campus" at 10:30 a.m. High school juniors and seniors are invited to attend. For more information visit www.aclife.org. Collegians should register for the conference at www.prolifestudents.com.

On Jan. 23, Serrin Foster will deliver her landmark speech "The Feminist Case Against Abortion" at the Cardinal O’Connor Conference on Life at Georgetown University in the Intercultural Center ICC Auditorium at noon. Foster will trace the distorted path the 1970s women’s movement took away from the traditional feminist beliefs of justice, nonviolence and non-discrimination for all. High school and college students can register at www.studentorgs.gerogetown.edu/life/conference.