Roe vs. Wade: A Sobering Anniversary

By Bishop Paul S. Loverde
Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 1/27/05)

On Monday, Jan. 24, I was once again both privileged and proud to take part in the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. As you know, each year thousands upon thousands of people from across our country gather to pray and to witness in support of human life, especially human life present in the innocent and defenseless child living in his/her mother’s womb. This year, the number of people who marched for life was estimated at 100,000.

I still remember that Monday the 22nd of January, 1973, when the United States Supreme Court rendered its infamous decision allowing abortion on demand, Roe v. Wade. I was initially shocked and saddened and then morally outraged at that decision. In those years, I was teaching at a Catholic high school, serving as the part-time chaplain at Connecticut College in New London, and assisting in a local parish. I recently reviewed the homily I gave soon after the news of this decision broke. Thirty-two years ago, the basic ingredients of our united response were voiced and these same ingredients remain true today: prayer and penance, reflection on the real issues underlying abortion and action, both individual and communal.

The March for Life on Monday incorporated these ingredients. We prayed all weekend long and on Monday as well. On Sunday night, a Mass in Thanksgiving for Life was celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Four cardinals, a number of bishops, priests and deacons and a packed Basilica (upper and lower) of religious and laity took part in this Mass and heard Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore eloquently call us to deeper prayer and more concrete action in support of life and in opposition to abortion. The next day, Monday morning, the MCI Center in Washington was filled (over 20,000 people) as, once again, people from across our country prayed at the Mass celebrated by Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, and concelebrated by two other cardinals, and a large number of bishops and priests. Young people were very numerous at the March for Life and they were very visible both at the Basilica and at the MCI Center. Also present at Monday’s Mass was a large group of seminarians and women and men pursuing the religious life as sisters and brothers.

We reflected during the events of this year’s March for Life. Cardinal Keeler’s homily on Sunday night, Father Andrew Fisher’s homily on Monday and Cardinal McCarrick’s observations also on Monday caused us all to reflect more deeply on creating a new culture of life and on being missionaries for life daily.

And we took action. The March itself is an eloquent and active testimony to the will, the determination and the energy of our people across the land, both young and not-so-young, to unite in opposing abortion and in supporting and defending human life, especially at its first moment at conception.

Other than the near-zero temperatures, I was struck by several aspects of this year’s march. First of all, I noted that the crowds that marched peacefully down Constitution Avenue were young. It is clearly a fact that the pro-life movement is not aging, but becoming younger.

I also was struck by the predominance of posters which spoke to and about women, such as "Women deserve better than abortion." Such posters, and the people who carried them, reveal an overall approach to the abortion issue which, with love, speaks first to the dignity of the woman and the life she carries or might carry. Women truly deserve better than abortion. I was delighted to see a banner from the Diocese of Ogdensburg, where I served as the diocesan bishop from 1994 to 1999. I recall taking part in some discussions that led to the design of that banner and remember urging them to include our Holy Father’s quote, "We are a people of life and for life … " (cf. Evangelium Vitae, 78).

Yes, we must never cease being a people of life and for life. We will unfailingly continue with determination to be missionaries for life, heralds of the Gospel of Life, as we pray and do penance, as we reflect and discuss, as we witness and propose the Truth about life and the evil of abortion.

Monday’s March for Life was like a shot of adrenaline, strengthening us for our daily witness back home to uphold, defend and protect human life. I ask you to join me in making our witness visible and credible here as we take part each month in a Respect Life Mass and then pray the Rosary before an abortion facility. February’s Respect Life Mass will be held on Saturday, Feb. 5, at Blessed Sacrament Church, Alexandria, at 8:30 a.m. Yes, we are one in the support of human life and in the creation of a deepened culture of life!

Copyright ©2005 Arlington Catholic Herald.  All rights reserved.