Students march for rights of the unborn
Dave Sailer
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The march is held on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. This year, 11 members of Congress, one U.S. Senator and others spoke at the march, while President George W. Bush spoke to the marches via phone from St. Louis, where he was visiting for the day.
The SLU group left the morning of Sunday, Jan. 19, and traveled on two charter buses, first to Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia, where they spent Sunday night and then on to Baltimore. For the remaining nights, the students were hosted by families from Holy Family Parish.
The Pro-Life Vigil Mass, held at the Basilica Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, was one of the major events on the trip. The Mass was celebrated by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua and concelebrated by more than 40 bishops and cardinals and nearly 250 priests, including Barney Barry, S.J.
Bevilacqua offered words of support to the congregation of more than 7,000.
"Expand your dedication in whatever pro-life activity to which you are drawn, because no child should die by abortion, because women deserve better than abortions, and because our society itself deserves better than abortion," he said.
The trip was a moving experience for many of those who decided to rally for life. Sophomore Erik Lundgren said, "Going on the March for Life offered me the opportunity to truly stand up for what I believe in.
"In the United States we have a right to free speech. However, in regards to abortion, being an active and vocal opponent of abortion isn't so much a right as it is an obligation. I felt that going on the march was the least I could do in light of such a very real and very ignored human tragedy," Lundgren said.
Senior Jeff Senzig said, "It is a consolation to be around so many who are also committed to protecting the innocent from the culture of death."
Sophomore Jennifer Theby said, "It's always neat to be able to actually do something for something that you believe in. You can talk about it all you want, but until you actually do something...it's not as proactive."