Pro-life movement unites in march on Washington

Excerpted from "Annual 'March for Life' to go on despite ice and cold," USA Today, Jan. 22, 2014 - "We march because 56 million Americans never had a chance to experience snow," the March for Life's Twitter account posted Tuesday, referring to the estimated number of abortions since the 1973 Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal nationwide.

Veronika Johannsen, 22, of College Station, Texas, beat the weather and arrived safely for her second time at the march.

"The face is changing. It's not just white male politicians like the pro-choice people like to say," Johannsen said. "All kinds of people come. Religious groups of all different denominations, former abortion workers, women who have been raped or have been conceived in rape."

This is the 40th year that protesters will march from the National Mall to the Supreme Court, and 2014 is bringing changes like social media and a March For Life app. There is a "virtual march" on Facebook where users who can't make it can post a past March for Life photo as their cover photo to show support.

The theme this year is adoption. Speakers will include Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia and Democratic Rep. Dan Lipinski of Illinois.

"We want to encourage women facing the option of abortion to choose adoption," said Jeanne Monahan, president of the March for Life Education & Defense Fund. "Adoption is at the center of motherhood. Motherhood is all about sacrifices. This is an ultimate sacrifice for the good of the baby."

Commentary

CMA VP for Govt. Relations Jonathan Imbody– “Respect for life need not be a partisan proposition, and thankfully some politicians challenge the notion that a party cannot simultaneously advance the interests of women and babies. That's crucial, because decades ago, a specious argument of radical feminists began to prevail in the courts and with many politicians and women--namely, that a woman cannot advance professionally apart from the ability to terminate the life of her unborn child. Thankfully, many pro-life professional women, including members of organizations like CMDA's Women in Medicine and Dentistry, are demonstrating the fallacy of that assertion.

“I enjoyed the privilege of joining my good friend Jeanne Monahan, president of the March for Life, on stage Wednesday. I felt heartened as I looked out on the enormous crowd on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.—women, children and men who had braved 18-degree cold to join our march to the Supreme Court to solemnly protest the Roe v. Wade 1973 abortion decision. Especially encouraging are the vast numbers of young men and women who have seen through the deception that separates women from their babies and have determined to see the horror of abortion on demand abolished in their lifetime.

“If you can make it to next year's March for Life, please do so and bring family and friends. I hope you will also winsomely engage others in personal conversations, social media networks and professional opportunities to help them unpack the deception of abortion rights and recognize the gift of life.

“You can also help build a culture of life by encouraging and supporting options for women in challenging pregnancies--including by serving as a medical advisor in your community's pregnancy center.”

"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God…" (2 Corinthians 10:5, NASB).

Action

1. Join the March for Life next year
2. Serve in a local pregnancy center (see Action under article below)

Resources

• Read Freedom2Care blog and view March for Life photos
• CMDA Abortion Resources