Diocese part of record turnout at annual March

By CECILE SAN AGUSTIN
Reporter

WASHINGTON - Creating a sea of humanity as they walked along Constitution Ave in the nation's capital, pro-life advocates came together for the 37th annual March for Life here Jan. 22 to stand up for life and against the Supreme Court decision (Roe vs. Wade) that made abortion legal.

A statement posted on the March for Life Web site afterward did not give a count but said the size of the crowd for this year's rally and the March that followed it "far exceeded" last year's number. In 2009 the organization estimated the crowd to be 100,000. The U.S. Park Police, which has responsibility for the Mall, and the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia have not given official crowd counts for any demonstration since about 1995.

Nellie Gray, president of the March for Life Education & Defense Fund - the group that organizes the march - told participants that their presence at the 37th annual March represented a "whole new surge" for the pro-life movement to not only continue to educate government officials about the immorality of abortion but to also show a united front.

Those involved in the fight against abortion, she said, are not just working to change laws but are also giving support for pregnant women and women who have had abortions.
Several speakers on the podium with Gray highlighted the pro-life movement's outreach efforts and urged participants to support pro-life doctors and pharmacists and to let members of their community know about the available pregnancy centers or post-abortion counseling programs.

With the U.S. Capitol in the background, 23 Catholic bishops and 21 members of Congress joined pro-life leaders on the rally's stage.

Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao, R-La.., led the group in a pro-life cheer and then urged them to "speak loudly for leaders to understand we are pro-life."

He encouraged the participants to keep up their efforts, stressing that the "fight will be long and hard" and that young people, who made up a large percentage of March attendees, would need to see the efforts through.

U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan told the crowd that "for the first time you live in a majority pro-life country" referring to recently released Gallup poll results showing 51 percent of American to be pro-life on the abortion issue and 42 percent of Americans as pro-choice.

"You have done it - persuading others - keep it up," he said.
At the March, participants carried signs, sang songs and hymns and reminded all about the sacredness of all life from the womb to natural death.

From the Paterson Diocese, hundreds participated in the March coming from all three counties by bus to put an end to abortion.

The diversity of participants showed to all that life issues are not a cause fought by a specific group but by generations and generations of people of different vocations. From priests and religious sisters to Knights of Columbus and students, the March was especially a high priority in light of the health care reform bills dominating discussions in Washington. Marchers hoped to remind House and Senate officers that abortions paid for by taxpayer funds should not be part of any health care bill.

For Rafael and Rocio Sanchez, parishioners of St. Mary Parish, Paterson, bringing their two young children Rafael Jr., 7, and Teresa, 11 to the March was important for them to make their children - even in their young ages - understand and see that all life is sacred.

Rocio Sanchez, who marched for the first time, said, "The March gave me more of an incentive to continue to fight for life. Sometimes you can feel alone in this fight but being there and seeing all these people, made me realize I'm not alone and it gave me hope."
Her daughter, Teresa, said, "It was pretty cool to see all those people and I believe it was important to march because babies not born yet are still part of the world."

Before the March, many from the Paterson Diocese attended a Mass celebrated by Father Michael Rodak, parochial vicar of Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Sparta, at St. Peter Church here near the March route.

In his homily, he reminded the participants, "We need to stand up for God and stand up for doing what is right. Jesus came into this world out of love for you and me. He came to serve and not to be served. He came out of love and unfortunately, that love was not found 37 years ago today just a few blocks away from here."

With many young people at the Mass in attendance from Pope John XXIII High School in Sparta, Villa Walsh Academy and Delbarton School, both in Morristown, and St. Anthony Church's youth ministry in Passaic, Father Rodak addressed them and said, "Young people: value your morals and grow in greater understanding of God's love for you."

For one young person, Chrissy Wilson, a junior at Pope John XXIII High School, the march reminded her to respect all human life. She said, "I come from a family with eight kids and we were always taught that all life is sacred. I came to stand up for those who are faced with the situation of abortion and forced to make this decision because that is another kind of abuse."

Christine Castro, 15, of St. Anthony's, said, "Abortion kills the future. Like Father Rodak mentioned in his homily you could be killing (future) doctors, lawyers, teachers and people who will make up the future of this world."

Also attending the March was Hope Kummant of Several Sources Shelter, a Ramsey-based shelter for pregnant young mothers. Kummant, who serves as an assistant house mother and leads Bible study and chastity classes, said, "One of the main reasons I attended was because one of our moms lost her baby (seven months into her pregnancy) and I think about the mourning she went through. She couldn't wait for the birth of her baby and it reaffirms for me this fight."

Peter Kueken, a parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Passaic and member of the Regina Mundi Knights of Columbus Council 3969, said, "I came to be a witness for the unborn. The issue of abortion is not just an issue of the Catholic Church, it is an issue for all of humanity."

While the March for Life is one day in the year, across the Paterson Diocese people continue to stand up against abortion all throughout the year. For a group from the St. Philip's Knights of Columbus Council 11671 in Clifton, life issues are a top priority for their mission. Michael Renda, a longtime knight, and other concerned pro-life advocates, stand outside Planned Parenthood in Montclair on Tuesday and Saturday mornings and invite all on this mission.

"There could be up to 90 pregnant women that go to the clinic on a Saturday. We educate them and tell them about the alternative," Renda said.

Ray Evangelista, also a member of St. Philip's Knights, said, "We need everyone to come and be there to save the babies."

As the fight continues on for life, Father Rodak reminds all, "We need to stand up for life. For life is speaking of God, the Giver of all life."

[This report contains material form Catholic News Service.]