February 4, 2009

March for Life journey rekindles pro-life commitment among Denver pilgrims

By Mimi Eckstein

On Jan. 22 some 300,000 people from every part of the United States and representing every ethnic group and age group converged on the nation’s capital to give voice to the 50 million unborn children who have died by abortion since 1973. 

Among this throng of pro-life advocates participating in the March for Life were 13 members of the Archdiocese of Denver, many of whom made great personal sacrifices to join fellow Americans and others of good will who believe that the country must face the sin of abortion that continues to inflict the gravest harm upon our unborn children and leaves lasting effects upon the lives of their parents.

The March for Life participants stood in the very place on the Mall in Washington, D.C. where just two days prior, supporters of President Barack Obama stood to welcome the first black U.S. president.  In President Obama’s inaugural address he pledged to bring fairness and justice to all people.  Those at the March for Life raised their voices to plead that all members of society are indeed protected, including the unborn. 

One of the most articulate and moving black American pro-life proponents, Alveda King, niece of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King, declared at a later venue, “The pro-life movement is a revival of the civil rights movement of the 60s.”  She asserted, “For President Obama to be fair and just he must recognize and protect in law the unborn children of our country.” 

Along with religious and political leaders were laypeople who stood throughout the march holding signs.  About them, Light of the World parishioner Anita Haynes of the Denver contingent noted, “The courage of the women and men on stage behind the speakers with signs stating, ‘I regret my abortion’ and ‘I regret my lost fatherhood’ was heart wrenching but necessary.” 

The largest segment of March for Life participants were America’s youth.  They impressed the Denver group with their reverence in prayer, their exuberance in song and praise, and their overall respectful manner, prompting Catherine Miller of St. Michael’s Parish in Aurora to say:  “Filled with the Holy Spirit they bravely and joyfully represented their generation speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves … prayerfully remembering  those who were lost or damaged through abortion.”

Members of the Denver group agreed that the most moving moment of the March for Life event was the Jan. 21 Mass for Life, held in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. 

“The Respect Life Mass at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception was an uplifting experience,” said Leonard Micek of St. Thomas More Church in Centennial. “By participating in this event I came to realize the immensity of the pro-life movement within the Catholic Church.  A procession that lasted over half an hour, consisting of cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons and seminarians simply thrilled me. 

“Having our own Bishop (James) Conley participating in this liturgy just added to the feeling of being in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing for the right reason,” Micek added.

Principal celebrant for the Respect Life Mass was Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia.  He used President Obama’s own message for change to implore a change to a “culture of life.”  He said that all pro-life avenues will be used to continue the work during the new administration to stop the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) and other legislative efforts that will bring harm to the most vulnerable in our country, particularly the unborn.  “Christ is our hope, and in him the victory is already won,” declared Cardinal Rigali.  “What is at stake,” he added, “is liberty and justice for all.”

The Denver pilgrims said that another special moment for them was a Mass celebrated by fellow pilgrim Father Joseph Cao, pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Arvada.

The Denver pilgrims became good friends.  We marched together, prayed together and shared meals together.  Over those few days our commitment to the pro-life effort within the Catholic Church was renewed and revived.  Our feeling of solidarity with others in comparable work throughout dioceses around the country was forged.
We agreed that a special grace for us was to have Bishop Conley journey with us.  We pointed him out with pride when he walked before us in the procession at Mass, when he was introduced on stage at the March for Life and when he marched to the Supreme Court building. His witness inspired and uplifted our own.

Mimi Eckstein is director of the Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of Denver.