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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | January 28, 2011 FROM THE COVER
SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald
Belmont Abbey monks, Belmont Abbey College students and alumni, and college president Dr. Bill Thierfelder converged on the nation’s capital to participate in the annual march, tour the Capitol and meet with their Congressman, Republican Patrick McHenry, a 1999 graduate of the college.
(Top) St. Mark Church pilgrims are pictured just before joining the March for Life; (center) Anthony Rivera, 15, holds a prolife banner on Constitution Avenue during his interview with ABC News; (bottom) Bishop Michael F. Burbidge and Bishop Peter J. Jugis concelebrate Mass at the basilica in D.C. sueann howell | catholic news herald
More online More photos from the March for Life in Washington, D.C., are posted online at charlottenewsherald.com.
Belmont Abbey College students tour Capitol, take part in march Mary Beth Worthington Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D.C. — “We need good people who have the right values and are willing to work hard!” Belmont Abbey College students heard this challenge Sunday night as they sat on the floor of the Capitol. Addressing them was a 1999 Abbey alumnus, Republican Congressman Patrick McHenry. “There are moments when you get frustrated,” McHenry told the students. “We have to make sure this is a rational debate – we need to take away the misconceptions and replace them with the facts.” McHenry, a fourth-term congressman from western North Carolina, also gave the group of 75 college students, staff and alumni an insider’s tour that included the Capitol’s rotunda, crypt and halls. “Your presence does have a very powerful impact on what we do here,” McHenry said. “I am very grateful to see my constituents at the March for Life.” “The look of wonder and excitement on the faces of our students as they walked onto the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives brought me the greatest joy,” said Dr. Bill Thierfelder, Belmont Abbey College’s president. “The questions they asked Congressman McHenry, and his answers back to them, showed that they were thinking, ‘Wow, maybe I could be a member of the House or Senate.’ My hope is that this experience will inspire some of them to enter the public square and continue the work begun at Belmont Abbey College, which is building a culture of excellence and virtue.” Abbey sophomore Kathleen Lindsley, 20, was thrilled to “be able to talk to a BAC alum who had come all this way.”
During their three-day stay in Washington, D.C., the students also heard from Dr. John Bruchalski, a former abortion provider. After returning to the faith and then fighting 18 months to be able to stop participating in abortions, contraception and sterilizations, he opened the Tepeyac Family Center, a pro-life medical center in northern Virginia. “It was very inspiring in terms of his conversion from being an abortion provider,” said junior Anthony Perlas, 21. “God is raising a pro-life army.” Alumna Jessica Hanson joined 45 prolifers for a prayer vigil at downtown Washington’s Planned Parenthood clinic Monday morning before the March for Life. “I believe that every pro-life group who comes to the March for Life should begin their trip by praying at an abortion clinic,” Hanson said. “This puts what we are doing into perspective and draws our focus to the reality of our mission.” Along with thousands others, the college group attended the Mass for Life concelebrated by North Carolina Bishops Peter J. Jugis and Michael F. Burbidge just prior to going to the Mall to begin the 38th annual March for Life. “Many are confused about what the [pro-life] issues are,” said junior Megan Ference, 20. “A lot of people don’t know about psychological effects [of abortion] on women, or that their health problems may be because of a past abortion.” Passionate about pro-life issues, Ference is a member of the student pro-life club “Crusaders for Life.” “If what we truly desire is a pro-life campus, it will come from nurturing the student body,” campus minister Tricia Stevenson added. “Part of nurturing this growth is this March for Life.”