Jan 29, 1993

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Volume 2 Number 21

in the Diocese of Charlotte

Pour

Pro-Lifers

Schools Week...

Into

January

29, 1993

Washington

2 Days After Clinton Inauguration By

CAROL HAZARD Associate Editor

— Undaunted by

WASHINGTON

President Bill Clinton's pro-abortion stand,

poured into the nation's capital

pro-lifers

two days after the inauguration for the annual March for Life. "The election was not a knock out call," said Nellie Gray, March for Life president, at a pre-march rally. "It was a wake up call." Gray said the crowd was the largest she had seen since the march was organized 20 years ago on the first anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. She estimated 200,000 people, although network news stations reported 75,000, about the same as last year. The media always deflates the figures, says Maggi Nadol, Respect Life coordinator for the

The

Diocese of Charlotte.

and, unlike

was packed

overflowing for a

last year,

march. Unable to find

seats,

cency to realizing

in

Diocese of Char-

made the trip, while last year there was

only one. This year also marked the

first

Gerard Kusick,

march.

marched peacefully

pro-lifers

and prayerfully to the capitol, President Clinton wiped out most of the restrictions placed on abortion by the previous administration. He lifted restrictions on abortion counseling at federally funded clinics and opened the way for fetal tissue research. der Danielle si

in

Hinton

and Beth Hall, a kindergarten student, attend Our Lady Of Mercy

(1)

Winston-Salem. (See Catholic Schools

Week

stories,

Pages 7-10) Photo by

le're Listening,

The new pro-abortion administration "may serve to move people from compla-

we were

"Last year

chairman for

in

Greensboro,

so confident that

we were going to a victory celebration. Now, there is more impetus. We have got to stand up and be counted."

'Twenty years

is

too long," said Joice

Kelly of Matthews. "Unfortunately, we're

probably

While

pro-life

Columbus

the Knights of

organized group of five students from CharCatholic High School to attend the

all

people," said Nadol.

said,

Two buses from the

that the fight for the

sanctity of life is the responsibility of

people stood

deep along walls and kneeled

aisles.

lotte

Parish in Greens-

CAROL HAZARD

Photo by

prayer vigil the night before the Jan. 22

lotte

Mary

St.

Basilica of the National Shrine of

the Immaculate Conception

several

McHale of

Elaine

boro sports a Respect Life sign for the march.

in for

another four years

if

not

But if more people stand up, then the lukewarm Christians won't be as scared." longer.

who are not

Kelly and her husband, Lewis, Catholic, traveled to

Washington on the

diocesan bus.

Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M.

Mahony urged

pro-lifers at the Jan. 21

prayer vigil to 'intensify the prayer program '

See March, Page 3

JOANN KEANE

Mr. President, Are You?

jeep Fires Burning For Pro-Life

Movement, Says Bishop

President Clinton:

On Jan. 20,

1993, under a crystal blue Washington sky,

we watched and listened as you

country today.

K the oath of office as the 42nd president of the United States. Following your swearing

you gave, what some critics claim, was the best speech of your political career. In it, you called Americans to service and sacrifice. You proclaimed that dramatic change was needed to turn this in,

What struck me the most, Mr. when you said, "There is nothing wrong with America

country back toward prosperity. President, that

is

cannot be cured by what

You

is

right

by America."

after taking office,

which would require medical professionals to give jmation

all

women

seeking abortions

was a dark day for the pro-life movement. But we pro-lifers the belief For what is wrong in America a human choice in terminating a life ~ we believe can be cured by

on alternatives.

It

ake solace in your very own inaugural words.

)me

that there is

on demand. Rather than be disheartened by your words, thousands of (arched in Washington last weekend to show you and others that the pro-life movement we and well. While media and politicians are sometimes quick to report that Americans inating abortion

we believe that America's strength is rooted in its profound respect for life, and the pursuit of happiness. I was elated to see thousands of dedicated men, women >fy qr abortion,

Children e a

ill

march

in

Washington on

Jan. 22,

1993 for the unborn,

It

was

their

answer

of service that brought them there. Each and every person who marched that day

ud supporter of their brothers and sisters

e iful

ion

as is

we

to

was

who have no voice-yet. Hope and prayers were

you, Mr. President, America and the world that not our choice, not our cure, not our answer to the problems which plague our gathered together to

tell

the

monumental

It

has been 20 long years since the pro-life

in their

its

judgment

minds and hearts of Americans so they may war of modem times: the death of millions of unborn babies

own country. Ours has not been a popular war, ours has not been a battle easily won

but, as with

any war, the commitment to continue the fight is sparked by the people on the is why our trip to Washington each and every year since 1973 has been

That

more important than

the symbolic marches,

is

the

a daily basis. Each of us, in our own way, does our part to keep the life

down

movement has taken on

task of opening the eyes,

witness the most devastating

important. But

you said some other things which brought sadness to many of your fellow Americans, including me. You chose to weaken the laws which protect our unborn children by supporting the Freedom of Choice Act and lifting

two days

has been 20 years since the United States Supreme Court handed

front lines.

are absolutely right

Unfortunately, just

It

to allow legal abortions.

movement Every

action

important whether

is

work we do fire

at

home on

burning for the pro-

picketing an abortion clinic, urging

it's

congressional representatives to reverse the laws legalizing abortion, counseling young

women to chose life,

or offering the best of prayers to protect the unborn.

to matters of life and death, there

we

celebrated Project Life.

is

As bishop

of my diocese,

I

urged

it

comes

my fellow Catholics to mail

postcards to their representatives in Washington asking that the

am

When

nothing too small or too grand that we can do. Last Sunday

you heard about those cards

Freedom of Choice Act be

were to reach Washington by the week's end. It is our turn to speak, Mr. President, and we hope you are listening. We pray you find our message as serious as your own. In addition, we will pray for our country's leaders, especially you, Mr. President, for a conversion of heart and mind. While we wait in prayer for that conversion, we will take further solace in the Scriptural words you quoted in your inaugural address: "And let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not" We believe, Mr. President, we will reap the lives of many future Americans. defeated.

I

sure

Sincerely

Bishop John

F.

Donoghue

for an estimated million


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