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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