January 22, 1973 one of the saddest days in the history of the United States. The day when being in the womb becomes as dangerous as the streets of a big city.
January 22, 2007 a day in which we show that those who value life to the fullest will not stand by and let the killing of innocents continue. A day in which we react to the violence of this unholy Holocaust of the innocent unborn with the peaceful marching of silent prayer.
Around 8 o'clock a group of about 30 students, including myself, and faculty from Southern Catholic College loaded on a bus to go the the Atlanta March for Life. This was my first March for Life, an experience that I will never forget.
Driving to Atlanta is never easy and we were unfortunately late for the Rosary at 9:30. So, we said it on the bus. We were able to get to Mass, it started a little late, and there was only standing room only at the back of the church. The church was the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the oldest Catholic church in the South. It was built before the Civil War and was spared in the burning of Atlanta because the Pastor asked Sherman not to burn the church. Sherman agreed, being Catholic, though not practicing, and fearing desertion from his Catholic soldiers. This act thus saved the Catholic Church, several other churches of other faiths, and the courthouse. The Mass was concelebrated by Archbishop Gregory and priests of the archdiocese. The Archbishop's homily began with 'The Father has sent me and now I send you,' noting that God sent Jesus as a little baby and now we are sent to help the innocent babies being killed. Also that, as Catholics, we are still in the mindset of Jesus being born to us as a baby and it is sad that the decision of Roe v. Wade was made so soon after the Christmas season.
After Mass we ate lunch and went quickly to the State Capitol, which was only a block or two away from the church. There the introduced all the Pro-Life politicians of the Georgia House and Senate, a pretty big group (Thank God!!!!). The politicians had to go quickly because they were going in to session soon. Archbishop Gregory spoke saying the almost the same thing as his homily only for a wider audience. He is such a good speaker. Then there was a Southern Baptist preacher, I think his name was Mark Stone, who spoke to us. If he was not introduced as a Southern Baptist preacher his talk would remove all doubt of what he was. He spoke very passionately and I thought he alienated some people, including the politicians, that just said that they are working for a Pro-Life Georgia, by saying he would not stand for sly politicians.
Everyone prepared for the march after the preacher finished. To begin the heartbeat of an infant growing in the womb was played through the speakers and we began when Taps was played on a nearby trumpet. Through out the March there was a trumpet player on every corner playing Taps, a salute to the unborn. My group walked behind a Southern Catholic Banner to show the school's support for the the Pro-Life cause. I marched and quietly prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
Downtown Atlanta is home to Georgia State College. As the marchers were passing by the school, classes were letting out. Some just stared, some gave disgusted looks, one guy yelled out "Freedom of Choice", and two girls gave us the finger. There were some students that just walked right through the marchers to get to the other side of the road without looking at us or saying "Excuse me".
At the beginning and end of the march (both at the State Capitol) there were people passing out Chick Tracts, the one track that bears the title 'Are Roman Catholics Christians?'. It was almost ironic - they were Pro-Life, and yet Anti-Catholic - trying to kill two birds with one stone.
All in all it was a good March for Life. One thing that I have to point out was how quite it was. Downtown Atlanta is not know for being quite and it was amazing that so many people remain silent for so long speaking only in prayer.
I pray that there will no longer be a need for these Marches and that innocent unborn life will be seen by all as just that....
LIFE.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us and the innocent unborn
