Tens of thousands of Americans against abortion gathered Jan. 22 in Washington and heard political leaders tell them they are winning the battle to protect life, despite a new Congress lacking in support for their cause.
Children, teenagers and adults from numerous states participated in the annual March for Life on the 34th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.
The marchers gathered on a lightly snow-covered National Mall for a rally in near-freezing temperatures that preceded their walk up Constitution Avenue past the Capitol to the high court building. At the rally, President Bush, members of Congress and pro-life leaders encouraged the marchers to continue their efforts.
“I want the folks assembled there to know that we’re making progress,” Bush said by phone to the crowd.
“As we move forward, we’ve all got to remember that a true culture of life cannot be built by changing laws alone. We’ve all got to work hard to change hearts. … The sanctity of life is written in the hearts of all men and women. And so I say, go forth with confidence that a cause rooted in human dignity and appealing to the best instincts of our citizens cannot fail.”
The president cited in his four-minute address several pro-life initiatives his administration has promoted during its six years, including a ban on partial-birth abortion that is awaiting a ruling by the Supreme Court. He spoke to the marchers for the first time, however, as a president whose party controlled neither house of Congress. The Democratic Party gained control of both chambers in the November 2006 election, and the leadership in both houses is dominated by pro-choice adherents.
Abortion rights organizations commemorated the anniversary of Roe v. Wade with a more optimistic view after the congressional turnover. Some, such as the National Organization for Women and the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, called for repeal of the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits Medicaid from funding most abortions for poor women.
Bush issued a proclamation declaring Jan. 21 as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. The Southern Baptist Convention, as well as many evangelical churches and the Roman Catholic Church, observed the day as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. (BP)
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