First we will start here the night before, where we will offer prayers for our cause. Our Lord asked us to spend at least an hour with Him in His agony; surely we can do that for those who have suffered from the horrors we seek to eradicate.
"Then what?"
"What shall we do on the way?"
Continue to pray. Offer the Rosary. Recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. If you have a sign or banner, hold it up. Most of all, by our presence, we make the strongest statement for our cause.
"But why do we do this?"
We believe in the sanctity and sacredness of human life, from natural conception to natural death. Science informs us a distinct new human being is formed at the fusion of human egg and human sperm; that is the material side of the equation. But humans are not just "skin and bones"; the flip side of the coin is that we are also a spiritual being. Our faith informs us God infuses a rational soul into the zygote at the time of conception. Therefore, we are made in the image and likeness of Him.
The right to life, the right to live, the right to exist is the first and foremost human right. All other proper rights flow from this. The Founding Fathers of the United States recognized it as well and listed it as the first of the three inalienable rights in the Declaration of Independence. And drawing from English Common Law, the fetus had legal protection until this day in 1973, where Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton struck down those laws.
We are protesting this unjust decision by the Supreme Court of the United States. Ever since that day, we have been working to restore the First Human Right. The political battle over abortion for the last five decades has been fierce; some years the pro-life movement has made gains, some years the poor-(pro-)choice advocates cemented their hold. In the past twelve months the scales have tipped a little more toward the pro-life side. Just over 200 abortion clinics have been closed in that time, almost the same the amount of the previous eleven years. Various states have enacted laws giving the unborn child some protection, especially after the 20 week threshold; the state of Texas having the most contentious battle last year. But it was the trial of Dr. Kermit Gosnell in Philadelphia that brought to light more than any ultrasound picture what the fight is about.
Abortion-right believers use the mantra of "safe, legal, and rare" in promoting their agenda. Rare? 56,000,000+ abortions in the past 41 years. Safe? Most of the abortion clinics were closed because the practitioners did their business in environments as bad if not worse that what was seen at Dr. Gosnell's place. (How does that protect the "health of the mother"? And why are there no cries from that side about regulations to insure that safety?) Legal? Only because the judicial system seems to be fractured along political lines; either side can find a sympathetic jurist. There are legal experts on both sides of the argument who agree the rulings are a bad piece of jurisprudence. This phrase holds no water any longer.
"How long will we do this?"
There are many hearts to convert and minds to change. Courage, patience, and perseverance are a must. It may not happen in my lifetime; I hope the next generation sees the ultimate success. I look to the example of the abolitionist movement as to how to fight the good fight. Let's hope it doesn't come down to a bloody civil war to seal the deal.
"So, we will be back next year?"
Most likely.
But, maybe, with more prayer (and let's include more fasting as well) and more hard work in proclaiming what is true, God might have a surprise in store.
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