As the crowd attending the annual March for Life Jan. 22 made its way down Capitol Avenue in downtown Little Rock, it found itself shrouded in a dense fog. So dense, in fact, that the marchers’ destination, the Arkansas State Capitol building, was all but invisible from a block away.
Set to a bagpiped “Amazing Grace” the crowd marched to its clarion call, a dark ribbon of humanity bundled against the misty conditions, toward a goal that was not apparent except in the minds of the marchers. They marched knowing they would get there, if only by faith alone.
“A peaceful, joyful day,” is how Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB, of Subiaco Abbey described the throng.
“This is inspiring, this is more emotional than I thought it was going to be,” said first-time marcher and seminarian Emmanuel Torres of Mexico.
Such optimism seemed oddly juxtaposed over the sad fact that the 2012 event, sponsored by Arkansas Right to Life and attended by 4,000 pro-life advocates including Catholics from parishes across the state, coincided with the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. In truth, nearly half of those assembled could not remember a time when abortion was not legal in the United States.
Yet even the longtimers in the crowd who have spent years, even decades, standing in support of human life were undaunted in their belief that one day the Catholic doctrine of protecting life from birth to natural death would be returned to law of the land status. Even as the ultimate victory was hard to see, faith moved them forward and buoyed confidence that they would, one day, get where they were going.
“This is another wonderful gathering of faith filled people,” said Father William Elser, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Hot Springs Village. “It’s good to see so many young people here. Their fervor and enthusiasm for the movement is inspiring. I know that one day we will win, either by constitutional amendment or through the Supreme Court.”
“I’m confident change will come,” Abbot Jerome added. “I’m encouraged when I see all these people living what they believe, even if others don’t believe it. Nothing is permanent, God can do anything.”
The importance of young Catholics in the struggle against abortion and euthanasia was underscored everywhere. Not only were young marchers out in force, but the Mass for Life preceding the march was tailored to younger parishioners. Music was provided by a seven-member group of high school musicians from Christ the King Church in Little Rock that played mostly contemporary songs, except for a traditional rendition of “Ave Maria” by pianist Ashley Elser and vocalist Janie Roe.
Celebrant Bishop Anthony B. Taylor singled out the more than 500 high school and college students in his welcome to open the Mass, saying “It’s great to see a full house.”
Later, the pivotal role young Catholics play in the pro-life movement within the Church was underscored again and again by veterans of the struggle.
“I think we are learning more and more that we need to pay attention to young people in the Church,” said Msgr. Richard Oswald, associate vocations director and associate pastor of St. Edward Church in Little Rock. “The culture is evolving and we have to stay on top of that by speaking to them in a way they can hear us. We can’t take them for granted.”
While the undercurrent of optimism was palpable at the event, the sobering realities of widening legal and political elements was underscored both at the Mass for Life and by the speakers on the State Capitol steps.
During his homily, Bishop Taylor denounced what he called the government’s increasing attacks on Christians’ rights and freedoms through various health care legislation, specifically rules requiring all health care plans to cover sterilization and contraception while narrowing religious exemption, which would allow health care systems, insurers or practitioners to opt out on the basis of conscience. (Read Bishop’s homily here)
“Underlying this change is an attempt by some to redefine ’freedom of religion’ as merely ’freedom of worship’,” he said. “But for us Catholics, religion is a way of life that pertains to our whole person and everything we do, and it empowers us — and indeed, obligates us — to bring into the public square truths and values that flow from faith and reason.”
Speakers on the Capitol steps, headlined by activist and author Dr. Jean Staker Garton and Congressman Tim Griffin, echoed the themes of the day. Garton urged the crowd not to lose their fervor despite the nearly four-decade presence of Roe v. Wade as federal law.
“Defending the right values has never been popular or easy or safe,” said Garton, founder of Lutherans for Life. “Does it make a difference that we come together on a day like this? I have been involved in this struggle since 1969 and I can tell you it makes a lot of difference.”
Bishop Taylor’s summary remarks in his homily were much more direct in his challenge to the Catholics of Arkansas.
“(The) Kingdom of God is still at hand, and we sure have our work cut out for us in our task of calling people, indeed our entire nation, to repentance today,” he said. “We have not only the God-given right, but more importantly, the God-given obligation, to do so.”
