The US East Coast has been hit with a days-long cold weather system, but thousands are still expected to gather in Washington for the annual March for Life on Friday (Jan. 19).
Originally, the event was to protest against the Supreme Court decision "Roe v. Wade," but since its overturning in 2022, the march has since developed into a call to protect what pro-life advocates call the "right to life" from human conception in the woman's womb as the abortion issue has been passed over to the states.
National Right to Life Committee president Carol Tobias told USA TODAY that the march was a message that she and like-minded people would keep supporting the pro-life cause. She additionally observed a renewed energy and enthusiasm despite setbacks in the anti-abortion movement over the last year after pro-abortion advocates celebrated the passing of ballot measures to protect abortion access or rejected efforts to restrict it in seven states in a row.
The rally was planned to commence at the National Mall before moving toward the Capitol Building and finishing in front of the Supreme Court, where clashes between the two sides of the abortion issue are commonplace.
Among the speakers for the annual event - with this year's theme being "With Every Woman, For Every Child" - include House Speaker Mike Johnson, Congressional Pro-Life Caucus co-chair Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), and other legislative colleagues, Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship, and former NFL player Benjamin Watson, who is now affiliated with the Human Coalition.
Catholic Bishop: Bring Light to Darkest Corners
The night before the march, Arlington Catholic Bishop Michael Burbidge called the congregation gathered at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to "bring light to the darkest corners" of American society.
In his sermon at the Mass for the event, Burbidge said that being "strategic" in states "where there are victories to be won," advocates should "not lose hope" in states where abortion rights have been enshrined into law.
Reflecting from the final chapter of the Gospel of St. Matthew, the bishop explained that, while the story of Jesus ended in his resurrection and ascension - as a majority of Christians of all stripes believe - "[t]he work of ... sharing the gift of redemption has only just begun."
EWTN further reported that Burbidge also criticized the Biden administration's pro-abortion policies, saying that it "has removed safety protocols" regarding the distribution of abortion pills, which he claimed was "endangering women's health and making vulnerable women more susceptible to coercion and abuse."
Despite the overturning of Roe v. Wade, advocates for both sides of the issue are expected to clash at the state level, as well as a possibility of coming to a head at the 2024 presidential elections.
This is a developing story. Please follow HNGN for more updates.
