Jan. 9, 2012
On Jan. 23, hundreds of Catholic University students will join tens of thousands of people from around the world in the largest and longest running peaceful human rights demonstration - for the unborn.The annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., marks the anniversary of the 1973 United States Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion in the U.S. Under Roe and its companion case Doe v. Bolton , abortion is legal through the ninth month of pregnancy.
"Abortion on demand is an assault on the dignity of the human person," says President John Garvey. "The passage of time since the adoption of Roe v. Wade has not dulled people's sensitivity to this moral calamity. On the contrary, especially among young people, it has emerged as the preeminent human rights issue of our time."
The life and death issue is keenly felt among young adults who have been born and raised in the era of legalized abortion, says Jamila Evans, 30, Catholic University's associate campus minister for women's ministry and social justice. A full third of their generation is missing due to abortion.
"Abortion is the most serious offense to human life for our generation," explains Evans. She says pro-life advocates believe human rights should be equally applied to all members of the human family, including the very youngest.
Evans expects more than 500 students to march under Catholic University's banner this year. Many of them are active in pro-life service groups across the year, Evans notes. "They work tirelessly to ensure that every child can celebrate their birthday and every mother will have the resources to raise their children."
As is custom every year, the University will provide overnight accommodations to teen marchers from out of town. About 1,200 will camp out in the Raymond A. DuFour Athletic Center the night before the march. More than 200 Catholic University students have volunteered to serve as hosts for the visitors. A group of nursing students will help care for minor health issues should they arise. And others will serve as ushers at the Vigil for Life Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
The vigil Mass, on the eve of the march in the Basilica's Great Upper Church, typically draws about 20,000 people. The Mass is organized by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Basilica, and Catholic University. This year, it takes place Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m.
Also, beginning at 10 p.m. on Jan. 22, Catholic University will host Eucharistic adoration and opportunities for confession at the DuFour Center.
On Jan. 23 at 10 a.m., Catholic University student marchers will assemble in Caldwell Hall Auditorium before traveling to the National Mall for the march. Garvey will accompany them.
For more information on activities at the Basilica, visit http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/january-roe-events/national-prayer-vigil-for-life-schedule.cfm .
Students who wish to sign up to march with the CUA contingent and/or to volunteer for overnight hospitality should visit http://ministry.cua.edu/Activities/register/registration-dsp.cfm .
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