Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington,
celebrated Mass on the morning of the 40th Annual March for Life.
About 30 pro-abortion rights demonstrators met an estimated 600,000 anti-abortion rights advocates on the steps of the Supreme Court -- where the court case legalizing abortion in 1973 was decided and where the March for Life traditionally disbands. (WTOP/Natalie Plumb)
WTOP/Natalie Plumb
The Regnum Christi Mission Corps, of New York,
dressed up as the Avengers to show their support
for the March for Life on Jan. 25. (WTOP/Natalie
Plumb)
About 30 Pro-abortion rights demonstrators met an estimated 600,000
anti-abortion rights advocates on the steps of the
Supreme Court -- where the court case legalizing
abortion in 1973 was decided and where the March
for Life traditionally disbands. (WTOP/Natalie
Plumb)
March for Life organizers estimated that about
half a million people came to the demonstration
Jan. 25. (WTOP/Natalie Plumb)
WTOP/Natalie Plumb
Brother Thomas, left, and Brother Gabriel, right,
are Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, of
Connecticut. Hundreds of friars, priest and religious leaders attended the March for Life
Jan. 25. (WTOP/Natalie Plumb)
WTOP/Natalie Plumb
This group, a part of the Archdiocese of Chicago,
says they had more than 500 people in their group
attending the March for Life Jan. 25, with buses
from their state ringing in more than 1,500
demonstrators altogether. (WTOP/Natalie Plumb)
WTOP/Natalie Plumb
Daniel Lyter, 19, blows a horn during the March
for Life demonstration while holding the American
flag. He attended the march with about 300 other
parishioners from St. John Cantius Parish, of
Chicago. (WTOP/Natalie Plumb)
WTOP/Natalie Plumb
President of Secular Pro-Life, Kelsey Hazzard,
24, says she's delighted to be a part of the
March for Life, adding she pins other views to
it, pointing to her "Pro-Life, Pro-Gay" sticker.
Hazzard's group has more than 2,000 members
online. She cited other secular groups like hers
that were at the march, including Feminists for
Life, Consistent Life and New Wave Feminists for
Life. (WTOP/Natalie Plumb)
WTOP/Natalie Plumb
More than 100 people came from Saint Benedict High
School's Teens for Life group to attend the March
for Life, driving more than 12 hours to get to
D.C. (WTOP/Natalie Plumb)
WTOP/Natalie Plumb
This was the front of the March for Life queue of
about half a million participants, according to
the march's organizers. The demonstrators marched
along Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court on
Jan. 25. (WTOP/Natalie Plumb)
WTOP/Natalie Plumb
Kristin Treacy, 47, prays after receiving
Communion at the Mass held at the Verizon Center
prior to the March for Life on Jan. 25. March
organizers say about 15,000 people attended the
Mass. (WTOP/Natalie Plumb)
WTOP/Natalie Plumb
Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington,
welcomes the gift-bearers during the Mass in the
Verizon Center prior to the March for Life on Jan.
25. (WTOP/Natalie Plumb)
WTOP/Natalie Plumb
Youth rally participants line up to receive
Communion during Mass at the Verizon Center prior
to the March for Life. The organizers estimated
that about 15,000 people attended the Mass on Jan.
25. (WTOP/Natalie Plumb)
WASHINGTON – Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, celebrated Mass at the Verizon Center on Jan. 25 with an estimated 15,000 people.
The Mass was held just a few hours prior to the 40th Annual March for Life, an event that takes place on the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.
Wuerl describes the significance of this year’s march as “an enormous sign of hope.”
WTOP: Why is March for Life so important?
Wuerl: Abortion is not solely a matter of religious faith. Abortion is a matter of something that comes right up out of our human nature: We should love the children we generate, not kill them. I think we need to be saying that across every culture across every part of the world. This is not a specifically religious issue. This is a human issue.
WTOP: What about the HHS Mandate?
Wuerl: We’re very hopeful that as time goes on and our conference continues to work with the administration that something will be worked out that will allow us to continue to function as we always have: as a free entity, freely exercising our ministry in our country.
WTOP: What will happen if it does go forward? Has there been discussion about what will happen?
Wuerl: We take this one day at a time, and I’m hopeful that we’re going to be able to resolve this.
WTOP: There’s only so much that you can do. You’ve been marching for decades and decades now. What more can you do to change things?
Wuerl: Each passing year we have more and more young people saying, “This is the right thing to do; that abortion is not the answer to our problems.” So sometimes it’s a matter of patience. It’s 40 years since that decision; they wandered in the desert for 40 years before they came to the Promised Land. You never put time limits on God’s plans. But you just keep doing the best you can do.
WTOP: What’s your favorite part of the March for Life rally?
Wuerl: My favorite part of the rally obviously is the celebration of Mass. But probably for me, when, at the end of Mass, we start introducing those future priests and future religious – all these young people who stand up and say, “I’m going to be a priest; I’m going to be a religious” and you hear thousands of young people applauding them. That’s an exciting time.
Correction appended: An earlier version of this story stated an inaccurate estimate of the number of people who attended Mass at the Verizon Center.
