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TFP Marches with Tens of
Thousands in Washington, D.C.
Tens of thousands of anti-abortion protesters
from across the nation gathered on January 22 in Washington DC for
the 29th March for Life. Members and supporters of the American
Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP)
were among the participants, appearing with their characteristic
standards and its marching brass band.
In a statement titled "The Challenges
We Face," the American TFP remarked how the post September
11 marchers were "united as Americans but greatly concerned
with the moral issues that divide our nation, especially the continued
slaughter of innocents."
Indeed, march organizers were able to unite
over 80,000 Americans. Large numbers of priests, religious and lay
Catholics packed the area near the Washington monument where the
march started. At the prayer vigil held at the Basilica of the Immaculate
Conception the night before, seven U.S. Cardinals, 50 Bishops and
260 priests attended.
Evident were large grassroots delegations
from Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Missouri, Kansas,
Rhode Island and other states. Political leaders spoke at the pre-march
rally. Especially welcome was President George W. Bush who spoke
via telephone from West Virginia. He encouraged the crowd, to continue
their "hard work and dedication" and affirmed his commitment
for a comprehensive and effective ban on human cloning.
Among the congressmen addressing the throng,
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), chairman of the Congressional pro-life
caucus spoke out against the lukewarmness of political leaders.
"Our lukewarmness in government has enabled a holocaust of
over 40 million children," Rep. Smith said.
This year's TFP public declaration warned
that while America's fight against terrorism has prompted a "passionate
zeal to find shared principles, we cannot allow this affinity to
overshadow principles not shared."
This is especially true of the "cultural
war" where a cultural climate of violence, promiscuity and
blasphemy creates the conditions for abortion to flourish. There
is no ceasefire in the abortion killing fields and those against
abortion must redouble their efforts.
The TFP also addressed the matter of stem-cell
and human cloning research, which it termed a "biogenetic Tower
of Babel challenging God the Creator."
"The key to our national well-being,"
the statement concluded, "will never be found in choices that
violate the moral and natural order."
The March for Life 2002 coincided with the end of an American TFP
weekend of studies for young American and foreign students at its
headquarters in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania. The American TFP contingent
therefore was proud to have representatives from France, Germany,
Brazil, Poland, and Ukraine.
The American TFP was also pleased to welcome friends from foreign
anti-abortion organizations. Members of France's Droit de Naître
and Germany's SOS Leben (Deutsche Vereinigung für
eine Christliche Kultur) encouraged many American who found
these new allies in the abortion struggle.
Click
here to read the complete text of "The Challenges We Face"
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