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Marching to Make Abortion Unthinkable
The American Society for the Defense
of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) joined well over 100,000
concerned Americans from across the country for the annual
March for Life in Washington D.C. This year's January 22 march
marked 31 years since the infamous Roe v. Wade decision
granting women the "right" to murder their preborn
children.
Dozens of TFP activists handed out
thousands of flyers, carrying an American flag and eight 18-foot
standards, TFP symbols, which have been a fixture at each
march since its inception in 1973. This year's flyer, titled
"Making Abortion Unthinkable," (click
here to read "Making Abortion Unthinkable") showed
that being anti-abortion means being pro-family and pro-marriage.
It decried the homosexual agenda which strives to undermine
the family by redefining marriage to include partnerships
other than those between one man and one woman.
The flyer read, "By its very
definition, the anti-abortion struggle has always been pro-marriage
and pro-family. This is because abortion is unthinkable within
the context of a truly Christian family."
Fr. Kevin Beaton of Newcastle, Penn. traveled
to the American TFP headquarters where he celebrated mass
in the traditional Maronite Rite before marching with the
TFP in Washington.
His Imperial and Royal Highness, Prince
Bertrand of Orleans-Braganza also marched with this years
TFP contingent and distributed flyers. "I enjoy any opportunity
to defend what is right," he said. "Attending this
year's March for Life was thrilling."
President George W. Bush called from
Roswell, N. Mex. to encourage the marchers. In his address
he called on pro-lifers to spread their conviction. "We
must continue with civility and respect to remind our fellow
citizens that all life is sacred and worthy of protection."
In addition to President Bush, several
congressmen addressed the crowd, including: Sen. Sam Brownback
(R.-Kans.), and Reps. Christopher H. Smith (R.-N.J.), W. Todd
Akin (R-Mo.), Todd Tiahart (R.-Kans.), Steve Chabot (R.-N.Y.),
Jim Ryun (R.-Kans.), Melissa Hart (R.-Penn.), Mike Pence (R.-Ind.),
Ron Lewis (R.-N.Y.), Roscoe Bartlett (R.-Md.), Rick Renzi
(R.-Ariz.), Steve King (R.-Iowa), Thaddeus G. McCotter (R.-Mich.),
Michael C. Burgess (R.-Tex.) and Patrick J. Toomey (R.-Penn.).
TFP friends from Europe also joined
the March. France's Droit de Naître and a contingent
from Italy held banners in support of the preborn. "Participating
in this year's March was quite an experience," said Italian
TFP representative Roberto Bertonha. "If Roe v. Wade
is not overturned this year, I hope to be back next year."
Adding more life to the event, the
TFP marching band played the Marine's Hymn and other
patriotic songs on trumpets, bagpipes, fifes and drums.
Gazing at the shivering ocean of marchers
it was apparent that attendees were unmoved in their resolve
to continue struggling against abortion. They were gathered
in defense of an ideal and firmly convinced to follow their
consciences.
Their attitude was well expressed
by the finishing words of this year's TFP message, "As
we join in this 31st March for Life, we pray that God, through
the special intercession of Mary Most Holy, the Blessed Mother,
will grant the pro-life movement total victory in its fight
for the unborn: making abortion not only illegal, but unthinkable."
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