Changing hearts and minds
Belmont Abbey College students particpated in the March for Life in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 20, 2023WASHINGTON, D.C. — Catholics from across North Carolina hopped on planes, buses and loaded up the family car, to join tens of thousands of people from around the country to pray and march for life Jan. 20 in the nation’s capital.
The national March for Life is held annually to coincide with Jan. 22 anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion in the United States for 50 years. That decision was overturned last June with the court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, returning the power to each state to create laws surrounding abortion.
This year, the 50th annual national March for Life included a rally at the National Mall and a march that went from the National Mall – not to the steps of the Supreme Court building as in past years, but to the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building.
North Carolinians were also encouraged to attend a Mass celebrated by the Charlotte and Raleigh dioceses at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception before the 1 p.m. march.
Raleigh Bishop Luis Zarama was the main celebrant for the North Carolina Mass. Monsignor Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte, was homilist.
During his homily, Monsignor Winslow said, “As Christians, our goal has never been just about overcoming legal hurdles that moves us toward a more just society. Our goal is to convert minds and hearts; to pull aside all the misguided rhetoric so that every man, woman and child would see and reject abortion for what it is…one that hurts society, fathers, mothers and children.”
He emphasized that our goal isn’t to prevent abortion by making it illegal. Rather, “Our goal is to prevent abortion by exposing this ghoulish and dark practice so that it becomes reprehensible to all reasonable people of good will.”
"Today we are especially grateful for God’s many and continued blessings," he said. "Today we thank God for His help. Today we ask for more. And whatever lies ahead, we are motivated by the words of Mother Teresa: 'we are not called to be successful, we are called to be faithful.'"
Deanna Glen, a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Charlotte, rode the bus sponsored by the diocese’s Office of Family Life. “I am at the March for Life to pray for my state where abortion is still legal and for anyone who needs help,” she said.
“I’m here because I believe life starts at conception and Jesus has given us His life and His love and it’s something to fight for,” explained Emmanuel Arias, of St. James the Greater Parish in Concord.
Benedictine Father Elias Correa-Torres, a monk of Belmont Abbey, attended the national march for the first time. He accompanied more than 60 students from Belmont Abbey College.
“This trip is one way of emphasizing to the students the responsibility they have of standing up for important issues in our society, and of being able to communicate their beliefs well in the public square,” Father Elias said.
“And I think this type of trip contributes to the formation of our students, toward becoming informed and active members of society, agents for the common good. It is certainly in conformity with the part of the college's mission of helping our students lead lives of integrity, become responsible citizens, and be a blessing to themselves and to others,” he added.
Dominican Sister Jessica Jurado, from St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Charlotte, rode up to the March for Life with parishioners of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury. She is the youth ministry director at her parish.
“Life is a precious gift from God, so we are trying to promote life, ” Sister Jurado said.
Youth from Sacred Heart spoke of the need to continue to support a culture of life.
“Abortion needs to be ended,” said Matthew Herman, a junior in high school. “I think it’s the best way to get out and tell our government that things need to happen.
Of course, Roe v. Wade got overturned, that’s great. But We still need to tell all 50 states that abortion needs to be overturned.”
Mary Chaney, also a junior in high school, attended the March for Life for the fifth time. “This year, it’s felt especially important to come because we’ve overturned it, but not quite. So, we need to come out here and show we’re still fighting for this, and we still have an opinion on it, we still want to achieve this beautiful end (of a culture of life)."
Mary’s mom, Susan Chaney, attended the march for the seventh time. She recalled a couple of pivotal moments over the years.
“I remember the first year we came, I asked my friend, ‘Does this change anything?’ And a few years later, we were walking up Constitution Avenue during the march and I asked Father John (Eckert) if it changes anything. He said, ‘I don’t know, but I know it changes me. It changes us.’ The importance of coming here is the collective witness, but it’s also inside. It’s making that pilgrimage."
— SueAnn Howell. Photos provided.
