American pro-lifers have striven to defend the pre-born for the past thirty-four years and the results of their persistence are evident for all: several states have only one abortion clinic, 90% of American counties have none at all and those clinics which remain are closing right and left. After years of struggle, their efforts are beginning to bear fruit.
Congressman Michael Pence (In. R.) expressed this well on January 22 at this year’s thirty-fourth annual March for Life in Washington D.C., saying: “Springtime is breaking forth in the battle between abortion and life.”
Well over one hundred fifty thousand present at the march also sensed this. That is why they happily braved near freezing temperatures to voice their rejection of abortion and petition government officials to end the slaughter of America’s most vulnerable.
The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) was also present with a contingent of nearly one hundred members, supporters and friends, who carried banners and eighteen-foot TFP standards and distributed this year’s TFP statement: “Fighting Abortion: Time to Press Ahead Toward Victory.” (Click here to read “Fighting Abortion: Time to Press Ahead Toward Victory”)
The TFP contingent was especially privileged with the presence of two Priests: Father Gregory Karpyn of Girardville, Pennsylvania and Father Kevin Beaton of New Castle Pennsylvania. His Imperial and Royal Highness Prince Bertrand of Orleans-Braganza also marched and handed out flyers.
Bishop Eugenijus Bartulis traveled all the way from Lithuania to participate in the march and led the TFP contingent in prayer in front of the Supreme Court building.
Four TFP members, wearing the TFP ceremonial habit processed with a pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima with an escort of four students of the TFP-staffed St. Louis de Montfort Academy, who carried small standards. Meanwhile, members of American TFP sister organizations from Italy, Germany, France, South Africa, Brazil and Australia marched side-by-side with their American counterparts.
During the march, the TFP’s Holy Choirs of Angels marching band lifted the spirits of those present, playing a selection of patriotic hymns and American marches. The ensemble included brass, bagpipes, fifes and drums.
Many thought this year’s march had an exceptional turnout. TFP band director Gregory Escaro judged the crowd’s size by the time it took for the marchers to pass. “Normally at the March, we will make it through five or six musical routines as the crowd passes,” he said. “This year we played over nine. That takes nearly an hour and a half!”
Meanwhile, TFP Supporters in California, led by TFP veteran member Philip Calder, joined a crowd of over 20,000 to participate in the 3rd annual Walk for Life held on Saturday, January 20, in San Francisco.
They carried a banner that read: “If we trust and keep praying and fighting, God will not fail to lead us to the final victory.” As they marched, scattered groups of pro-abortionists lined the streets to heckle them. The contrast between the two crowds was evident as pro-lifers peacefully endured the jeers to march on in favor of life.
As the years since the fateful Roe v. Wade decision slip by, activities such as these continue to multiply and grow and the pro-life movement steadily gains ground.
This should be a source of hope. It should highlight the reality that springtime is indeed breaking forth in the struggle between abortion and life. It should convince pro-lifers that triumph is in sight and now is the time to step up their efforts.
As this year’s TFP pro-life statement aptly put it: “Now is not the time to give up or even stay the course, it is time to press ahead toward victory.”