March for Life 2015: Every Child Is a Gift

           Yesterday, the 42^nd annual March for Life took place in Washington, D.C., in support of the right to life.  It is held on or around every January 22, the anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton United States Supreme Court decisions that overturned state abortion restrictions.

            As usual, hundreds of thousands of pro-life supporters attended the March for Life, despite the winter weather.  In the days leading up to it, there were also pro-life rallies across the Union that were each attended by hundreds or even thousands in support of the right to life.  The theme of this year’s march was “Every Child is a Gift.” 

On the same day, the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives passed a measure along mostly party lines to make permanent the prohibition on federal funds for most abortions, a prevision known as the Hyde Amendment that must be renewed annually.  Several Representatives spoke at the rally.  The bill is especially relevant because abortions are one of the immoral practices, along with contraception and sterilizations, which are covered under the federalization of health insurance, known as “Obamacare.”  The “Abortion President,” Barack Obama, a liberal Democrat, has threatened to veto the bill should it pass the Senate.  Other proposals expected to be considered by the new Congress include one to legislate the conscience protections for closely-held corporations that were upheld by the United States Supreme Court last year, the scope of the ruling of which the Obama Administration is trying to narrow, and another one that would extend conscience protections for medical providers who wish to opt out of abortions.

Advocacy on behalf of the right to life, such as through the March for Life, as well as increased support provided to women in cases of unexpected pregnancies, more scientific knowledge and improved technology that has revealed more about human development in the womb, and the passage of more moral laws that have been upheld by the courts have combined to reduce the number of abortions significantly in the U.S. since 1973.  Alas, more than a million babies – a million gifts – are still rejected and put to death annually across the American Union.  This Culture of Death has contributed to the coarsening of society and the decrease of respect for life and love for fellow human beings, especially women and the poor.  Therefore, it is necessary to continue to stand for the right to life until every life is respected, from conception until natural death.