There was a continued international flavor to the march, as pro-life supporters from around the world, including again a visible and vocal delegation from France, attentively listened to speeches from secular and religious leaders, demanding an end to abortion, assisted suicide, and abortion-based research. As well, the sanctity of marriage was a more prominent topic, particularly among speakers at the Supreme Court.

For its part, the Court took no apparent notice of the protests when it dealt a crucial blow to efforts by Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, his state's legislature and others to keep Terri Schiavo alive. The Court refused on Monday morning an appeal by Gov. Bush, leaving the door open to the removal of the feeding tube that has kept the severely brain-damaged St. Petersburg woman alive for more than a decade. Speaking at the pro-life rally following the decision, her father, Robert Schindler, called the decision “judicial homicide”.

As well, the high court let stand a lower-court ruling that said South Carolina's license plates, which bear the slogan “Choose Life,” violate the First Amendment because abortion-rights supporters weren't given a similar forum to express their beliefs.

However, on Saturday, Justice Antonin Scalia, who currently is favored in some circles to succeed William Rehnquist as Chief Justice, praised “traditional Christian values.” Speaking in Baton Rouge, Justice Scalia praised orthodox Christians, particularly faithful Catholics, and said that they should not fear being viewed by "educated circles" as "fools for Christ." He added that "intellect and reason need not be laid aside for religion. It is not irrational to accept the testimony of eyewitnesses who had nothing to gain. There is something wrong with rejecting a priori (deductively) the existence of miracles."

Over a year ago, Scalia recused himself from the Supreme Court's review of whether "under God" should be in the Pledge of Allegiance, after mentioning the case in a speech and complaining that courts are stripping God from public life.

As well, last year, Scalia cast one of two dissenting votes in a 7-2 Supreme Court ruling that states may deny taxpayer-funded scholarships to divinity students.

The winter storms which had closed airports from Chicago to Boston threatened to curtail the numbers of people gathering to march, pray and sing on this 32nd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. Nonetheless, capacity crowds filled Masses, services and March-related events. From a vantage point at the head of the march, this reporter noted no appreciable diminution in the crowd from last year’s march, as crowds stretched the length and breadth of Pennsylvania Avenue from the Ellipse to the Capitol

Again this year, the numbers of young people and women marching for life were staggering. Indeed, the overwhelming number of demonstrators appeared to be female, although there were many families with small children bundled against the bitter cold.

As has become customary, the march ran nearly an hour late. Parade marshals, largely members of Knights of Columbus groups, managed the large gathering much more efficiently than in prior years, The marchers stepped off onto Constitution Avenue in the shadow of the Washington Monument and moved forward with few halts, which allowed participants to concentrate on prayers, hymns and litanies.

Various legislative victories, a commitment to the pro-life cause by the current administration, and court challenges to Roe v. Wade by the original plaintiff, buoyed the crowd. Again, while Roman Catholic marchers dominated the throng, there was a broad spectrum of participants, including representation from a number of independent Bible churches and Evangelical communities. There were large contingents of "Southern Baptists for Life" and "Methodists for Life", as well as greater numbers under Eastern Orthodox banners. These joined literally thousands of Roman Catholic groups, parishes and colleges. Continuing Anglicans also were present in the crowd, this commentator as usual marching with representatives of parishes of the Anglican Province of Christ the King.

Along the route, the participants from virtually every denomination and state of the union sang hymns and prayed, and nearly-frozen fingers worked rosary beads and the knots of prayer ropes. At one point in the route, a group of three Anglicans chanting classic litanies from St. Augustine’s Prayer Book swelled by 40 or 50 people who closed ranks for the “Litany of the Saints.” All were united in the common purpose of calling for a return to the sanctity of life.

There was an unusually a strong police presence this year. Particularly at Union Station, marchers were cautioned that flags, banners and signs were not permitted inside or on public transportation. Nevertheless, marchers frequently stopped to thank the police, and priests offered blessings to law enforcement personnel.

At the end of the route, large crowds of pro-life supporters stopped before the Supreme Court. Some dropped to their knees, and others prayed and sang. A group of orthodox Jews read scripture and exhorted the justices to repent, priests offered blessings and cast salt or holy water on the stairs of the Supreme Court. Many could only weep in the cold and falling snow.

There was a palpable resolve in the crowd which was slow to disperse despite the chill. It marked a renewal of commitment to return to communities throughout this nation and other countries in the hope the culture of life will be preached, prayed and restored.

For further information: http://www.marchforlife.org/
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Additional sources included The Associated Press, The Baton Rouge Advocate
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