St. John Cantius Church at the 2022 March for Life
The Crusaders For Life from both Chicago and Volo—along with students from Northridge and Willows—were back at it again with their drums, cheers, prayers, and joy at the March for Life in Washington, D.C. This year’s March was perhaps more important than any other because the probability of overturning Roe v. Wade is higher than any other year. Abortion is intrinsically evil and our Catechism indicates this teaching of our Church is “unchangeable.” This country’s Catholic bishops wrote in a letter on faithful citizenship that other social problems “are matters for principled debate and decision,” but importantly, “all issues do not carry the same moral weight.” Intrinsically evil acts like abortion have a “special claim on our consciences and our actions.” This was and always will be our witness at events like the March for Life and more. Some of our beloved Crusaders took the opportunity to reflect on this year’s pilgrimage:
This was my first D.C. March, and the experience can’t even be expressed with words. To be able to go out and speak for the 63 million who can’t with the Crusaders is something I will always remember. There was such gravity along with joy that I experienced on this trip.
Walking through the streets of D.C. before the march, we passed by a group of protesters yelling and screaming awful things at us. At every march that I have gone to that had protesters, I would get a chill down my spine. Not because of the awful things that were screamed at us, but for what is behind that facade. It almost felt like we were on a battleground. Face to face with the devil at his work. This is why we are called the Crusaders for Life, because this is the crusade of our day. Another thing that crossed my mind as we were marching was the number of people there! There were easily around 100k+ people there! It was incredible to see so many other people fighting for life with us! Along with this thought, I realized that it would take the number of people at the march multiplied by 630 to get the number of lives taken by abortion. Hearing that number is one thing, but seeing even 1/630 of that number hit me hard. Our job is to fight this evil with 630x as much joy, cheers and prayers.
Fr. David, and Br. Kevin constantly reminded us all that everything we do needs to be an act of love and prayer, or else it means nothing. It’s true! We can’t just be pro-life once a month at a meeting or only at every march/ralley. It’s a lifestyle, and something that needs to be practiced! I have confidence that what the Crusaders, and every witness at the march did by being joyous and prayerful, will give us a chance to overturn Roe v. Wade in this crusade!
– Mia Lee, President of Chicago Crusaders for Life
On our way home on Saturday evening, each person on our bus got up and said their favorite thing about the trip. A lot of the answers included that they were just so happy to see the thousands of other people who stood up for life. In the modern world we can often feel alone. Seeing everyone pass us and cheering them along the sidelines was such an honor.
After the trip I was in a conversation with my grandma and my mom. We were posing the question of “how can anyone think angry feminists are appealing when you have people like the Crusaders, who are joyful, energetic, and so full of love?” And the answer is to be that light in the midst of such a dark crisis! It is such an honor to be a Crusader for Life.
-Hope Miller, President of Volo Crusaders for Life
This year’s March for Life would be best characterized as vibrant, youthful, and energetic. However, it carried a serious tone, one which advocated for an end to the most far-reaching violation of human rights in history, federally-legalized and culturally-supported abortion. Though many students and adults often look forward to the March with the Crusaders for Life, it is regretful that we even have to protest such a thing. The theme of this year’s march—“Equality begins in the womb”—called to mind the great Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. Though the circumstances are different, the two movements are not terribly unlike in principle. Both the Pro-life movement and the Civil Rights movement argued for equality of opportunity for all humans, no matter their ethnicity, age, or beliefs.
Before entering the Lincoln Memorial after the March, one of my friends pulled me aside and pointed toward the ground. He noted, “...that slab is right where Martin Luther King Jr. stood, as he gave his address to the March on Washington.” After seeing this, and thinking about the day’s events, I began to reflect on how the Crusaders are the epitome of the message of peaceful protest and love which Dr. King imparted on the world. I recalled one of Dr. King’s famous quotes, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.” However, the energy, love, and prayer which uniquely characterizes the Crusaders reversed his statement—we were living greatly by consequence of our outcry against the travesty of abortion. Our joyful singing and solemn prayer for the unborn showed that instead of cowering away when all odds were against us, the Crusaders for Life and other attendees of this year’s March stood up and protested the violence against the innocent that is so present in our culture today. However, none of the shouting, dancing, or cheering matters if we fail to pray.”
–Daniel Kaiser, Northridge Preparatory School