Catholic University to Lead March for Life -

The Catholic University's Edward J. Pryzbyla Center displays a sign welcoming participants of the March for Life to campus. — The Catholic University’s Edward J. Pryzbyla Center displays a sign welcoming participants of the March for Life to campus.

By Angelica Sisson

This Friday, January 22nd, marks the 43rd annual March for Life. The March for Life is held in Washington, D.C. annually on January 22nd in order to commemorate and protest the announcement of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Roe vs. Wade which legalized abortion in all fifty states.

The Catholic University of America has long been connected to the March for Life. In addition to sending students to the March, for which they receive excused absences from their classes, Catholic University has also routinely opened the Raymond A. DuFour Center to groups visiting from schools and colleges from across the country so that they may have a place to stay while in Washington, D.C. for the March.

This year however, Catholic University students will have a particularly remarkable role in the March. The president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, Jeanne Marcini, has asked Catholic University students to be the leaders of this year’s March for Life. About forty Catholic University students, all members of CUA Students for Life, a University club for Pro-Life students, will carry the first banner. They will be joined by some students from Concordia Lutheran High School in Indiana. Other Catholic University students will also be present in the March holding the flag of the University.

Father Jude DeAngelo, director of Campus Ministry, said in an interview with The Cardinal Newman Society, “We have never led the March to my knowledge. It’s quite a privilege and our students are really honored and excited.”

“I think it’s great CUA is leading it this year,” said Anna Brende, a sophomore Music major. “Especially since because of the blizzard a lot of people coming from different parts of the country had to cancel their trips so I’m glad there’ll still be a university presence.”

The weather forecast should have little effect on the proceedings of March itself, but it could provide a problem for people who do not live in the area and would have to schedule special transportation.

Brende also spoke about how she thought the circumstances of the weather could make the March even more impactful this year. She said that by having a great number of people attend, even with the weather being as it is, dedication to the Pro-Life cause will be greatly illustrated.

This March is not only special for Catholic University, but is also special for the country as a whole. This year is an election year and Pro-Life supporters hope this year’s March will have a special impact—especially with Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina present. At this year’s March she will be not only be an attendee to the March, but will also be a speaker.

“It’ll be more interesting with people like Carly Fiorina there for sure, there’ll be more excitement with the potential for a pro-life candidate,” said Matthew Lang, a junior Politics major.

Brende also said, “It’s important to a lot of pro-life people to hear the March spoken about directly from a candidate in a positive way.”

The 43rd annual March for Life begins at 11:45 a.m. in front of the Washington Monument with a welcome address. At noon, a variety of speakers including senators, writers, clergymen, and more will take the stage. The March begins at 1 p.m. between 15th and 17th streets at Constitution Avenue and ends in front of the Supreme Court. From there, testimonies that support the Pro-Life mission are read out.