40th Annual March For Life In Pictures

Today saw quite possibly the largest March For Life event in its history, as over 500,000 pro-life souls arrived at the National Mall to protest the 40th anniversary of Roe Vs. Wade.  Waiting for the pro-lifers outside the Supreme Court Building were up to 50 foul-mouthed, pro-abortion counter-protesters, which is the largest group of its size I've seen thus far.

It was a very cold and windy day which ended with snow flurries.  But that didn't dissuade 400 students from New Orleans or 600 students from Evansville from making the trip.  Nor did it dampen the spirits of the groups from Italy, Viet Nam, France, Germany, Poland, Kansas, Tennessee, etc from showing up.  Everyone was excited about the March, including the students from Notre Dame University who proudly and swiftly marched with the March For Life banner, steam rolling over and past the angry mob-ette of pro-abortion harpies who don't seem to like babies much.

In my attempt to interview a few of the pro-abortionists, my questions never got past "so how many of you made it here this year?"  All but one completely ignored the question, and she simply denied any knowledge of their numbers.  So I estimated around 50, and that's being generous.

Among those brave and determined souls marching were Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades with his seminarians, several other bishops, priests, nuns, students, concerned citizens of all religions, gay pro-lifers, feminists for life, and several well known bloggers.  At the end of the March, we heard Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests For Life speak, along with Janet Morana, Georgette Forney, with Julia Holcomb (Steven Tyler's former girlfriend) of Silent No More with their testimonies.

All in all it was a very successful day in which the Knights of Columbus did a great job controlling the crowd and keeping the flow of the March very smooth.

I will try to squeeze in as many photos as I can, as people were very gracious in allowing their pictures to be taken.  Click on them to make them larger if you'd like...

Also, if you have published photos on this year's March please leave a link to your site in the comments section.

I'll be including links to other coverage throughout the weekend:  Washington Post has a photo collection (not too bad), New York Times has actually covered the March this year(says "thousands marched," LOL!!!), as did the Huffington Post, a video at MRCTV givers a good impression of crowd size, The Crescat didn't go but has good samples from others, Operation Rescue:  Boston News has lots of photos, Jill Stanek has a recap on the event, constantly blogs the continuing battle against abortion, and should be bookmarked as a "must read" site daily for pro-life updates,....

The Walk For Life West Coast drew over 50,000 participants!

400 from New Orleans

600 from Evansville

Dutifully protecting pro-lifers from annoying pretzel vendors

His Excellency, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades with seminarians

Notre Dame students received the honor of carrying the banner this year

"Let the March begin!"

"Let's do it again!"  These students showed much enthusiasm.

Can't argue their point without getting loud and obscene

Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests For Life

Janet Morana, author of Recall Abortion

Georgette Forney of Anglicans For Life and Silent No More telling an emotional story

Julia Holcomb telling her abortion story regarding Steven Tyler's unborn child

Last year I saw a Franciscan in bare feet.  So this year I wore sandals.  Stupid stupid stupid!  Brrrrrr!

She's cute and he knows it.

Award for coolest hats

GEARING UP For The MARCH FOR LIFE

Next Friday is the 40th Annual March For Life in Washington DC, and it will prove to be quite an electrifying time. I know this because it will be my fourth in a row, and the other three were just that, electrifying. There is a buzz in the air, an air of excitement, not a funeral dirge like some assume. Yes, we are mourning over 55 million babies systematically killed (since Roe Vs. Wade) before they took their first breath, some shortly after. But you will find a lot of positive energy there, the kind that accompanies people of faith, emanating from good, like-minded people standing up for a just cause. You will notice people of different faiths, nationalities, and backgrounds locking arms and marching together as if no differences, not even political, could wedge between them. Last year's March was the largest yet, in spite of cold rain, and was estimated to be almost 500,000 people. If you have gone in the past, you know what I'm talking about. Make another trip! If you have never gone, GO!  You'll meet all kinds of interesting people, make new friends, see some Facebook friends for the first time, a few celebrities, and have a wonderfully memorable experience.

Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year!

With all that's happened in the news the past couple of months with Obama being re-elected, the realization that Obamacare and Roe v Wade are to be with us for years to come, and the school shooting in CT, it's a time to count our blessings by shedding the darkness of the world and looking to the Light.  This Christmas, hold tight to the arms of Christ and thank Him for all the good He has provided in your lives.  And then follow His example to spread His Light to all you meet, because living your faith and SHOWING the presence God's Grace in your life wins more converts than quoting the Bible or blathering about "judgement" ever will.  The example set by others is why I joined the Catholic Church.

May you all have a joyous and Christ-filled holiday season!

Sometimes The Ads That Say Nothing Speak Volumes

Freedom Is On The Line This Election Day (Video)

This election is about many issues, but chief among them are some basic freedoms spelled out in The Bill Of Rights, not the least of which is freedom of religion.  But beyond that are other freedoms for which americans have fought and died, among which is the freedom to succeed economically through a capitalist economy.  Although it has its ebbs and flows, it is still the most reliable way to achieve prosperity and a better living standard for even the poorest of our citizens.

Romney Wins First Presidential Debate Hands Down (ENTIRE VIDEO)

"Enemy Of The American People" Pat Caddell on MSM

Pat Caddell, a life-long Democrat and political consultant for several Democrat presidential candidates, starting with George McGovern in 1972, joins a very short list of Democrats (Bernie Goldberg is the only other one on the list) who have called out the Main Stream Media for their liberal bias. Mr. Caddell's accusations are a bit stronger, however, in that he acknowledges the media have gone beyond simply slanting the news to the left. They have been refusing to hold him accountable, refusing to investigate anything that might make him look bad, and hiding negative stories about him. They are, in effect, campaigning for the President, much to the detriment of our national security. Anyone who still doubts media complicity needs to watch the video shown above. Show it to your friends!

The Romney You May Not Know.

I am becoming convinced that Romney is much more than the lesser of two evils, but is instead a potentially great President in the making.

DNC Chair Pulls A Boehner And Adds God To Platform Anyway

It is amazing how quickly a well run campaign like Congressman West's can seize upon current events and weave them into a really effective ad for their candidate when you're working with really good people.  It was only a couple of nights ago that the Democrats were railroaded at their convention by a reluctant Los Angeles mayor into re-attaching "God" and "Jerusalem as capital of Israel" to their Party Platform.  The "NO's" actually had it... THREE TIMES!!!  But the Godly or goodly mayor pulled a "Boehner" and pretended he heard more "yea's" than "no's," and the measure passed.  From what I'm told, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz was directly responsible for the missing items in the first place, causing this embarrassing and REVEALING moment for the world to see, opening the eyes of many believers in Christ who still (for whatever reason) vote Democrat that their Party has left God by the curb.

On a personal note regarding the lack of blog posts...  I've ignored many opportunities to post some really great videos of the RNC and other great items as I've been engrossed by Facebook.  Without endorsing FB, I can say it's more comforting to see that over 200 "friends" will see FB posts of mine and "like" or "share" the items rather than wait for and untold number of strangers to stumble upon my blog posts.  I will still blog from time to time, but not on a high priority.  And any absence of blogging does NOT mean I'm not active out there...

New Romney Ad Shows Full Obama Quote IN CONTEXT And Is Devastating

This ad answers the other ad that answered the first ad about what President Obama actually said,... or rather meant when he said "you didn't build that, someone else did." After so many accusations from the White House that Mitt Romney lied and misquoted the president, after President Obama's ad that showed himself saying the same things Romney accused him of saying, here is the ultimate political ad from the Romney camp that plays the entire quote from the president in context in which Obama belittles American small businesses. Obama can argue to his Columbia educated heart's content what he meant to say, or what he said was meant to mean, or what he shouldn't have said at all,...BUT HE SAID IT AND HAS TO EAT IT NOW.

GET OUT!!!

A Good Movie For Those With Waning Faith

For those who have lapsed...  For those who are backsliding or are in danger of doing so....  For those who are questioning their faith and drifting away from the Church and from God, there is a movie you need to see.  It's not a huge production like Avatar or action packed like 300.  It's merely a simple encounter with a man who has it all, except God, and feels miserable.

The movie is Vito Bonafacci in Search of the Truth, and is about a lapsed Catholic (25 years away from the Church) who, after having a dream in which he dies and then is scolded by his mother on why he's going to hell, seeks advice from family, friends, and employees for answers, before turning directly to God (with help from his priest).

Without delving into too much (or any if you don't mind) personal baggage of my own, I'd like to say that I identified with this character very much in his faith struggle, and found the discussions he has with his wife, barber, and employees not only plausible, but nearly identical to several I've had with those who either accept God on His terms, or replace Him with some new-age politically correct, feel-goodism, or even write Him off altogether as some tool used by organized religion to advance careers in a bogus faith.

This movie would be a great gift for someone struggling with faith.  It would also make a useful RCIA tool for adults starting their Catholic journey.  And although I found the dream scene at the beginning to be somewhat dragging and a bit ponderous (I would have shown him acting out other examples of bad behavior while his mother narrated a voice-over rather than show her during her whole speech), the rest I found engagingly honest and well filmed.  There's very good camera work, especially when breakfast is prepared, and the acting is not bad at all.

Thumbs up!  Three Hail Marys.  Two and a half Glory Be's.