By Kathi Stearns, Staff Writer

ATLANTA-Despite severe weather warnings and Georgia’s first snowfall, approximately 500 people attended a Mass for the Unborn at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Jan. 23.

The Mass, which marked the 22nd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion, attracted Catholics from across the state.

Archbishop John F. Donoghue, homilist at the Mass and one of the speakers at the state Capitol, told worshippers that the Mass was meant to serve as a reminder of the “souls of the countless children, who have fallen before the greatest scourge of any time, the terrible crime of murder in the womb.”

Archbishop Donoghue spoke of the challenges of living in a society that is focused on expediency, greed and personal convenience.

“In a world which seems to have defeated God, and which murders its own children, we must not capitulate,” the archbishop said. “Instead we must take the higher road, a road which is concealed from those who have no heart, but a road which stretches out clearly before those of us who have God in our hearts.”

The archbishop told the congregation that it is impossible to profess the right to life for some while promoting violence against others. “And though we protest, though we call upon the evildoers to stop their terrible acts..let us never stoop to violence in order to achieve our goal,” the archbishop said.

“The Mass was spiritually uplifting,” said Frank Petraglia, a parishioner of St. Ann’s Church, Marietta. “It gives us an opportunity to come together for worship and prayer as a Catholic pro-life community. There are not many occasions that afford us this opportunity.”

After the Mass Catholics joined thousands of other pro-life demonstrators in a silent march which began and ended at the Capitol. Georgia Right to Life, sponsors of he march, estimated the number of participants to be about 2,000, a smaller group than had attended in previous years.

Organizers believe that the weather affected attendance. “We think it may have been the determining factor in many people’s decisions,” said Mary Boyert, a spokesperson for Georgia Right to Life.

Yet for those dedicated to the pro-life movement even the worst weather would not stop their participation. “I was determined to make it...it would have taken more than a snow storm to keep me away,” said Petraglia, whose daughter, Susan, attended the national march in Washington, D.C.

Pro-life participants believe numbers aren’t as important as truly dedicated people. “The faithful come every year, no matter what the weather is like,” said Julie Pou, a parishioner at the Cathedral of Christ the King.

Several participants have learned of the pro-life movement and the march from their parents’ example. Kirk Benson, a Marist 10th grader, has attended the march for the past four years.

“My parents were the first to inspire me to attend, Benson said. “Once I did, I liked being there. It’s great to see how many people care about the pro-life movement.”

During the rally Archbishop Donoghue reminded the participants of the life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the only rights the Declaration of Independence guarantees.

“We are here to witness to this nation...that we believe that life is the first of these rights--not liberty, the pursuit of happiness, but life,” Archbishop Donoghue said.

Archbishop Donoghue told participants to let their pro-choice opponents and government officials witness the strength and unity of their position on the anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision legalizing abortion.

“Declare with us...that this madness must end,” the archbishop said. “If not tomorrow, then the next day, let us promise as one that we will go on declaring for life until there is no life left in us with which to fight.”

The crowd responded with thunderous applause as they held placards which read, “As A Former Fetus, I Oppose Abortion,” “Abortion: The Holocaust of America” and “God the Father of Heaven, Have Mercy on Us.”

“His message is always so strong and forceful,” said Petraglia. “I would like to hear homilies like his more frequently in our churches.”

A block away nine abortion-rights demonstrators stood silently on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and held signs that read “Please Don’t Shoot my Doctor,” “Please don’t Shoot my Wife” and “Please Don’t Shoot my Friend.”

However, pro-life demonstrators attempted to distance themselves from the violent attacks recently on abortion clinic employees in Boston and Florida.

The rally’s keynote speaker, Gary Bauer, a former policy advisor to President Ronald Reagan and now president of the Family Research Council, reiterated the need to defend the sanctity of all life by echoing the words of Cardinal John O’Connor of New York.

“If one person hears this today or reads this and is tempted to kill an abortionist--kill me instead,” Bauer said emphatically.

Bauer believes that America has forgotten God. “You can measure a great country by looking at its children,” he said. “The fact of the matter is that in America tonight too many of its children will cry themselves to sleep because they have been abandoned, abused or exploited...and too many children today, and tomorrow will not even escape the womb alive.”

Bauer challenged march participants to put God at the center of their lives and let their lives be an example to others. “Having forgotten God we have unleashed the hounds of hell on our street, in our neighborhoods and in our families.”

St. Pius X Catholic High School administrators felt the march and rally presented students with a unique opportunity to witness to the Catholic Church’s pro-life position. Approximately 25-30 students from St. Pius attended the Mass and marched with their principal, Donald Sasso.

“We feel our presence at this annual event publicly states and reinforces what is taught in our classrooms and in our daily life at St. Pius,” Sasso said.

Participants pledged continued educational, financial, physical and spiritual support as long as it was needed.

“I wish we could have a day when all the priests and parishes of the archdiocese would say the rosary for the intention of stopping abortion,” said Mrs. Pou. “Maybe then we’d see an end to this tragedy.”