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BY ERIKA ANDERSON
Staff Writer
ATLANTA -- Silently walking across the country in support of life, students
from Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, and other colleges are
prayerful witnesses from the first generation to be legally aborted.
Sixteen students or recent graduates who have been walking a southern route
since May, starting out in Los Angeles, came through Atlanta in early August.
On Aug. 14 they met up with another group of students who walked a northern
route from San Francisco, on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington,
D.C. Along the way, they prayed, counseled those considering abortion and
talked to youth groups.
In 1995, as a response to the call of Pope John Paul II for youth to stand
up for life, Franciscan University student Steve Sanborn organized the walk
known as Crossroads. Students have been giving up their summers to support the
ministry each year since, staying in churches or host homes along the way.
On Aug. 2, the group attended a special Mass celebrated for them by
Archbishop John F. Donoghue in Atlanta.
Adam Redmon, 24, the leader of the group, said that the group is hoping to
encourage other young people.
“We’re trying to reach out to young adults and really challenge
them to stand up for life,” he said.
While inspiring others, many of the group members say they have deepened
their own faith and learned about themselves.
Maria Colonna, 24, said that she is often questioned about her reason for
the walk.
“The reason we’re doing it may seem to someone else not practical,
but there are a lot of hidden spiritual fruits that have come out of
this,” she said. “This is a walk of prayer and of reparation for the
sin of abortion. We offer up all the sacrifices of walking--the blisters, the
rain, everything--and I think that it demonstrates the commitment that this is
really important.”
The walkers rely completely on God throughout their journey.
“A lot of us are in debt and somehow God has given us the money to pay
those debts,” said Sean Martin, 25. “This is a walk of faith and
people have been unbelievably generous. We’ve been taken care of.”
In addition to learning of the generosity of others, members of the
Crossroads team have learned about themselves. A lot of their lessons have come
from learning to live with each other.
Angela Hummel, 23, said that spending so much time with her teammates has
been a “constant learning process.”
“It’s really challenged us, especially when you’re used to
living on your own,” she said. “But when situations are stressful, we
realize that we really are connected and we need each other literally to
survive.”
Hummel said that she has new insight into herself and her faith.
“I have seen things in myself that I never knew were there,” she
said. “This walk is really about breaking you of self attachment to sin
and it’s an incredible struggle every day. You also forget how powerful
prayer is and God has really renewed my spirit.”
As they walked across the country, many of the students have been struck by
the beauty of America, physically and spiritually.
“America really is pro-life, despite what people believe,” Redmon
said. “The people have been great and we’ve gotten really positive
response … Even those who disagree with us still respect us for what
we’re doing.”
“I’m very proud of our country,” he said. “The
government might be bad, but the kindness and generosity of the people blows me
away.”
Martin said that he was surprised by the emotions stirred by the abortion
debate.
“My eyes have been really opened to the whole pro-life movement,”
he said. “I had no idea how deep an issue it really is. This walk has
personally taught me how important it is to pray for this cause. It has lit me
on fire.”
Redmon and his team members say that they know of at least five women who
have chosen to have their babies because of their counseling efforts. Redmon
also hopes that his team has shown the commitment of young people in the fight
for life.
“We’re always called Generation X,” he said. “But we
have a cause; we have life. There is no greater cause.”
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