Young people pray, rally for life before annual march

Published: 2006-01-25

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- After a long procession of priests and bishops, Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington finally made it to the front of the makeshift altar at the MCI Center Jan. 23. He looked left and then right at the estimated 25,000 young Catholics from across the nation gathered in the sports arena for this year's Rally for Life and Youth Mass before the March for Life on the National Mall. "Only when you have a national championship do you fill this hall with as many people as we have today," the cardinal said after the music stopped. "And that makes sense because you are the champions of life." The MCI Center was filled to capacity. Many youths and their chaperons were turned away, and so walked down the street to attend a Mass at St. Patrick's Church, which was also packed to capacity. "We're going to have to build a whole new place next year," the cardinal said, joking.

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