by (Alfredo E. Cardenas contributed to this CNS article.)
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Participants at the annual March for Life were urged in advance of the march not to let themselves be compromised in their beliefs as the federal government pursues regulations that Catholic leaders say constitute an attack on conscience and religious liberty.
“I beg and pray for the young people present and all youth and young adults not to be compromised in your dedication to the protection of life of each human person, born and unborn,” Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston said. “Keep it before your eyes and in your hearts immediately. Threats against life and against the consciences of those who say ‘yes’ to life must be met with timely and unwavering action, in our families and institutions, and yes, in the public square.”
Cardinal DiNardo, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, made his remarks during his homily at the Jan. 22 opening Mass for the National Prayer Vigil for Life celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.
The cardinal linked the 39-year struggle to end abortion on demand with Jan. 20’s announcement from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius that most religious organizations would have to cover contraceptives and sterilization free of charge in their employee health plans, rejecting appeals from Catholic groups to widen the exemption.
“Never before in our U.S. history has the federal government forced citizens to directly purchase what violates our beliefs,” Cardinal DiNardo said, adding that the issue is “the survival of a cornerstone constitutionally protected freedom that ensures respect for conscience and religious liberty.”
Cardinal DiNardo said Pope Benedict XVI addressed the issue when meeting with U.S. bishops from the Mid-Atlantic.
“In light of last Friday’s announcement about health care mandates, it seems that the Holy Father has nailed the issue in advance,” Cardinal DiNardo said. “His calls for courage to counter a reductive secularism which would delegitimize the church’s participation in public life and debate have targeted the issues we face in our pro-life efforts, to defend those who defend human life and to defend their religious liberty.”
Cardinal DiNardo pointed to gains made by pro-lifers, including “a record number of state laws that now restrict abortions. State prosecutors have begun to prosecute late-term abortionists who deny life and injure and maim women.”
The cardinal also reminded the attendees that efforts to protect life must never take on a strident tone towards mothers who abort their children or to the doctors performing abortions.
“What the cardinal is saying is that we should never foreclose the opportunity for conversion,” said Msgr. Michael Heras, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. “Even though this is a dark and evil practice, we cannot and must not treat the abortionists in such a way that we foreclose grace and the possibility of conversion.”
The two-hour, 37-minute opening Mass featured a 39-minute entrance procession with four cardinals, 31 other bishops, 300 priests, 75 deacons and 700 priesthood and diaconate candidates and altar servers. Among them were Msgr. Heras; Deacon Stephen Nolte, Director of the Diocese Office of Life, Justice and Human Dignity; Deacon Ron Martinez of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Corpus Christi; and Deacon Rick Costly, from Sacred Heart Parish in Falfurrias.
(Alfredo E. Cardenas contributed to this article.)