A number of years ago, at a Pro-Life event, Apostle Clifford Turner, a pastor of a black congregation in Chicago, spoke of the fight against abortion, commenting: “Sometimes it’s important to just show up.” And show up we did: at meetings and rallys, at pickets and prayer vigils at sit-ins and rescues, at sidewalk counseling and crisis pregnancy centers, at speeches and debates, in letters to the editors, in writings and books.

Today, we celebrate a victory. A victory of Joe Scheidler over NOW at the Supreme Court, a victory of Pro-Life legislation: the born alive baby bill and the ban on partial birth abortion; the victory of optimism over pessimism, of perseverance over indifference, of love over hate, of life over death, of faith over unbelief.

For thirty years we have stood in the gap, have rescued those dragged to their slaughter, have not grown weary in doing good and defending the babies. In our Pro-Life efforts, many of us have become pariahs in our families and communities and sometimes even in our churches. Still we recognize that every life is an unrepeatable gift of God, of infinite value above all values.

Today is a time for new beginnings, a time for rededication to the cause of life and yes, dear friends, we are up to the task. We have proven our mettle, we have fought the fight and now victory is within our grasp. Science is on our side in the advancements in ultrasound and in life saving surgery in the womb. Young people, survivors of abortion, are standing up for life with courage. Women are speaking out of their regrets over their personal experience of abortion. Abstinence and virtue are making a comeback. Seventy percent of the American people want unborn babies to be protected by law.

But our work is cut out for us and we must take up the burden anew. The first order of business might be the nine Illinois senators and representatives who voted to protect the brutal slaughter of unborn babies in the process of birth. Ken Connor of the Family Research Council called them morally unfit for public service. We will remember their names – Dick Durbin, Mark Kirk, Bobby Rush, Lane Evans, Jan Shakowsky, Rahm Emanuel, Luis Gutierrez , Danny Davis and Jesse Jackson Jr. We must demand accountability in our politicians and truth in labeling.

Our first amendment rights of free speech have now been vindicated. We can pray and counsel at abortion clinics, we can influence our laws and legislators with public assemblies. We can work to change the hearts and minds of our fellow citizens and we will succeed because our cause is just.

Senator Rick Santorium, at a recent commencement address at Christendom College, quoted Orestes Brownson, a great Catholic philosopher of the 19th century: “Ask not what your age wants, but what it needs, not what it will reward, but what without which it cannot be saved and that go and do. Find your reward in the consciousness of having done your duty and above all in the reflection that you have been accounted to suffer somewhat for mankind.”

Now is the time to restore the culture of life and to bring God back into the public life of America. May He strengthen and encourage you in this the defense of innocent human life and may He protect you all the days of your life. Thank you.

Mary Anne Hackett

Talk given at the Bring America Back to Life Victory Rally, June 7, 2003, celebrating the 8-1 victory in NOW v. Scheidler