Home Christian News At March for Life, a Mix of Triumph and Apprehension

At March for Life, a Mix of Triumph and Apprehension

While politics is always a common theme at the gathering, this year attracted some extreme varieties. Along the edge of the crowd was a small group of men standing around an ensign with an “America First” logo. The flag was waved by insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 — including at least one who breached the Senate chamber — and is tied to Nick Fuentes, a white nationalist. Although there is no evidence that Fuentes, a Catholic, entered the Capitol during the attack, he was recently subpoenaed by the U.S. House of Representatives committee investigating the insurrection.

Scenes from the annual March for Life, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in Washington, D.C. RNS photo by Jack Jenkins

Scenes from the annual March for Life, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in Washington, D.C. RNS photo by Jack Jenkins

Footage showed the America First group chanting “Christ is King!” while marching on Thursday, a phrase they often shout when gathered.

Meanwhile, members of Patriot Front also marched near the rally, handing out fliers to March for Life participants as police escorted them. The white nationalist group has attended anti-abortion protests in the past, although their arrival has frustrated organizers.

Asked about the presence of hate groups, representatives for the March for Life passed along a statement from Jeanne Mancini, the group’s president.

“March for Life promotes the beauty, dignity, and worth of every human life by working to end the violence of abortion,” the statement read. “We condemn any organization that seeks to exclude a person or group of people based on the color of their skin or any other characteristic. Such exclusion runs counter to our mission which recognizes that all human lives are equal from the moment of conception: equality begins in the womb.”

People participate in the annual March for Life on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

People participate in the annual March for Life on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Footage posted to social media showcased pushback from at least some March for Life attendees. In one clip, a person can be heard yelling, “You ruined our march!” as Patriot Front members marched near the rally, surrounded by police.

Other aspects of the event were more typical of past years, such as the presence of religious leaders and activists — especially Catholics.

Sister Veronica Marie, of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, said she and her Catholic group had traveled from Ann Arbor, Michigan, to express their belief that “life is beautiful and it’s a gift from God.” She also said her prayer life in recent weeks has “increased,” explaining that the upcoming Supreme Court case gave her a specific cause to pray for.

Brother Patrick Joseph of Massachusetts was similarly hopeful about the upcoming ruling but said it wouldn’t impact his work to oppose abortion.

“To put it in sports perspective: I think you’ve got to work through the fourth quarter. If this is the fourth quarter, and we’re at the two-minute warning on this one, we’ve got to try our hardest to make sure it comes out successful,” he said.

The Catholic Church has long opposed abortion, but U.S. Catholics remain split on the issue. According to the Pew Research Center, a majority of Catholics (55%) say abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Similarly, a 2019 Pew poll found a solid majority of Catholics (68%) do not want the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade.