Newsletter Archives -- Pro-Life Teens:

St. Louis Catholic Homeschool Association teens, Theresa Hannegan and Clare Robidoux, joined thousands of pro-lifers for the January 22, 2002 March for Life in Washington, D.C. Clare and Theresa are active high schoolers in our Wednesday Co-op. This was their second trip to D.C. for the Annual March for Life.

Be Brave in Your Conviction

by Clare Robidoux

Tens of thousands of Americans march in Washington D.C. every year on January 22. They go to stand up for their fellow Americans who are not yet born. They go because they know that the decision to make abortion legal is contrary to the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that our great nation is founded on.

Some people do not go on the march because they think that it will not help overcome abortion; the only way to increase respect for life, they think, is to change hearts. It’s true the march may not directly change anyone’s heart, but that does not mean it is useless. I have gone on the march the past two years. It is very encouraging to see so many people there, and I am sure that all of the members of the government who are pro-life are encouraged to have so many people from their districts come and give them support. The march strengthens all the people who go in their fight against the killing of the unborn.

The march is a good time to stand up for what is right. Both times I have gone, I knew that I was standing up for the right thing and that I would have to do it again the next year. Everyone who is pro-life should be brave in his conviction and should face every challenge to life without fear.

A Day In the Life of a Pro-Lifer

by Theresa Hannegan

A few weeks ago I made the bus trip to Washington D.C. for the annual March for Life. We left St. Louis on a sunny Monday morning after participating in a brief prayer rally at the St. Louis Arch. We drove almost nonstop from St. Louis to D.C., stopping at rest stops and once in Indiana at a Knights of Columbus Hall for dinner. We arrived in D.C. at 5 a.m. Tuesday. Since we hadn’t gotten much sleep on the bus, we reclined against the pillars in the Russell Senate Office Building, while waiting for the “Big Meeting” to start.

During the “Big Meeting,” the mistress of ceremonies asked people how old they were. It was amazing: there were a few in their eighties. The majority, however, were teenagers. Several political leaders spoke and demonstrated their support for life.

Later that afternoon we participated in the culmination of our trip to the capital: the pro-life march. As I watched the march go by, I marveled at the great number of people and how different they all were. It was very encouraging to see how many people believed in life strongly enough to come and demonstrate their belief.

Although the trip was exhausting, it was definitely worth it, and I plan to go again. I would encourage anyone interested in the pro-life cause to make the trip next year.