March for Life

It is interesting to note that the BBC have given coverage to this year's March for Life in Washington DC, both on the website and on the radio. Coverage I heard on Radio 4's Today programme earlier this week was less edged than this on the BBC website: Thousands gather for first post-Roe March for Life. Though a very significant demonstration, it has not in previous years gained much coverage in this country. The Today report was in some ways more interesting, referring to how pro-life activists recognise a change of focus to legislative activity in individual states; and to how abortion providers are trying to reach women on states where abortion has been restricted since the overthrow of Roe v. Wade (eg by posting abortion pills to locations near state boundaries for women to collect).

Pope Francis words, in a wide ranging address to diplomats accredited to the Holy See in early January, showed a good understanding of the implication of the overturning of the Roe v Wade judgement in America, in its reference to an "alleged right to abortion":

Peace requires before all else the defense of life, a good that today is jeopardized not only by conflicts, hunger and disease, but all too often even in the mother’s womb, through the promotion of an alleged “right to abortion”. No one, however, can claim rights over the life of another human being, especially one who is powerless and thus completely defenceless. For this reason, I appeal to the consciences of men and women of good will, particularly those having political responsibilities, to strive to safeguard the rights of those who are weakest and to combat the throwaway culture that also, tragically, affects the sick, the disabled and the elderly. States have a primary responsibility to ensure that citizens are assisted in every phase of human life, until natural death, and to do so in a way that makes each feel accompanied and cared for, even in the most delicate moments of his or her life.