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January 2006 edition of Footprints
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Newsletter of the Notre Dame Right to Life January 2006
Vol 1, Issue 3
Inside this issue:
President’s Welcome 2
Secretary’s Welcome 3
March for Life 4
February Calendar 5
Photographs 6-7
100/$100 Campaign 8
Footprints
Special March for Life Issue of the club’s activities. This was once again a manifestation of God’s goodness, which allowed Right to Life to spread its mission, and to speak to people all over the United States and the world about the many graces that Our Lady is pouring out on her university. After the Rally, the March pro-ceeded past the Capitol Building, and ended on the Supreme Court steps. There, a handful of pro-choice protesters were flocked by the national (secular) television cameras, newspaper reporters, and received all of the publicity. As usual, the more than 150,000 pro-life marchers were given as much, or less, time and coverage as the dozen pro-choice protesters. Yet, in the end, it does not matter, for the mere fact that the protesters were so angry shows that the pro-life message is slowly winning. Along the March, many other marchers or onlookers spontane-ously shouted, “Go Irish,” or, “Go Notre Dame!” These encourage-ments were naturally returned with chants of “Go Irish, Save Babies,” or “We are ND; we are pro-life.” Indeed, as the University of Notre Dame forges new paths into the future, and as many con-troversial debates take place on campus, we, the members of Right to Life know Who is ultimately in charge. Our Lord is slowly chang-ing hearts and minds, and as people realize the power of the Truth, their eyes are opened and their lives are tran formed. However, until every human life, from con-ception until natural death, is pro-tected in this country, and a true culture of life is brought about, Notre Dame Right to Life will continue to witness to the Truth, and declare that truly, Notre Dame, Our Mother, is pro-life!
-John Sikorski
Between January 20 and January 23, three busloads of Notre Dame students represented the Fighting Irish as they attended the 33rd annual March for Life in Washing-ton, D.C. The March, organized by Right to Life member Monica Querciagrossa, was a success, as many other colleges and organiza-tions from around the country were able to see Notre Dame students witness to the sanc-tity and dignity of human life. On Saturday, some students from Notre Dame were able to par t i c ipa te in the American Collegians for Life Annual Conference at the Catholic University of Amer-ica. On Sunday, the day before the March, young pro-life s t u d e n t s a n d marchers from across the United States were visible through-out Washington, D.C., and flocked to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Concep-tion, where Cardinal Keeler of Baltimore celebrated a Vigil Mass, which began an entire night of prayer and adoration at the Shrine. Planning to attend the annual youth rally at the MCI Center on Monday before the March, fol-lowed by a Mass celebrated by Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, the Notre Dame marchers left their hotel early, only to get caught in traffic on the bus to the venue. When they arrived at the MCI Center, the 20,000-plus seat-ing capacity of the building was full! The groups was directed to St. Patrick’s Parish, on 10th Street in downtown. Upon arrival, they found out that, yet again, the Mass inside the church was full, but this did not prevent the Fighting Irish from worshipping the Lord, and drawing their strength from the Eucharist, as the “source and sum-mit of their faith,” and the source of all graces for the pro-life move-
ment. Before they knew it, an i m p r o m p t u c o m m u n i o n service began in the streets of downtown Washington! A His-panic priest led the Notre Dame students, as well as a few hundred others, by giving a rousing pro-life homily on the Gospel, and then prepared those present for the reception of Holy Communion, at which point the deacons from
within the church processed out-side with the Eucharist, allowing Our Lord to come into the streets and sanctify those present with the gift of Himself. Thus, though the exciting MCI Center rally and Holy Mass were sacrificed, God once again provided and allowed the marchers to be strengthened for their journey of witnessing to the p r o - l i f e m e s s a g e . Upon arrival to the March for Life Rally on the Mall in front of the United States Capitol, the Notre Dame group set up the “Irish Fighting for Life” Banner near the front of the stage. Immediately, a group of cameramen and a reporter from EWTN Catholic News rushed upon the group, asking for an interview. Once again, Right to Life members were able to send the message to the world that the University of Notre Dame is pro-life! When asked about the club, president Arina Grossu was able to advertise, live and on international television, the Collegiate Conference (planned for April 2006), as well as many other
Watch video of NDRTL’s interview
on EWTN at: http://bossjeep.com/catholicjeep/
photogallery/marchforlife2006/
videos.htm
“One nation, under God, indi-visible, with liberty and justice for all, born and pre-born.”
President’s Welcome rals, people who want our shirt, and those inquiring about our upcoming Youth Rally and Colle-giate Conference. In addition, we were able to pass out around 7,500 flyers for the Collegiate Conference to major Catholic and non-Catholic universities who were present at the March. Things are looking up for us, but please continue to keep us in your prayers as we work to bring about the culture of life this semester.
In and through
our Blessed Mother,
Arina O. Grossu
January 2006 January marks off the
beginning of a fresh year with new visions and dreams for the Notre Dame Right to Life Club. We arrived back to campus from our long Christmas break in time to hop on a bus and head to Washington DC for the 33rd annual March for Life. After the twelve hour drive, and a week-end in the nation’s capital, on Monday morning we made our way to the MCI Convention Center for Mass. With no extra room available, we walked to St. Patrick’s Church to find it just as full. After standing around in the cold, we huddled together to
recite the rosary and then re-ceived the Eucharist at the out-side communion service in the midst of construction workers and city noise. It was a transcen-dent experience. Having gath-ered the strength from the Eucharist, we marched to the Mall chanting and proudly waving the Notre Dame flag to leave no doubt that the Notre Dame Right to Life has arrived. Provi-dence sent EWTN our way and after an interview with them, we established ourselves as a pillar of Catholicism and pro-life activ-ism at Notre Dame. Now I am in the midst of answering emails from parishes, dioceses, youth groups, high school teens, admi-
Page 2 Footprints
NDRTL
Mission Statement
The purpose of our or-ganization is to pro-mote and uphold the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death through prayer, service, and education, and to help women in crisis preg-nancies find alterna-tives to abortion through service and support, in the spirit of the Catholic Church.
2005-2006 Officers Arina Grossu
President, [email protected]
Caitlin Shaughnessy
Co-VP, [email protected]
Adam Hoock
Co-VP, [email protected]
Ian Patrick McDole
Secretary, [email protected]
Ann Pressprich
Treasurer, [email protected]
Joe Kirkconner
Membership, [email protected]
Glenn Bradford
Webmaster, [email protected]
Dear Senator Frist,
I am dismayed to learn that you have decided to shift your position in the embryonic stem cell research debate. Your former position, one of agreement with the President’s policy established in his August 9, 2001 address which prohibited the spending of federal funds on any research that would destroy any further human embryos, is one I sup-port. I urge you to reconsider your current position, that the human embryos previously created in fertility clinics may be destroyed for research. Ethically, this position is untenable, and scientifically, it is unnecessary. We can achieve the bright promise of stem cell research by moral means. Adult stem cell research, using cells from umbilical cord blood as well as pluripotent stem cells found in all humans, has the potential to cure all the ailments that others suggest justify the destruction of innocent human life. This much is clear from extensive clinical research, documented in peer re-viewed scholarly journals (www.stemcell.org) as well as in the report made by the President’s Council on Bioethics (www.Bioethics.gov).
The destruction of viable human life is not justifiable by any ends. It has been argued, however, that “left over” frozen embryos from fertility clinics are not viable because no one will ever implant them in a womb from which they would develop into infants. This is demonstrably not the case. Project Snowflake and similar programs have made it possible for families to adopt and rescue frozen embryos, implanting them in adoptive mothers who gave birth to and raised these “left over” human beings. This project has to date enrolled over 120 adoptive families and resulted in the birth of 81 of the “left over” people your legislation will make it legal to destroy (www.nightlight.org/). We need to protect these vulnerable innocents, not experiment on them. The overwhelming number of frozen embryos should not be a justification for the willful destruction of human life. Instead we should realize that it is reckless and unethical to practice fertility techniques that produce hundreds more embryos than we ever intend to implant. Allowing de-structive experimentation on these embryos will serve to justify this practice we must stand against.
It has been argued that the cost, in terms of human life, of embryonic stem cell research is great but that the bene-fits will be greater and therefore justify the initial costs. This argument is not only immoral; it is scientifically un-founded. Diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease, heart disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, spinal chord injuries: we are promised embryonic stem cell research is likely to lead to cures for all of these ailments. The fact remains, however, that adult stem cell research is not only morally preferable to embryonic stem cell research, it is more promising in terms of providing those cures. Several clinically available effective therapies have already been achieved in the field of adult stem cell research (www.stemcell.org). For example, a cardiac clinic in Germany has perfected the regeneration of heart muscle after a heart attack from stem cells procured from the patient’s own body. Embryonic stem cell re-search, on the other hand, has to date only been shown to generate cancerous tumors in humans.
Please Senator, review your position on this important life issue. Protect innocent life, Senator Frist, op-pose embryonic stem cell research.
Sincerely,
Petition Our marchers signed this petition to
Sen. George Frist.
Page 3 Footprints
Notre Dame, St. Mary’s Students Rally for Life in Washington witnessing to it in Washington, D.C.”
The marchers made their way deliber-ately up the gradual incline to the north side of Capitol Hill and past the Senate side of the Capitol building, all the while in the shadow of the dome’s Statue of Freedom. The mood was upbeat, but among all the school groups present only Notre Dame seemed to have the esprit de corps and leadership to really make itself known, be it through its banner held high, its prayers well prayed, or its songs well sung.
Notre Dame Right to Life Club President Arina Grossu, when asked the reason for the club’s wholehearted participation, said “Notre Dame is a Catholic institution, and as Catholics, we need to make our voice heard. We need to be an example for the rest of the country.” She said that marching makes a real difference, be it through net-work-building opportunities or the ability to help change the minds of people who think they are indifferent or even pro-choice.
Finally the masses headed down the hill and to the right, where the imposing Su-preme Court, and its many watchful police, awaited one and all. Only eight or ten counter-protesters could be found, yelling through bullhorns and arguing ineffectively against the multitudes of pro-lifers. Long after they left the premises, the marchers remained at the steps of the Court to listen to women who, as part of the “Silent No More” campaign, each told moving stories of how they were victimized by the abortions they had.
With the March ended, Notre Dame’s time in Washington was almost complete. After meals in Union Station and Metro rides back to the buses, Notre Dame Right to Life departed Washington for school.
But they will return. If history is any indication, many who marched this year will take the buses back next January 22 – if necessary, to bear witness once again to the sanctity of life, but hopefully to celebrate a return to a greater respect for life.
— Timothy Wymore
It is not every day that scores of Notre Dame and St. Mary’s students help lead a political protest hundreds of miles from campus. Not unless that day is January 22.
Every year, on or near January 22, the Notre Dame/St. Mary’s Right to Life Club sends several buses of students to the annual March for Life. The march, which regularly draws over 100,000 people to the nation’s capital, marks the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that re-quired the complete legalization of abor-tion. Marchers gather to demand legal protection for the unborn, which has been essentially denied by Roe v. Wade since 1973.
This year about 90 students made the long trek to Washington, D.C. As the march was on a Monday, most people departed the previous Friday in order to sightsee, attend the American Collegians for Life conference, and make a pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
The collegiate conference, with semi-nars ranging from the “Psychology of Euthanasia” to “Activities for Campus Pro-life Clubs,” lasted all day Saturday. Father Frank Pavone, Director of Priests for Life, told students, “There is a cause in our time by which our times will be judged in the long annals of history. This is it, folks.”
The Vigil Mass for Life, celebrated for the capacity crowd at the beautiful national basilica, highlighted Sunday night.
Notre Dame attended the Youth Mass on the morning of March for Life, as it does each year. Cardinal McCarrick, archbishop of Washington, celebrated the Mass at the MCI Center arena. In atten-dance were dozens of bishops, hundreds of priests and seminarians, and so many marchers that some had to be turned away. Those unable to get into the MCI Center included some Notre Dame stu-dents, who were told to walk to St. Pat-rick’s Church near the Mall. This too was full, but after saying a rosary the bystand-ers were able to have Mass outside in the
cold gray day.
The pre-March rally was unusual in its venue: on the Mall at Seventh Street, rather than the Ellipse by the White House, perhaps symbolizing that the pro-life movement is now nearer than ever before to realizing its vision of a culture of life. Speakers included the indefatigable Nellie Gray (perennial organ-izer of the March for Life), Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey (staunch Congres-sional defender of life), and Bobby Schindler
(brother of the late Terri Schiavo).
President Bush made his usual call to the assembled, expressing his beliefs that “The self-evident truths of the Declaration of Inde-pendence apply to everyone” and that “Human life is a gift from our Creator and should never be used as a means to an end.” We are “making good progress” toward a culture of life, he said, and predicted that “We will prevail.”
Soon afterward the thirty-third annual March for Life began. Tens of thousands of upbeat marchers began their slow but unstop-pable walk east along Constitution Avenue, each demonstrating in their own way the theme of this year’s march, “Roe v. Wade Violates the American Way.” As Notre Dame awaited its turn to begin walking, John Sikor-ski, Theology of the Body Commissioner for the Notre Dame Right to Life Club, told the Rover why the group marches each year. “We believe in the dignity of life from conception to natural death,” he said. “We want people to know there are Notre Dame students who care enough about life to spend a weekend
Secretary’s Welcome experiences at our nation’s capital. It was a trip many of us will never forget, and we pray that our efforts there will be heard. May Our Lady look over our country.
Peace,
Ian P. McDole
And we’re back to the grindstone,. This last month has been busy for Right to Life as we made our way to the annual March for Life, and now we are trying to get back into the swing of campus life after our month off for Christmas break. This year’s March was a very spiritual uplifting experience. I spent almost every day at the National Shrine, and the number of pilgrims who had converged on America’s Catholic Church were a sign of the move-ment’s strength. I truly believe that the
Supreme Court will overturn Roe vs Wade in my lifetime, making our work almost finished. Then we will have to start work-ing on the state level. This issue of “Footprints” covers only the March for Life, our main event of the year, Many thanks are in order to the numerous people who helped organize the trip, but especially to Monica Querciagrossa who worked tirelessly with John Sikorski to make sure the trip went on with ease. I hope that you enjoy hearing about our
Page 4 Footprints
Praying the Rosary during the March
Communion Service outside St Patrick’s Church in Washington, D.C. before the
CAMPUS NEWS
March for Life~ Washington, D.C.
At the main portal to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
NDRTL 2006 SHIRT
Buy our 2006 shirt for $20. Make checks payable to ND Right to Life.
Notre Dame Right to Life
315 LaFortune Student Center University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Page 5 Footprints
February 2006
9– Month Poster Calendar:
Every month we put up posters in every dorm and in academic build-ings tracking the devel-opment of the unborn baby.
Month 6
A Catholic Youth Rally on Chastity and Pro-Life Issues Keynote Speakers include:
-Mark Hart, Life Teen’s “Bible Geek” -Illinois Citizens for Life -Panel on Living Chastity in Vocations
Parents and chaperones are encouraged to attend. Registration info coming soon!
http://www.nd.edu/~prolife/youthrally
[email protected] (574) 631-3066
DAY & DATE
EVENT LOCATION TIME
Tuesday, 7th
Club Meeting Dooley, LaFun 7:30-8 pm
Tues-day,6th
Crossroads Guest Speaker Mark Tho-mason
Dooley, LaFun 8-8:30 pm
Monday, 13th
Club Mass Log Chapel 10 pm
Fri. & Sat. 10th-11th
Edith Stein Project McKenna Hall All day
Friday, 24th
Club Officers/Commissioner Applica-tions due for 2006-07
3rd floor LaFun 5 pm
Tuesday, 28th
Club Voting for officers/Commissioners 06-07
TBA 7:30 pm
Page 6 Footprints
Photos
Page 7 Footprints
______________________
______________________
______________________
Notre D
ame R
ight to Life
315 LaFortune Student Center
University of N
otre Dam
e N
otre Dam
e, IN 46556
Place Stam
p H
ere
Notre Dame Right to LifeNotre Dame Right to LifeNotre Dame Right to Life presents the 1st annual
ProPro--Life Collegiate ConferenceLife Collegiate Conference
“Am I my brother’s keeper?”“Am I my brother’s keeper?” Freedom Misunderstood, Part IFreedom Misunderstood, Part I
Friday & Saturday, April 21Friday & Saturday, April 21--22, 200622, 2006 University of Notre Dame
A Catholic Conference on Pro-Life Issues
Speakers include: -Dr. Peter Kreeft, (http://www.peterkreeft.com) -Professor of Philosophy at Boston College -Fr. John Coughlin, O.F.M., -Professor at Notre Dame Law School -Dr. Janet Smith, -Chair of Life Issues at Sacred Heart Major Seminary-Fr. Heyd, -Priests for Life
More information forthcoming . Check the website for updates.
Please contact us for interest, questions, or concerns.
http://www.nd.edu/~prolife/conference
[email protected] (574) 631-3066
Not
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Page 8 Footprints
A Special Thanks
To the Following Donors: Without you, we would not have the
necessary resources to bring the message of life to the Notre Dame community.
1. Bill & Peggy Dotterweich, ND ‘58Fort Wayne, IN 2. Terrence & Sarah Ward Fort Wayne, IN 3. Arthur L. Roule, Jr., ND ’58 La Porte, IN 4. Greg-ory A. Hoffman, M.D.Fort Wayne, IN 5. William G. (ND ’60) & Patricia E. Roth Carmel, CA 6. Leo J. (ND ’55) & Arlene F. Hawk Lima, OH 7. Louis A. Smith Traverse City, MI 8. David J. & Sandra Huarte Carlsbad, CA 9. Wendell F. Bueche Chi-cago, IL 10. Muriel Cullen Victoria, TX 11. Cathy Rickard New York, NY 12. Jerome & Margaret Hipskind Fort Wayne, IN 13. Jeffrey & Janet Hawk Lima, OH 14. Patricia & James Revord Glenview, IL 15. Anthony Keisling Woodstock, IL 16. Thomas & Carmela Kustner Waukesha, WI 17. Andrea Swineheart Ann Arbor, MI 18.Mr. & Mrs. Carl Au-men Bellevue, NE 19. Lori Bettcher South Bend, IN 20. Mr. Peter Green Lombard, IL 21.Janel Daufen-bach ‘05 Portage, IL 22.David Ermine, Esq. Walling-ton, PA 23.Michael Failor Perrysburg, OH 24. Mr. & Mrs. Curtis Keppel Chesterfield, MO 25. Philip E. Poinsatte Brunswick, OH
An Extra Special Thanks to:
26. Ronald & Caherine Tisch Sewickley, PA
27. Andrew & Maria Dotterweich, II Jackson, MI
28. Mr. Richard Dyer, Jr. Fairfax, VA
...help us get to 100!
Last but not least… We would also like to thank Thomas M. Sullivan of Wil-mington, CA for the beautiful tapestry of Our Lady of Guada-lupe and Christ in her womb. We will surely be using it on campus and at the March for Life next year.
Notre Dame Right to Life 315 LaFortune Student Center University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556
E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 574. 631.3066
Website: http://www.nd.edu/~prolife/
About the 100/$100 Campaign: Our hope is to see 100 generous donors who are willing to commit a yearly renewable gift of $100 to the NDRTL. This monetary gift would allow our students to continue putting on annual pro-life events (such as the March for Life, high school and collegiate conferences) without the worry of not being able to financially cover the costs. Without enough funds, such events will have to be severely compromised or cancelled. Please consider donating to the NDRTL so that we may have the necessary resources to bring the message of life to the Notre Dame community!
