According to a recent article in The New York Times, the political landscape in our country is one presently marked by gloom. Our country has changed in the aftermath of 9/11.

“Beyond the emergence of war and national security as pre-eminent concerns, there has been a profound reordering of domestic priorities, a darkening of the country’s mood and, in the eyes of many a fraying of America’s very sense of itself.”

Without question 9/11 (2001) was certainly a tragic watershed event in our history. But if you look back another three decades to 1/22 of 1973, you will find the exact date when our country lost its innocence and plunged into darkness in a more profound way than in all of its history. That Roe v. Wade decision of the Supreme Court cast a dark shadow over the decades since then up to now, even over the horrific events of 9/11. But that shadow has become such a part of the national scene, embedded so deeply into the scheme of things that it hardly gets noticed for what it is. 

No, not really unnoticed. Not if you look beyond the bias of the mass media to the March for Life in Washington, D.C. There were juxtaposed two realities. A tremendous crowd of about 100,000+ people consisting of mostly young people (early teens, mid-teens, late teens and young adults) vibrant with energy gathered to observe the 35th anniversary of the most disastrous decision ever made by our Supreme Court. There was a strange melding of that youthful energy with that tragic reality as they cried out in the tone of cheerleaders at a football or basketball game – “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Roe v. Wade has got to go! Hey, hey, ho, ho. Roe v. Wade has got to go!” 

In their own way, these chants reflected the words of Isaiah, words which pierced the gloom over the people of his time: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.” This gathering in Washington was such a light in the darkness.

It was a virtual sea of people. And the amazing part of it is that each year the crowd consists of more and more young people. This is the hope of the future for the right to life movement and for a better tomorrow for our country. 

As those who were born since the Roe v. Wade decision of the Supreme Court look around them, they have the growing realization that there are many, many missing persons – those who would have been born if not for that fateful decision in 1973. They probably realize more and more that they themselves could easily have been among the absent, lost to the world before they had a chance at life.

They know that their mothers, who even though some of them may have had difficult circumstances at the time of their birth, chose life for them, nevertheless. They have a personally felt reason to dedicate themselves to this cause for life.

The equivalent of the entire population of 17 midwestern states has been lost to abortion since Roe v. Wade. The total number is approaching 50,000,000 people lost to abortion.

No, abortion is not the only issue of concern. But the fact is that it has become so embedded in our public mores that it has become a non-issue in the minds of many. For instance, highly publicized debates among leading candidates for president do not bring it into the discussion at all. Their record speaks for itself.
But you cannot escape the conclusion that what is really an abhorrent crime against humanity has become the law of the land. It not only destroys the life of the unborn, but it wreaks terrible harm on women, as well – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual harm. Many women live with profound regret for the rest of their lives, as was apparent at the March for Life.

This issue, although below the radar screen in so much of the political campaigning, will never go away. Until this blot on our nation has been addressed honestly and resolved in favor of life, it will always haunt us.

We see signs of hope for instance, in that individual women who are suffering post abortion distress, can find healing with the help of others who understand. One program that does this is called Rachel’s Helpers. Also Expectant Mother Care has various outlets for women with difficult pregnancies. Both can be found easily by a simple Internet search.

And then there is that great sign of hope given by so many young people involved in the March for Life. The mass media would like to keep their light under a bushel basket. But that light will not be extinguished.

Father Robert Czok is the pastor of St. Anthony-St. Alphonsus parish, Greenpoint.