This year marks the 38th Anniversary of the Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision, Jan. 22, 1973, which legalized abortion throughout the United States. It is estimated that more than 50 million abortions have taken place in the United States in that time. Once again, hundreds of us from Connecticut went to Washington, D.C., to join the hundreds of thousands of others speaking out against this blight which so seriously damages the history of our country.

Over the years, there was a dismal tone to these gatherings. The number of abortions continued to rise and the percentages of people in favor of abortion remained strongly "pro-choice." In 1995, the Gallup Poll found a 56-33 percent majority in the United States in favor of abortion. It was important to urge perseverance on the issue for those who were pro-life.

People’s convictions on the matter have been changing in recent years. It is most encouraging to note that in 2010 significant polls such as Gallup, Pew, and Marist have found that Americans now show a majority of people as pro-life, with percentages as high as 51-42 percent. Gallup says that the new normal on abortion is that Americans are more "pro-life." The numbers of people opposed to later-term abortions and partial-birth abortions are over 80 percent.

There was, therefore, a special lift to the tone of the assemblies in Washington this year. Once again, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception was jammed, upstairs and downstairs, with thousands of people praying at the special Mass. The overwhelming presence of young people was very clear – at least 75 percent. The numbers on the Mall the next day for the large demonstration were another indication that our younger generation, between the ages of 18 and 29, is the most pro-life to come along in eight decades.

Significant news across the country at this time is that crisis pregnancy centers, dedicated to persuading women to continue their pregnancies, now outnumber the country’s abortion providers, according to the Pew Research Center.

Obstetrical ultrasound services have been much more available in the last two decades. With this equipment, a woman is able to view her scan, determine whether or not she is pregnant, see how far the gestation has progressed, and watch the heartbeat of her baby. When people see these living images, it is very difficult for abortion providers to say that the fetus is merely tissue. These sonograms have been called "God’s window."

Before going to the Mall, we celebrated Mass in the hotel for the participants from our Archdiocese, followed by breakfast. Our guest speaker at the breakfast was Mr. David Bereit, National Campaign Director for Forty Days for Life. This is a very impressive pro-life work, focusing on prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil, and grassroots outreach and education. It is established in many dioceses and states and is growing. Many of our parishes are active in the experience, taking two days each as it circulates in the Archdiocese. David’s spiritual and motivating talk was well received. During it, he made reference to a book, unPlanned (sic), by Abby Johnson, which is now among the top 10 best-sellers on the Amazon and Barnes & Noble lists.

I have read the book and recommend it highly. Abby describes very movingly how she had been an employee of Planned Parenthood for eight years, including her work as director of an abortion clinic. After all that time, it was her participation in an ultrasound-guided abortion that forced her in conscience to leave the clinic and become a pro-life counselor.

Of course, we continue to keep in mind the pregnant women who face anxiety over the moral choice of bringing their babies to birth. They may be sure that the Church offers significant help to them: financial, medical, counseling, educational, etc. Our pregnancy care centers, social service agencies, and hospitals are there to help. Alternatives to abortion are available, and adoption is an option.

We must be strongly supportive of freedom of conscience in these matters. We have to be concerned about federal funding for abortions and plans that cover abortion. The current health care law does not contain a Hyde Amendment. The President has issued an Executive Order to forbid federal funding for abortion, but an Executive Order does not come close to the significance of statutory law. We must be sure that federal tax dollars are not used in support of abortion.

Freedom of conscience also must be safeguarded when attempts are made to force hospitals to perform abortions. In addition, we must protect the consciences of doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals from mandates to provide abortion.

As we begin a new decade, there is good reason for hope. People’s attitudes are becoming more pro-life, and the number of abortions is declining. People do not like to discuss abortion, but we must continue to develop our consciences and realize that we must address the critical matters of life and death.

I would like at this time to express special gratitude to our hard-working leaders in pro-life work for the Archdiocese: Father James Cronin, Director; Sister Suzanne Gross, F.S.E., Program Coordinator; and Mrs. Janice Hunter and Mrs. Mary Lou Peters, Assistants. They provide invaluable service for all of us.