As Life March Nears, Cardinal Cites Power of ‘Conversion’

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Cardinal Dolan kicked off a week of public witness and devotions to the pro-life cause at a Respect Life Mass in St. Patrick’s Cathedral Jan. 17 during which he urged Catholics not to be “discouraged” that they haven’t yet won the fight against abortion, but to remain firm in their prayers and convictions because they are on the right side of a great civil rights issue.

The cardinal, speaking to a capacity congregation at the morning Mass—including many representatives of the Knights of Columbus and Columbiettes as well as Knights and Dames of Malta and a large contingent of the Sisters of Life—thanked them all for their “hard work, witness and efforts in this most noble cause.”

On the day before the federal holiday honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the cardinal’s homily invoked the spirit of the late civil rights leader when he recalled how Dr. King “preached conversion” against racism, poverty and bigotry inspired by Jesus and the prophets of the Old Testament.

Referring to the “somber anniversary” of the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion across the United States, which is observed at the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 22, the cardinal urged the protection “of the civil rights of the innocent baby in the womb” in the spirit of Dr. King.

Cardinal Dolan went on to say that although such a victory is not impossible, it will not be easy to achieve, nor will it take place solely due to conventional methods.

Noting the day’s Gospel reading about the wedding feast at Cana, when Jesus performed his first public miracle, the cardinal explained the miracles of Jesus are “about change and transformation.” The cardinal said the greatest miracle that “Jesus works is inside the human heart,” transforming sin into grace.

“We ask Jesus to work that miracle of change and transformation to change a culture of death into a culture of life. From a throwaway culture, in the words of Pope Francis, into a culture of mercy,” Cardinal Dolan said.

The cardinal amplified his remarks in an interview with CNY following the Mass.

What’s most important this week, the cardinal said, rather than focusing on a single element of pro-life work and mission, no matter how worthy each may be, is a focus on “the conversion of the heart of our nation.”

Efforts to promote a culture of life, whether they employ prayer, public witness or by works of charity and advocacy should start with a call to conversion, the cardinal said. Saying that pro-life supporters should not be discouraged, he noted examples from U.S. history from the American Revolution to the civil rights movement in the 1960s, where the convictions of religious people played a pivotal role in forging historic changes.

“This is a good week to recall that,” the cardinal said.

Cardinal Dolan, as the new chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops committee on pro-life activities, will be principal celebrant of the annual Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., the evening before the annual March for Life.

He is also scheduled to celebrate Masses for New York pilgrims at Little Flower Church in Bethesda, Md., on the morning of the march and for pro-life leaders at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America in D.C. on Jan. 21.

Speaking of the March for Life, which the cardinal called “a huge witness,” he estimated he has taken part in the festivities about 20 times. As much as the occasion is overlooked by mainstream media, the cardinal said, “it never goes away” and seems to grow larger and attract more young participants each year.

In contrast with an upbeat and joyful attitude projected by the pro-life marchers, the counter-protesters are often angry and bitter. “We seem to be confident of victory,” Cardinal Dolan said. “Right is on our side.”