A light rain drizzled upon the marchers assembled outside of the Abbey. It was not the frigid Washington D.C. winter that they are used to, but the poor weather provided some sense of familiarity as students and alumni alike processed up 2nd Street in a celebration of the overturning of the Roe v. Wade case.
On June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court announced the overturning of the 1973 Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion at the federal level. Saturday, Sept. 10, the Benedictine community gathered to celebrate and honor the efforts of the college community in the defense of the unborn through hosting a rally and a march up 2nd street.
“For 40 years, our students have traveled by bus to Washington D.C., marched up Constitution Ave, stopped in front of the Supreme Court and they would pray a rosary that the Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade,” said Benedictine president Stephen Minnis. “All of those prayers, after all of those years finally came to pass so we thought that it was important to have a celebration.”
Early Saturday morning, members of Ravens Respect Life gathered to enjoy breakfast and meet leaders of the Pro-Life movement who would be speaking at the rally later.
Following the opening remarks, club members along with students and Atchison families gathered at the Marian Grotto where they were led by Minnis in reciting the rosary. Then, the group descended upon Raven Memorial Park for the Rally.
During the rally, Minnis honored a variety of people including alumni leaders from the past four decades. Renowned pro-life leaders Ann Clare Levy, from the National March for Life, Melissa Ohden, an abortion survivor, Dr. John Bruchalski, a former abortionist and current OBGYN, and Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life of America.
After a rally reminiscent of the one held at the National Mall every year, the group assembled at the Abbey. Led by a replica of the National March for Life banner carried by Minnis and other leaders of the school and pro-life movement, the group traversed through campus, up 2nd street and into the football stadium.
“I really enjoyed seeing all of the energy that people had,” said senior Catherine Gimino. “Marching up 2nd street felt like such a natural thing to do considering that we are such a pro-life campus and President Minnis is onboard with all of this. There was just so much excitement.”
The football game halftime included a special commemoration of the Benedictine pro-life movement. Current students and alumni of the Ravens Respect Life club joined Minnis on the field to honor the dedicated work of Benedictine college in the Pro-life movement to conclude the celebration.
“The fact that we can celebrate (the overturning of Roe v. Wade), and not just recognize this and soak in the glory and what the Lord did for us is absolutely essential,” said president of Ravens Respect life Joe Hogan. “Saturday was a great way to celebrate this huge pro-life victory.”
