Letter to the editor

Wearing what looked like a white blanket over a sheet, that familiar bearded figure with long sandy hair, crossed Constitution Avenue in his bare feet.

This Jesus look-alike was one of the mystifying sights at the 32nd annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 24. A marcher from Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, Natrona Heights, witnessed the Messianic vision.

"He's a member of the Apostles Movement," the witness said. "I read about them. They go around the country in their bare feet. There's one who stops out on Route 8 regularly."

The group from our parish was one of the busloads that braved snowy roads, only to confront a strangely serene Tidal Basin breeze and temperatures that soared above freezing. They journeyed once more to protest the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision allowing abortion on demand since 1973.

"Hey - hey, ho - ho, Roe vs. Wade has got to go!" Catholic school students chanted during the march.

Back and forth, across Constitution, they chorused, "We want life! Yes we do! We want life! How 'bout you?!" And up the avenue, the punchy, "Choose life! Your mom did!"

Following the march, some visited the crowded caucus room, where U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum withstood the scrutiny of his constituents. They applauded each time he answered their questions about abortion and other pro-life issues such as embryonic stem-cell research and human cloning.

One topic was the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act. This would require abortionists to provide - whenever a woman seeks an abortion past 20 weeks after fertilization - specified information of the capacity of her unborn child to feel pain.

Does anybody believe that being put to death is without pain?

If they do, then they probably wouldn't wonder about that man walking on cold asphalt with bare feet.

John Defeo, Harrison,

Valley News Dispatch, Jan 30, 2005

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