two steps forward

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Jan 27, 2006

They've taken plenty of flak in OTR, all of it well-deserved, so when the Jesuits get it right for a change they should be congratulated. Jesuit high school and university pro-life groups made a good showing at the March For Life, and even got a welcome in Washington.

"God is calling you to heal divisions," said Jesuit Father Steve Spahn, associate pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Washington, to the crowd of a few hundred students from Jesuit high schools and colleges across the country. ...

As an indication that more than simple toleration for their views was on offer, the pro-life students were addressed by the president of the Jesuit Conference:

The same message was reiterated in closing comments by Jesuit Father Bradley Schaeffer, president of the Jesuit Conference, who told the march participants that they have a vision "grounded in the tradition of the Church to choose life."

"Your mission," he said, "is to proclaim that vision to those who would not see it," by example, by listening and by advocating for those who have no voice. "Your voice needs to be heard and will be heard," he added.

Father Schaeffer said that the week before the march he prayed at the tomb of Pope John Paul II for the youths of the United States who would be in Washington, that they would "change hearts and minds and that the culture of life would prevail over the culture of death."

Also gratifying, and perhaps even more surprising, the Boston College student newspaper has a sneer-free account of BC's pro-life contingent here.