Black Catholic Young Adult Article ~ { Print Version }
The National Black Catholic Congress
www.nbccongress.org

Pro-Life Pilgrimage
By Adam Badger

Youth Article Index

We've Come This Far By Faith: St. Augustine Parish Youth Ministry About St. Lawrence Abstinence Education Notre Dame's First Black Valedictorian Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist: Two Sacred Sacraments and Blessed Acts Who Am I My life serving in the African American Catholic Community African American Young Adult Ministry is an act of Social Justice It's Time to Walk the Walk Your talents: Gifts from God and a call to action. A Purpose-Driven Life Not My Own Abstinence Saves Lives Our Forgotten Children "Prayer Changes" Pro-Life Pilgrimage If You Don't Know Where You're Going, Any Road Will Take You There Transitioning from High School to College Examination of Conscience PRE-CANA Archdiocese of New Orleans's IMANI Team

Youth Article Index

My experience with the annual Washington, DC Pro-life Mass and March has been life-changing. I am a Junior at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans and I have been attending the Pro-Life Mass and Rally since I was a Freshman. I have learned many things about being pro-life, and how to have a better appreciation for life. I have learned that we may not have the perfect life, but we must always be grateful for the opportunity we have been given to live. I think that it's only fair and just that everyone else had that same chance.

Once I arrived in Washington D.C. for this year's march, I was filled with passion because I knew that I was making a change. I traveled with thirty other Purple Knights. We came to Washington D.C. with our minds prepared for the challenge that we had ahead of us. While in Washington D.C. we had a chance to attend several events which were designed to end legalized abortion. We attended Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Mass and Rally for Life at the Verizon Center, and the great pro-life march just to name a few.

These three events were very spirit-filled, and powerful. Many youth were in attendance, and learned a great deal from this. As a Purple Knight of St. Augustine High School, our pro-life group is getting the word out that we must stop abortion because it is wrong. Abortion is not only morally wrong it is spiritually wrong and unjust. Abortion should not be taken lightly because it is a serious matter that has been affecting our nation for many years. For example, over 440,000 African American babies are aborted every year!

At a conference held at our school, I had the privilege of speaking to several women about past abortions. This had a great affect on me. At first I couldn't really understand the picture, but now I learned to better understand abortion and how it harms us. Being a male, it is hard to put myself in a woman's place; but if we as human beings value our own life, then we should value an unborn life that is still developing in his or her mother's womb. I always say, "You may never know what that child may grow up to be unless you give her a chance at life."

This pro-life pilgrimage has taught me a lot in the last three years. To be able to march from the Verizon Center to the Supreme Court has made a big difference in my life. When marching, I felt like I was making change, and opening the doors for others to follow in my footsteps, just as Civil Rights marchers in the past ultimately made changes for my generation. The hundreds of thousands of people who were in attendance made a decision to defend life and I was in that crowd making my voice heard.

The pro-life movement stands for hope, and change. To be a part of this movement brings me a great deal of joy. This pilgrimage has also taught me the lesson to be a guide for other youth my age who are interested in learning more about protecting and defending life. It is my responsibility to step up to the plate to educate more people about the pro-life movement. At the age of sixteen years it is an honor to say that I can be the voice to spread the word about the pro-life movement and how it affected my life.

Since my freshman year, I have chosen to be a part of this movement and have chosen to defend life. When people look at me and talk about the pro-life movement it is good to know that I can share the lessons I have learned with others. I have learned a tremendous amount about the horrors of legalized abortion and I look forward to participating in the march for life in 2010. I hope that I will be joined by many who have never attended before so that more voices can be raised to protect and defend life.

Adam Badger is a Junior at St. Augustine High School (Josephite) in New Orleans.