“Pro-choice Catholics, you are not alone,” read a large sign at one of the many public events in conjunction with this year’s March for Life.
Not surprising, since there are usually a handful of pro-abortion counter-protestors at the annual march, which commemorates the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion nationwide.
What was different about this one was that it was spread across the front facade of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. And the basilica – the largest Catholic church in America – was filled with pro-life Catholics attending Mass and the National Prayer Vigil for Life.
The Catholic Church reaching out in a merciful gesture to those in opposition to her teaching on human life? Hardly.
The message, spread across the front of the basilica like a banner headline, was being projected from a pedestrian island on Michigan Avenue by a small group from the pro-abortion advocacy group Catholics for Choice.
“1 in 4 abortion Patients is Catholic,” proclaimed another projection, this time up and down the bell tower, alternating with others that read, “Stop stigmatizing” and “Start listening.”