Last week, on 23 January, the March for Life continued it’s annual protest of the 1973 Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade. When I made it to DC’s Union Station to take the commuter train home, there were multitudes of crowds. I even ran in to a good friend of mine who was taking the bus back home to our parish. It’s not unusual to see families riding the commuter train back home from either a regular site seeing day or a protest/march. So, I stumbled upon a middle aged mom with four children who were enjoying a late lunch.
After we spoke briefly about the VRE back home, someone that she new entered in to our area. This mom and her three children had also been at the March for Life. This woman couldn’t have been more than 30 and her oldest looked no older than 10. She wore no makeup and an oversize poncho-type sweater. But, she was also pregnant so I will cut her some slack for looking like Betty Suarez did when “Ugly Betty” first aired. Except Betty had on makeup.
The DC weather in January is always sketchy. Who remembers when President Obama was sworn in? DC weather might be bitter cold, rainy, cold and rain, windy or a combination of all of these. Or, it could just be sunny and decent for winter weather. On 23 January 2012 it was mid 40s with rain. An icky day for a protest no matter the cause. But marchers show up regardless.
The young mother got in to a conversation about the weather and how the Supreme Court justices should know how dedicated the marchers were to seeing Roe v. Wade overturned because they always show up no matter the weather. Ok, I’ll buy that. Marchers and protesters show their passion for the issue.
But then she said something that I will never agree with: that God had allowed the rain so the Supreme Court justices would know how dedicated the Right to Life Marchers were about overturning this court case. She then inferred that the protestors were being punished via the rain. For what? Original sin?
I am sick of some Catholics bearing this guilt cross. Yes, I know. We can’t seem to let it go. It’s part of our culture; our dogma. Can’t we celebrate God differently? Yes. Should we embrace our roots, so to speak? Yes. Are any of us worthy of God? Not really. Are your children really suffering in the rain at at Right to Life March because Eve at that stupid apple? No.
How about embracing your walk with God in a positive way, not propelled by guilt and original sin? Although I attend church on a regular basis and try to walk with God as Christians should, I guess I am just not that Catholic. I don’t let guilt impact how I worship God.
