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Join: The March For Life is coming to NJ · Beyond The Beacon

0:07
SPEAKER_02: Welcome to Beyond the Weekend with Bishop Kevin Sweeney, a podcast of the Diocese of Patterson, New Jersey.
0:13
SPEAKER_02: Join us for a weekly conversation about our Catholic faith, and together let's strive to live a life of faith, hope, and love.
0:19
SPEAKER_02: I'm Jay Agnish.
0:21
SPEAKER_02: With me is Bishop Kevin Sweeney.
0:23
SPEAKER_02: Bishop Kevin, how are you doing?
0:24
SPEAKER_03: I'm good, Jay.
0:24
SPEAKER_03: How are you?
0:25
SPEAKER_03: I'm doing well.
0:26
SPEAKER_02: Thanks.
0:26
SPEAKER_02: What's new?
0:27
SPEAKER_03: Uh time flies.
0:29
SPEAKER_03: We're summer's over, labor days passed, uh back to school.
0:34
SPEAKER_03: Uh exciting time for many.
0:37
SPEAKER_03: Uh and um uh we missed you uh last um last week, but I was happy Father Paul did a great job um uh in having Dr.
0:47
SPEAKER_03: Kilpatrick um was great, and um I shared in my column for the beacon this week um interest the wonderful presentation by Dr.
0:56
SPEAKER_03: Kilpatrick on um forming souls and building culture.
1:00
SPEAKER_03: Um I was glad my sister and brother-in-law were able to be with us as they have our parents of two Catholic University students, one graduate and one's going into a senior year.
1:09
SPEAKER_03: Um and we had a great turnout from our um our three diaston Catholic high schools and the other four high schools, Catholic high schools um in our diocese.
1:18
SPEAKER_03: So I think all were represented.
1:20
SPEAKER_03: And uh after Dr.
1:21
SPEAKER_03: Kilpatrick's wonderful remarks, um there was a great conversation um and uh um it led me to um think a little bit more about and learn a little bit more about uh the move towards cell phone free schools, um, which I wrote about in the beacon this week and uh seems to be gaining.
1:38
SPEAKER_03: Um and you know, um our young people have families, parents have so many challenges these days, teachers, uh, and um uh we have to really think and pray about um what's the best way, you know, as uh believers, uh Bishop Burbage uh in his Walcumbly podcast, which I often reference uh um anything, Bishop or pastor uh religious education program, that belief that parents are the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith.
2:09
SPEAKER_03: They're also the first teacher of their children in everything, you know, formation, education.
2:13
SPEAKER_03: Um but then uh schools, uh especially Catholic schools and religious education programs, we're privileged to partner with parents in that um passing on of what we received ourselves, you know, whether it be in a more formal education or the reading and arithmetic and writing and um technology and science and all those things, um, but also um an education in the faith.
2:36
SPEAKER_03: And um uh many talk about, you know, we um uh have our phones and we can so easily be distracted.
2:44
SPEAKER_03: If we get distracted, um how about kids in class?
2:48
SPEAKER_03: Uh I I know as someone who struggled to pay attention in class without any cell phones, I could only imagine what it would have been like.
2:54
SPEAKER_02: So and the mental uh the impact of on mental health is just it staggered.
3:00
SPEAKER_03: It's very, very troubling.
3:01
SPEAKER_03: Uh but um there are people of goodwill and um professionals who are looking at this and saying, all right, you know, what what do we what do we need to do to change the tide here?
3:13
SPEAKER_03: Um so um if uh for more information they can read my column in the beacon this week.
3:19
SPEAKER_03: And do we get to vote on it?
3:20
SPEAKER_03: Or do we get to vote on stealth?
3:23
SPEAKER_03: Oh yeah, yeah, um it's an interesting conversation.
3:26
SPEAKER_03: So Yeah, yeah, yeah.
3:28
SPEAKER_02: Um I love the podcast episode with Dr.
3:31
SPEAKER_02: Kilpatrick.
3:32
SPEAKER_02: Um it was nice to have Father Paul guest co-host.
3:35
SPEAKER_02: Um the part the conversation covered a lot of rich topics, but uh the one that stood out to me, I think it's like when you discussed kind of the parents kind of letting go and letting the children embrace the faith in their time and the Holy Spirit's kind of allowing them to do that, leading them to do that.
3:54
SPEAKER_02: But um, well great.
3:56
SPEAKER_02: So uh yeah, check out that podcast if you haven't already.
3:59
SPEAKER_02: And we uh have a special episode today.
4:01
SPEAKER_02: So we have coming up real soon on September 26th is the uh New Jersey Mass March and Rally for Life.
4:11
SPEAKER_02: Uh it's gonna be down in Trenton.
4:13
SPEAKER_02: Check the show notes for more information.
4:16
SPEAKER_02: And this is so this is a partnership with the March for Life uh organization who of course um puts together the the you know famous national uh march down in DC every year.
4:28
SPEAKER_03: And I think since 1974, um Roe vs.
4:32
SPEAKER_03: Wade decision in 1973, January 22nd, I think, every year since.
4:37
SPEAKER_03: Um we look I look forward to the conversation um with Jeannie from March for Life and how they're now um supporting uh state marches, and this will be our first year in our state of New Jersey, and it's very much needed uh as you talk about young people uh embracing their faith, and um you know there comes that time where um we can parents can give uh and and Catholic education and uh sacrament preparation, but yes, uh all of us as we grow and mature and develop, we have to make decisions um uh becoming young adults and adults.
5:13
SPEAKER_03: Uh and thank God a lot of our young people uh do surely embrace the faith and and live it in many beautiful different ways.
5:20
SPEAKER_03: Um but uh it's it's great to see young people who realize that um we have to stand up for life and uh uh and that life is a gift, and it begins at the moment of conception, and and our country needs to have a a greater respect for that that gift, um, with respect for moms and the difficult decisions that um uh you know uh anybody struggling when they're pregnant, uh a mom with sometimes the dad, and um uh only um those I guess who have been through that decision-making process can fully appreciate, but um but but the the the life is there from conception and um we want to um recognize um that there is a life there, um a child, and um we want to offer help, walk with moms in need, um but um you know life is not respected on so many levels in in our society and culture.
6:22
SPEAKER_03: Um I think the witness that we offer and want to offer um that our laws would respect that dignity of life from the moment of conception um is so important and um great to see young people realizing that.
6:36
SPEAKER_03: And uh I look forward to the conversation uh with Jeannie to um to discuss uh um the the upcoming plans for the state March for Life.
6:45
SPEAKER_02: Okay, well let's go to that telephone interview now with Gene Mancini, the president of the March for Life.
6:52
SPEAKER_02: Okay, so we have Gene Mancini on the line.
6:54
SPEAKER_02: Gene, thanks so much for for joining us.
6:56
SPEAKER_02: How are you doing today?
6:58
SPEAKER_01: Doing really well.
6:59
SPEAKER_01: Thanks so much for having me.
7:01
SPEAKER_03: Of course.
7:02
SPEAKER_03: This is Bishop Kevin.
7:03
SPEAKER_03: Hello, good to talk to you.
7:04
SPEAKER_03: Thanks again.
7:06
SPEAKER_01: Bishop Kevin, what a blessing to speak with you.
7:08
SPEAKER_01: Thanks for having me.
7:10
SPEAKER_02: So where are you?
7:12
SPEAKER_01: So I'm just a few blocks away from the White House.
7:16
SPEAKER_01: I'm at 14th and K in Washington, D.C.
7:19
SPEAKER_01: Um, I live in Northern Virginia, but our offices are just right in the heart of Washington, D.C.
7:24
SPEAKER_01: Oh neat.
7:24
SPEAKER_01: Very close to where we actually march every January.
7:27
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, for sure, right.
7:28
SPEAKER_02: And Bishop Kevin's been there going back how many years now?
7:32
SPEAKER_03: I think uh 19, probably 85 or 86.
7:36
SPEAKER_03: Um when I was in high school, yeah.
7:39
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
7:39
SPEAKER_01: Unbelievable.
7:40
SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
7:41
SPEAKER_01: Thank you for for coming so many years.
7:43
SPEAKER_01: That's wonderful.
7:44
SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
7:45
SPEAKER_02: And of course, we want to uh mainly focus on the New Jersey March for Life today in this interview.
7:50
SPEAKER_02: So thanks, thanks again for joining us.
7:52
SPEAKER_02: And uh Bishop, do you want to say a quick prayer maybe before?
7:55
SPEAKER_03: Sure.
7:56
SPEAKER_03: Jeannie, is all right, we'll just begin with a prayer.
7:57
SPEAKER_03: Is that okay?
7:58
SPEAKER_01: Oh, I love it.
7:59
SPEAKER_01: Thanks, Bishop.
8:00
SPEAKER_03: Place ourselves in God's presence, the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
8:04
SPEAKER_03: Amen.
8:05
SPEAKER_03: Giving thanks to God for the gift of life and the gifts and blessings of each and every day.
8:09
SPEAKER_03: We pray for our state here in New Jersey, for our country, for peace throughout our world, and especially for a greater respect for the dignity and value of every human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.
8:22
SPEAKER_03: And as we ask God's blessing upon the upcoming Mass and Rally in March here in our state of New Jersey, we ask the help and intercession of Mary, our blessed mother, as we pray.
8:33
SPEAKER_03: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
8:36
SPEAKER_03: Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
8:40
SPEAKER_03: Holy Mary, Mother.
8:41
SPEAKER_00: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, now and in the hour of our death.
8:46
SPEAKER_03: Amen.
8:46
SPEAKER_00: Amen.
8:47
SPEAKER_03: Our Lady Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.
8:49
SPEAKER_03: Our Lady Queen of Peace, pray for us in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
8:54
SPEAKER_03: Amen.
8:55
SPEAKER_03: Um so Jeannie, maybe uh just um before we um get to um the some of the details and and and you can share with us how some of the planning is going.
9:08
SPEAKER_03: Looking forward to the um rally on March on Thursday, September 26th, right?
9:12
SPEAKER_03: In Trenton.
9:13
SPEAKER_00: That's right.
9:14
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
9:15
SPEAKER_03: So um maybe two things.
9:17
SPEAKER_03: One, uh I believe you've been with the March for Life um since 2012.
9:23
SPEAKER_03: And um uh I I I'm remembering the name Nellie Gray.
9:27
SPEAKER_03: Um, just uh maybe a brief very uh uh history of the March for Life.
9:32
SPEAKER_03: Uh I want to say it was in 1974, I know after the Roe v.
9:36
SPEAKER_03: Wade decision, 1973.
9:38
SPEAKER_03: And um as I've um had in my own experience, uh I I found that the March seemed to grow larger and younger every year.
9:47
SPEAKER_03: Um but um but your own how did you get involved in the National March for Life and then um what led to uh uh the the group, I guess then the name of the of the is it a corporation or the group is the National March for Life, right?
10:01
SPEAKER_03: Is that your organization?
10:03
SPEAKER_01: Well, we actually so so first of all, thank you.
10:06
SPEAKER_01: I'm just so honored to be here today, and I'd be delighted to share a little bit about the history.
10:10
SPEAKER_01: So we have two official organizations.
10:12
SPEAKER_01: One is the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, that's our 501, and then March for Life Action, which is our 501.
10:21
SPEAKER_01: Um and a little bit of history is uh you you got it just right.
10:25
SPEAKER_01: So um, so a year after the Roe decision, Roe and Doe can be handed down by the Supreme Court, which of course was 1973, January 22nd.
10:35
SPEAKER_01: Uh Nelly Gray, the founder of the March of the Life and some other prolife leaders, wanted that anniversary to be marked.
10:41
SPEAKER_01: You know, they really wanted to kind of draw a line in the stand that this wasn't okay.
10:45
SPEAKER_01: And so they started planning it a few months in advance, sort of famously at least around here in Nelly Gray's Capitol Hill townhouse, they sat around for kitchen table and came up with a plan for that first March of the Light.
10:58
SPEAKER_01: And at that time, they thought that march would go on, like you know, one time that maybe it would be a two-off event.
11:04
SPEAKER_01: They never anticipated that here 52 years later we would still be marching.
11:08
SPEAKER_01: And um, when Roe was when Ro got handed down by the Supreme Court, Nellie, after some time, stepped down from her federal government career.
11:18
SPEAKER_01: She was an attorney with the federal government and began to work on the pro-life work, basically, and particularly the March for Life full-time.
11:25
SPEAKER_01: So she basically dedicated herself from the time of her late 40s until she then passed away in 2012 when she was 88.
11:33
SPEAKER_01: That's the way the age of 88, and she was still running the March for Life, which truly is unbelievable to me.
11:39
SPEAKER_01: So, um, so Bishop, as you mentioned, over the years the March has grown and grown and grown.
11:45
SPEAKER_01: Unfortunately, it wasn't like a one-off or two-off event because um, whereas we thought and they thought that that Supreme Court decision would get corrected pretty quickly, um, it took a lot longer.
11:55
SPEAKER_01: Um, but thankfully it was corrected over the long run, 50 years later.
12:00
SPEAKER_01: So um, of course, in 19, I'm sorry, in uh in 2022, uh, June 24th, the Supreme Court handed down the Dobbs v.
12:10
SPEAKER_01: Jackson Women's Health decision, which overturned Roe versus Wade.
12:15
SPEAKER_01: And um beautifully, that was Nelly Gray's birthday.
12:18
SPEAKER_01: Oh my goodness, and isn't that amazing?
12:21
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, yes, but um uh uh you I say it as often as I can.
12:26
SPEAKER_03: Uh I think others have recognized it as well.
12:28
SPEAKER_03: Um, a little liturgical uh quirk in the liturgical calendar.
12:32
SPEAKER_03: June 24th is um the feast of the birth of John the Baptist, six months before Christmas.
12:38
SPEAKER_03: Um and that year it was also the Friday, I think, after Corpus Christi, when um we celebrate the feast of the sacred heart of Jesus.
12:47
SPEAKER_03: And uh in the uh liturgical uh world or guidance uh uh for most places it um it was the sacred heart was on the 24th, and then the Saint John the Baptist moved to the next day.
12:59
SPEAKER_03: But um our um patron saint here in Diocese of Patterson in our cathedral is in uh honor of John the Baptist.
13:06
SPEAKER_03: Um so my goodness.
13:07
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, so we were celebrating the birth of John the Baptist, and you know, the um he he he as a child in the womb recognized the presence of of Jesus in the in the um in the womb of Mary at the visitation.
13:19
SPEAKER_03: So, you know that it would um that the Dobbs decision came on June 24th.
13:23
SPEAKER_03: Um I think that's a little bit more than a coincidence.
13:28
SPEAKER_01: No, absolutely, and you know what, as you're Bishop, as you're reminding me of of those feast days, I'm like getting almost a little choked up just remembering some of the messages I got um from like priest friends or just very you know more spiritual friends that they have like especially, I mean, every part of it that you just said the feast of John the Baptist is so true, like the infant in the world leaping for joy, but also just it's on you know the oh on his sacred heart, you know, I mean, no less that he would do it.
13:55
SPEAKER_01: It's like your heart is just moved, just considering that and the love of our Lord for for mothers, for unborn children, etc.
14:03
SPEAKER_01: But um, but just briefly, so the merch, the merch has grown and grown and grown and grown and grown and grown.
14:10
SPEAKER_01: So you know, it's so sad, of course, that that abortion has continued right in the in the United States, and that it's you know it's made legal, but more importantly, that it's that people still want, you know, we we say that we're working for the day when abortion is unthinkable, um also illegal but unthinkable.
14:28
SPEAKER_01: But little did we know that as we were you know fighting this battle and marching every year, which is really just by the way, just giving public testimony to the inherent dignity of the human person and born mom, etc., that the march for life would grow to become the largest annual human rights demonstration in the world.
14:47
SPEAKER_01: So literally, millions and millions of Americans collectively over the years have passed before the Supreme Court, bearing witness to the inherent dignity of the human person.
14:58
SPEAKER_01: And I really do believe, and ever, you know, talking about the piece of Lord saying all of this, that that public witness of the merch was one of the pieces that went to the overturn of Roe, which I didn't think in my lifetime that would happen.
15:14
SPEAKER_01: And and but I've I've heard from Supreme Court clerk that in the building on that on those merch for life that they're it's it's hard to describe how aware they are of what's going on outside, and you know, in a way how special it is that people would think, oh no, we're a settled off.
15:34
SPEAKER_01: I can't you know sort of think of a more sort of impactful picture than the you know the hundreds of thousands every year, and collectively millions marched to say no, you know, the unborn deserve the right to life too.
15:47
SPEAKER_01: And so I've been honored to be the march 2012, a little bit over 12 years.
15:51
SPEAKER_01: Um, when Nellie Gray passed away, I had just joined the board.
15:55
SPEAKER_01: And um, my background is uh pro-life public policy and theology, and much to my surprise, um, that our Lord called me into this work.
16:04
SPEAKER_01: And it's been you know incredible, and we've grown quite a lot in 12 years, and maybe we'll have some opportunity to talk a little bit about that at the state march program.
16:13
SPEAKER_01: But for any of your listeners who've participated in the March for Life nationally, I'd really just like to personally thank them because that public witness is so important and really they're the hero here, and we're doing everything I can we can just to give them the opportunity to you know give that public witness the inherent dignity of the onboard person.
16:33
SPEAKER_03: Yes, it's it's so important.
16:34
SPEAKER_03: And um, you know, uh the bus trips, uh some people travel.
16:38
SPEAKER_03: We we traveled, you know, maybe five hours depending on the weather and other things, but uh um and and so often up and down in the same day, um, but you know, so worth it.
16:47
SPEAKER_03: Um and then you know, being there and seeing people from St.
16:50
SPEAKER_03: Louis and the Midwest and to think about um you know the journey that they took to be there.
16:55
SPEAKER_03: Uh so that sacrifice, um, but always with a great sense of joy and prayerfulness.
17:00
SPEAKER_03: Um, so uh it it's it's definitely uh made an impact.
17:05
SPEAKER_03: And um just before we move to the state marches, uh I I presume the plan is it's gonna continue in January each year, is that right?
17:12
SPEAKER_01: That's right.
17:13
SPEAKER_01: So we we discerned this, I would say, um notwithstanding that we're a non-sectarian organization.
17:20
SPEAKER_01: We discern it not once but twice.
17:21
SPEAKER_01: You know, should we should we consider moving this to June?
17:24
SPEAKER_00: Right.
17:25
SPEAKER_01: And um the biggest factor in our decision to stay in January was uh our conversations with the universities and the high schools, and they begged us to say in January that it would be really, really hard.
17:39
SPEAKER_01: And and listen, the March is a young event.
17:41
SPEAKER_01: I mean, I would say that 75, if not more, percent of the participants are people in college, younger, you know, high schoolers.
17:49
SPEAKER_01: We have them lead the march, and so they're one of our most important stakeholders.
17:54
SPEAKER_01: And um, you know, I'll never forget though, also um just talking to some real you know, pro-life luminaries around the country like Mother Agnes, um, of you know, formerly the the Mother Superior and then Montsernior She of University of Mary.
18:11
SPEAKER_01: And I remember Mother telling Mother really, you know, thinking, yeah, it's best it should be a little bit penitential to remember and and never forget.
18:21
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and Monsignor She reminded me of in the um you know the Holocaust Museum, the beautiful um there's a room where they they it's a quote from Deuteronomy where it talks about um we should never forget lest this happen to our children or our children's children, and we must continue to tell the story of what happened.
18:43
SPEAKER_01: And and and so there is a way in which we're hearing the history of our country um by marching every January, and it's not like oh wonderful, Victoria, this is done because our work is so not done.
18:56
SPEAKER_01: But sadly, it is the case that when abortion was legalized all throughout all you know, all the states in the United States, all 50 states, that was on the anniversary of Roe v.
19:07
SPEAKER_01: Wade, and when Roe v.
19:08
SPEAKER_01: Wade was overturned, abortion wasn't made illegal or unthinkable.
19:12
SPEAKER_01: It just now states can you know enact laws prior to the time of viability.
19:16
SPEAKER_03: Right.
19:17
SPEAKER_03: Um yeah, uh I I applaud the decision uh because uh uh for both of those reasons and probably a few others as well, but um the importance of remembering and telling the story, and also yes, there should um and I think it's less and less appreciated.
19:32
SPEAKER_03: I'm sounding old now, but uh even in 30 years, you know, I um I I remember in high school and and college hearing about you know, make the sacrifice, you go be out in the cold.
19:42
SPEAKER_03: It's all right, you know.
19:43
SPEAKER_03: Um you're you're you're offering it up.
19:45
SPEAKER_03: You're you're it's it's uh uh you know, pilgrimage aren't supposed to be easy, and um so and there is a spiritual value to that, um, to that sacrifice.
19:53
SPEAKER_03: So uh I'm glad to hear that that it that it's that it'll continue uh in January.
19:58
SPEAKER_03: And uh again, we hope and pray and look forward to the day when um it'll be a celebration that um uh that life is respected uh from the moment of conception and and that uh abortion would be unthinkable.
20:10
SPEAKER_03: Um but uh we have a long way to go before we get there.
20:13
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, yeah.
20:14
SPEAKER_03: Which I think gives us a good transition to the reason uh uh your organization, and I'm so glad for the leadership of the March for Life, which and talk about you know developing leaders.
20:24
SPEAKER_03: I can only imagine about those, you know, who organized the buses and those high school and college leaders, you know, who who because they they believed in life, um, you know, may got got others to go.
20:36
SPEAKER_03: And uh I think they're some of the probably the strongest leaders in our church.
20:40
SPEAKER_03: I was just at the Eucharistic Congress, you know, and I I think so much that uh of the good things and and optimism in the church and youth of the church is because young people have stepped up and answered that call, and uh, and so um I I I see the leadership um of the March for Life um uh on the wider level and in terms of your own organization, the organization that's that's needed to develop to as as the March has grown.
21:04
SPEAKER_03: And then as you say, um uh even a non-sectarian uh organization uh is still allowed to pray, right?
21:11
SPEAKER_03: Uh so uh uh in that discernment um and and and collaboration, and it's and it's important.
21:17
SPEAKER_03: We can um, you know, uh uh we can model, right?
21:21
SPEAKER_03: That we can get along with each other, we don't have to all believe in the same thing or go to the same church, but there are certain truths that are we believe are written on our soul, and that's our faith, but we don't impose that on others, but um but we respect those of different faiths and of no faith, and um you know the human person is the human person.
21:37
SPEAKER_03: So um so um if you can share maybe how um that that the decision was made to say, all right, now that Dobbs has happened, we have to help the states to um uh to to offer that witness on the on the state level.
22:32
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, okay.
22:33
SPEAKER_01: So this is great.
22:34
SPEAKER_01: Thank you for asking that.
22:36
SPEAKER_01: So really a decision wasn't even made along those lines.
22:39
SPEAKER_01: What really happened was God in his providential designs, um, working through our non-sectarian organization, inspired in us back in twenty seventeen.
22:49
SPEAKER_01: Oh, right.
22:50
SPEAKER_01: We began thinking we began thinking about a state march initiative because, um, well, here's why.
22:56
SPEAKER_01: We were involved in so many meetings on the hill, being in Washington, DC, and so many pro-life public policy meetings, and we were just doing all the things, like we're running a Nelly Gray 5K, doing all these things, but kind of getting a little bit burned out and feeling a little bit ineffective.
23:11
SPEAKER_01: Like, were we using our time to the best?
23:13
SPEAKER_01: Were we doing really what God was calling us to do?
23:15
SPEAKER_01: So we did as a board and staff at that time a lot of strategic discernment to really think about like what where should we be spending our time?
23:26
SPEAKER_01: You know, what is most efficacious here?
23:28
SPEAKER_01: And um, in in asking the most basic questions about what is the mission of the organization, it was so clear that our mission is to unite, equip, and mobilize pro-life Americans in the public square.
23:40
SPEAKER_01: And, you know, it's not necessarily to do a Melly Gray 5K or to do all these other things.
23:45
SPEAKER_01: And so, yes, it's and so we the single question we were asked more than any other question, and you know, we weren't really doing a great job of answering it, was can you help us start local marches?
23:56
SPEAKER_01: We had this little toolkit and we'd get on the phone when we could for these calls, but we hadn't done anything in a more sophisticated, kind of robust way.
24:04
SPEAKER_01: And so um, because of that, we decided to embark upon a study on if we could even handle it, if we had the staff bandwidth, if we could raise the money to continue, you know, to grow a little bit so that we could do this.
24:17
SPEAKER_01: So um, lo and behold, a few years later in Virginia, 2019, was our very first kind of from nothing ex emilio march.
24:26
SPEAKER_01: In other words, like there were some or some marches that were happening in some states that called themselves the March for Life, but this was the first that we came alongside some state partners, um, the local Right to Life chapter, the local family policy council, the local Catholic Conference, and we organized a march.
24:41
SPEAKER_01: And um, it was a smashing success.
24:44
SPEAKER_01: We got 7,500 people out at the state capitol.
24:48
SPEAKER_01: We had all of the legislators that were pro-life come and stand on the steps of the state capitol, and we got tons of media coverage in terms of the Richmond Times dispatch.
24:55
SPEAKER_01: We're in the upper um fold, and um the new the TV cover news, news, um sorry, television news covered us and and just really had a an excellent, excellent first turnout.
25:07
SPEAKER_01: And I took that as a little bit of a signal grace from God that yes, we should really, you know, undertake this and consider it.
25:15
SPEAKER_01: Um we then you know planned to grow, and of course that was 2019.
25:20
SPEAKER_01: We all know what happened in 2020, and even within that, we still were able to get a couple state marches in that year.
25:26
SPEAKER_01: One was in February before the um the pandemic really began to spread and and we did the shutdown.
25:34
SPEAKER_01: And um, then one was very, we had a couple very late that year, I think in Pennsylvania and California.
25:40
SPEAKER_01: But around that time, we also got as as it was very hard, and we're you know, really trying again, is this the right thing?
25:46
SPEAKER_01: Is it takes a lot of staff time, money, et cetera?
25:48
SPEAKER_01: You know, we'd have these beautiful like signal graces happen along the way where we get a really generous donation, like more than you know, with this this organization typically gets earmarks for like a Pennsylvania and a California march showing us, you know, yes, continue this.
26:03
SPEAKER_03: And so little winks, winks from God, right?
26:07
SPEAKER_01: Exactly.
26:07
SPEAKER_01: God winks.
26:09
SPEAKER_01: And so we kept, you know, walking through the door, and again, it wasn't wasn't easy.
26:13
SPEAKER_01: Um, it very hard.
26:14
SPEAKER_01: The pro-life movement can be very divided, and some of the groups in the state can be divided.
26:18
SPEAKER_01: And so to try to bring these groups together to work together was hard.
26:21
SPEAKER_01: Sometimes people were suspicious.
26:23
SPEAKER_01: We're like Washington kind of helicoptering in when really it was pretty benevolent.
26:28
SPEAKER_01: Like we were really genuinely just trying to like get this thing going.
26:31
SPEAKER_03: Well, it's gonna make it work, yeah.
26:32
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
26:33
SPEAKER_01: So, anyways, um, lo and behold, uh, little did we know that you know Ruth Bader Ginsburg would pass away, that Amy Coney Barrett would be um nominated and then confirmed to the Supreme Court, and that this Dobbs decision from Mississippi would be taken up by the Supreme Court, that ultimately that Roe would be overturned, had no strategic clue about any of those things when we began the state of arts program, but God did.
27:00
SPEAKER_01: And um, of course, you know, after the spring um of 2022, being able to rally folks at the level of the states was all the more important since we can pass lots of laws, and there's some bad laws and some good laws that are being passed.
27:15
SPEAKER_01: But so we really see this as a mark of God's providence, and we'll continue to grow as quickly as we financially can.
27:23
SPEAKER_01: This year we're in 16 states, New Jersey being one of them.
27:26
SPEAKER_01: And and our plan, if we can, is to be in all 50 states or close to them over the next five to seven years.
27:34
SPEAKER_03: Please, God, that would be great.
27:36
SPEAKER_02: Thanks, Gene, for sharing that.
27:38
SPEAKER_02: So um why why go why go on the how how has it been organizing the march in in New Jersey, first of all, and uh what can you maybe say to people who are uh are interested in going and uh why why we should go and and march and be a part of it.
27:55
SPEAKER_01: Great.
27:56
SPEAKER_01: Okay, so these state marches are incredible, just it's so so fun.
28:00
SPEAKER_01: So anyone who's been to the national march or hasn't, I highly recommend going to the New Jersey March for Life.
28:08
SPEAKER_01: There's just kind of a beautiful, very positive feel to these marches.
28:13
SPEAKER_01: Um I would say that in New Jersey, um, it's a bit of an uphill battle, right?
28:18
SPEAKER_01: It's it's I hate to use this term, but it's kind of a pro-abortion state.
28:23
SPEAKER_01: And I think it's there's a need for people to give that public witness and testimony even more in New Jersey than perhaps in some other states um nearby.
28:34
SPEAKER_01: And so so that's all critically important.
28:37
SPEAKER_01: Um and we have a wonderful lineup of speakers, including Mrs.
28:42
SPEAKER_01: Kevin Sweeney, who's gonna be doing the opening prayer.
28:45
SPEAKER_01: Um, we also have some other excellent speakers.
28:48
SPEAKER_01: So we've got, for example, um a few of the legislators.
28:53
SPEAKER_01: We've got Senator Anthony Bo Buco, who will be speaking from the New Jersey Senate.
28:58
SPEAKER_01: Um, and then we've got uh John DeMaio, who's also speaking.
29:03
SPEAKER_01: He's the assembly minority leader from District 23.
29:08
SPEAKER_01: Um, sister Dee Dee Byrne, who's fantastic, um, as well.
29:12
SPEAKER_01: She's a doctor, a sister, and um this is a tremendous.
29:17
SPEAKER_01: Does she have a brother or bishop?
29:19
SPEAKER_01: That's right, Bishop Byrne, Bishop Byrne, Bishop Bill Byrne.
29:23
SPEAKER_03: Who was very involved.
29:24
SPEAKER_03: He was a preach, I believe, of the Archdiocese of Washington and was very involved in the in the rally at the Verizon Center, right?
29:30
SPEAKER_03: The youth rally before.
29:31
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
29:32
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
29:33
SPEAKER_00: He he was Father Bill Byrne before he was Bishop Byrne, and we all love him.
29:37
SPEAKER_00: And we're very happy but kind of sad when he was made to Bishop.
29:41
SPEAKER_03: We were both ordained during 2020.
29:43
SPEAKER_03: Uh uh, there were 20 of us during 2020 that we were ordained as bishops, and uh we get together in November and June, so uh it's always good to see him, and he's always full of life.
29:52
SPEAKER_03: Um and uh uh yes uh um I I remember as a seminarian um Carnell O'Connor would celebrate a mass for seminarians, uh, and I think that's what uh eventually became um the uh but I remember I then I couldn't go for a number of years, and I remember going back as vocation director in the Dice of Brooklyn um to the Verizon Center and the youth rally, and uh and maybe um uh as we continue to talk about the march here in um in Jersey, the importance of young people um and uh how active they've been in in the March for Life uh over the years.
30:28
SPEAKER_03: And and uh have you seen um the same uh witness from young people at the state marches that you've done?
30:35
SPEAKER_01: We absolutely have.
30:36
SPEAKER_01: Uh so you know, Pope John Paul II had this quote about young people and pro-life issues, and and he said, young people are the best ambassadors for life.
30:47
SPEAKER_01: And I love that quote because I think it just it's sort of paradigmatic of the march for life.
30:52
SPEAKER_01: Like when you look at any pictures of the march, there are so many kind of bright, shining um young people with their creative, you know, t-shirts or signs or or whatever, you know, but they've been very active as well um at the state marches.
31:06
SPEAKER_01: So a few things that we do is we always try to have a school lead the march, whether that's at the national march or the state marches.
31:14
SPEAKER_01: We we typically have more of like an elementary school or high school at the state marches, at the national march, typically at the college.
31:21
SPEAKER_01: Um at the national march, we don't do this at the state marches, but we have a youth, a college speaker as well, and and that's always just incredible.
31:28
SPEAKER_01: Like when the marchers vote on their favorite speaker, inevitably the young person's always right up there, you know.
31:34
SPEAKER_01: And so we really do try to highlight the wonderful witness of the young people.
31:41
SPEAKER_01: Um, they they I I taught for a year.
31:43
SPEAKER_01: I taught um high school uh religion, and you know, young people, it's like they they don't have any cynicism, or most of them don't, I shouldn't say all, but they don't have cynicism.
31:53
SPEAKER_01: They haven't really had the hard knocks, many of them, some of them have, um, at that age.
31:57
SPEAKER_01: And it's like their zeal for wanting to do the good is just incredible.
32:03
SPEAKER_01: They know, you know, they know that social justice begins in the womb.
32:06
SPEAKER_01: They know that this is a significant human rights issue, and they're just contagious.
32:11
SPEAKER_01: Their their zeal for this this issue is contagious.
32:14
SPEAKER_01: So I also we need them.
32:15
SPEAKER_03: I also remember hearing probably in the 20 teens, um, at at the march, or somebody commenting on the involvement of young people that um sadly um Cinro and abortion be you know being so prevalent for a time, and um that young people um came to the realization that their mom may have made a courageous decision to to to to carry them to term and to give them life.
32:40
SPEAKER_03: You know, uh some of them I'm sure um if their mom was in a tough spot or or or or parents um you know at the time they were in the womb, that um you know they've that's right, they may very well have realized um well thank thank thank God for my parents for the for their decision.
32:57
SPEAKER_03: And you know, I think something else that I've learned over the years in the um in in in pro-life movement and in in the work that we try to do, and especially the witness that we try to give is um uh you know that we're we're we're pro-child and pro-woman.
33:13
SPEAKER_03: I I think the USCCB walking with moms in need, um, you know, it's not this is not anything against women in general, or um even um you know those who have had an abortion, the the healing that's needed that we don't judge, we pray.
33:32
SPEAKER_03: Um uh we're yes, we're witnessing on behalf of life, but we want to literally walk walk with moms and uh and and and let it be known that um you know this is not an anti anything except um anti-taking of life in the womb.
33:50
SPEAKER_03: Um I think right we're uh and and and and women have taken a great leadership role in in the pro-life movement, yourself and and I'm sure you see many others, I even looking at the speakers for the state state march, you know, um it's something that uh you know men and women we have to do to together.
34:08
SPEAKER_03: And um uh but I I think it's important to mention that I'm I'm I'm sure you've had some of that experience as well.
34:14
SPEAKER_01: Oh yeah, absolutely.
34:16
SPEAKER_01: Uh gosh, there was so much that you said there, Bishop.
34:18
SPEAKER_01: But um, but I mean I think the biggest you know problem today is the lie that abortion is good for women or that a that a right to abortion is good for women.
34:26
SPEAKER_01: And so like that's really the enemy here.
34:28
SPEAKER_01: It's not like a person who you know is pro-choice, it's like the lie, and we have to we have to dismantle that lie and and win back the hearts and minds.
34:37
SPEAKER_01: But yeah, so many uh women do lead the pro-life movement.
34:41
SPEAKER_01: And I really didn't do justice when you asked me about the march and who's speaking, but Melissa Odin, who herself is an abortion survivor, she's also speaking at the New Jersey March.
34:50
SPEAKER_01: Dr.
34:50
SPEAKER_01: Monique Rougarou, an OBGYN, she's an incredible speaker and from um nearby Pennsylvania.
34:57
SPEAKER_01: She'll be also sharing her about her work.
35:00
SPEAKER_01: Debbie Probencher, who um helps to run Lighthouse Pregnancy Resource Center, I believe, in New Jersey.
35:07
SPEAKER_01: So lots of great pro-life female luminaries will be speaking at the New Jersey March for Life.
35:13
unknown: Right.
35:13
SPEAKER_03: Uh I know I want to be respectful of your time, and and Jay may have another question, but just uh maybe to say um uh just maybe give us the the details.
35:22
SPEAKER_03: I know September 26th, um, people can register through your website.
35:26
SPEAKER_03: I know they can register through our website in the diocese here in Patterson.
35:29
SPEAKER_03: Um uh I guess some people might uh uh show up on their own.
35:34
SPEAKER_03: Uh so uh I know the Mass is starting at 9.30 at the Cathedral of St.
35:38
SPEAKER_03: Mary of the Assumption there in Trenton.
35:41
SPEAKER_03: Um maybe just uh uh review some of the other details or who maybe one of those.
35:47
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and I'll I'll start by just saying that for more information you can go to marchforlife.org backslash New Jersey backslash, or you can just go to marchforlife.org and then do the state march drop-down menu and then click on New Jersey.
36:02
SPEAKER_01: But um, so the mass, then you said was 9.30.
36:06
SPEAKER_01: Um, for non-Catholics, there's a pre-rally concert at the rally site, which is on the steps of the Capitol, right near the Capitol there in Trenton.
36:14
SPEAKER_01: And that starts at 10.
36:15
SPEAKER_01: At 11 a.m.
36:17
SPEAKER_01: sharp, the the official rally begins again, right there on the steps of the Capitol, and then the the March itself is at noon.
36:25
SPEAKER_01: But for you know, if you want to RSVP, if you want more information, just go to marchforlife.org um backslash New Jersey and you'll get all of this information there.
36:35
SPEAKER_02: Great.
36:35
SPEAKER_01: Where to park, etc.
36:37
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
36:38
SPEAKER_02: Great.
36:38
SPEAKER_02: Thanks, Gene.
36:39
SPEAKER_02: I you know, you you mentioned your background in uh being involved in pro-life uh work.
36:44
SPEAKER_02: I I just wonder if for anyone who's listening or watching, what what's what's maybe some advice for them to get involved, take the next level and getting inv getting involved in pro-life uh work, or what would you suggest?
36:57
SPEAKER_01: I love that question.
36:58
SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
36:59
SPEAKER_01: So one thing I would say is that everyone is called to get involved in pro-life work.
37:04
SPEAKER_01: I have zero doubt about that.
37:06
SPEAKER_01: That everyone, you know, together, like we will build a culture of life.
37:09
SPEAKER_01: But how every unique person is called to be involved is different.
37:14
SPEAKER_01: And so the very best thing that they can do is ask God, you know, how do you want me to be involved?
37:19
SPEAKER_01: But a few examples of some different things that people could do.
37:23
SPEAKER_01: They could uh volunteer at their local pregnancy care center, they could volunteer with their local 40 days for life where they peacefully pray outside abortion centers.
37:34
SPEAKER_01: Um, that really has a big impact.
37:36
SPEAKER_01: They could become a um a pro-life attorney.
37:40
SPEAKER_01: We need a lot of pro-life attorneys.
37:42
SPEAKER_01: You know, there's they could run a pro-life organization, they can give money to a pro-life organization, they can run for public office, they can run for a school board, they can write an op-ed.
37:53
SPEAKER_01: There are so many different, different ways of being involved.
37:56
SPEAKER_01: Um, and every single member of our staff here, we're now a staff of 18 at the March.
38:02
SPEAKER_01: Every single one has a unique call to coming here and really discerning that this was where they were, you know, meant to be for a season in their life.
38:10
SPEAKER_01: And so I would just say that if you're not involved, um ask God.
38:15
SPEAKER_01: You know, ask God, how am I called to be involved?
38:18
SPEAKER_01: And I guarantee that there is an answer there.
38:20
SPEAKER_01: And if you still don't hear an answer, reach out to us at the March for Life, and we're happy to help get you involved in some different ways.
38:26
SPEAKER_01: Info at MarchforLife.org.
38:28
SPEAKER_03: And here in Patterson, and for anybody in the area, um, we do a monthly um pro-life mass and procession to a planned parent facility, excuse me, um, at St.
38:38
SPEAKER_03: Mar um St.
38:39
SPEAKER_03: Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, actually on the first Saturday of each month.
38:43
SPEAKER_03: So I think this might come out on Thursday or Friday.
38:45
SPEAKER_03: Um and uh on Saturday, this Saturday, September 7th, we'll have um Mass at 8 a.m.
38:51
SPEAKER_03: followed by a procession, uh prayerful um procession to a Planned Parenthood facility.
38:57
SPEAKER_03: So um everyone is invited um uh um to to participate in that as well.
39:05
SPEAKER_02: All right.
39:05
SPEAKER_02: Wonderful.
39:06
SPEAKER_02: Jean, thanks again for your time.
39:08
SPEAKER_02: What a wonderful conversation.
39:09
SPEAKER_02: I hope you have a wonderful day.
39:11
SPEAKER_03: And Jeannie, uh one other thing.
39:13
SPEAKER_03: Well, my um uh you said you're uh um as representing uh the March for Life, you also coordinate with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops uh pro-life committee, right, under the leadership of Bishop Burbage.
39:26
SPEAKER_01: Is that that's right.
39:27
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I have a meeting this afternoon.
39:29
SPEAKER_03: Great, great.
39:30
SPEAKER_03: Uh we'll give him my best, please, if you see him.
39:32
SPEAKER_03: And uh uh take care of it.
39:35
SPEAKER_03: Yes, we're fans of his walk humbly podcast.
39:37
SPEAKER_03: I love his walking podcast.
39:38
SPEAKER_03: I will.
39:39
SPEAKER_03: So um um we'll probably be in touch uh over the next couple of weeks.
39:44
SPEAKER_03: Um but um again, thanks for all you're doing.
39:46
SPEAKER_03: And and will uh will you be there yourself on the 26th?
39:49
SPEAKER_01: I will not, but and and uh let me tell you why, because I'm really sad.
39:53
SPEAKER_01: I would very much like to do that.
39:54
SPEAKER_01: I was asked by a Legatus chapter in North Carolina prior to the date being made for the New Jersey March if I can speak down there.
40:01
SPEAKER_01: So I'll be down in North Carolina speaking to Legatis.
40:04
SPEAKER_01: But Felicia Pricenorf, our wonderful vice president of government relations, will be there and she'll be speaking.
40:10
SPEAKER_01: So she's fantastic.
40:11
SPEAKER_01: We've had a few other staff that will be there too.
40:13
SPEAKER_03: I look forward to meeting her and and the team, and uh we can be together in prayer and spirit that day, right?
40:18
SPEAKER_03: So that's right.
40:18
SPEAKER_03: I'll certainly be praying for you.
40:20
SPEAKER_03: Yes, yes.
40:20
SPEAKER_03: Thank you.
40:21
SPEAKER_03: Um thank you, Jeannie, so much, and we'll be in touch.
40:23
SPEAKER_03: Thanks for your time.
40:24
SPEAKER_00: Thanks.
40:25
SPEAKER_00: Thanks, Bishop Sweeney.
40:26
SPEAKER_00: God bless.
40:26
SPEAKER_00: Bye-bye.
40:27
SPEAKER_03: Well, that was that was a great conversation.
40:29
SPEAKER_03: What do you think?
40:30
SPEAKER_03: Absolutely uh very exciting.
40:32
SPEAKER_03: Um I remember hearing that we were gonna have a state march and that the March for Life was gonna be involved.
40:37
SPEAKER_03: That I had seen some stories about um Pennsylvania, I think other places that had a state march.
40:43
SPEAKER_03: So I was so glad to hear that they're gonna lend their um their really expertise and professionalism and organization and leadership.
40:50
SPEAKER_03: Uh you know, I don't think the story of the March for Life of Washington over 50 plus years now has really been written in terms of its impact and the people involved.
41:00
SPEAKER_03: And uh so um, you know, it's gonna be for the first time, and uh um we should be praying that uh God will bless our efforts.
41:09
SPEAKER_03: Uh but I believe um it will be a blessing for for our state of New Jersey and uh encourage we encourage as many people as possible to go to our website, go to the uh Watch Life website and consider joining us on that Thursday September 26th.
41:24
SPEAKER_02: Yep.
41:24
SPEAKER_02: We've got a bunch of buses going down and all kinds of information online.
41:28
SPEAKER_02: Check the show notes for more.
41:29
SPEAKER_02: Visit our uh Stay Points of the Walls Respect Life page as well.
41:34
SPEAKER_02: And uh so before we wind down this episode, Bishop, anything else you'd like to talk about?
41:40
SPEAKER_03: Um as we said at the beginning, you know, back to school, it's uh exciting uh for many, uh challenging for some.
41:46
SPEAKER_03: But uh uh you know, we um again encouraged by uh Catholic schools and all the good work that we're doing.
41:53
SPEAKER_03: I get at this time of year to visit a number of our high schools for uh school year.
41:58
SPEAKER_03: So I'm I'm looking forward to that.
42:01
SPEAKER_02: All right, uh that'll that'll do it for this episode.
42:05
SPEAKER_02: Thanks.
42:05
SPEAKER_02: We'll uh see you on at our Judge Biblical podcast.
42:10
SPEAKER_02: Oh, yeah, September 11th.
42:11
SPEAKER_02: Stay there.
42:12
SPEAKER_02: Uh check the show notes for for more on that.
42:17
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
42:17
SPEAKER_02: Well, thank you for joining us.
42:19
SPEAKER_02: Please subscribe, comment, and leave a positive rating.
42:22
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42:26
SPEAKER_02: Email questions for the bishop and podcast topic ideas to beyond at advertisingdietes.org.
42:33
SPEAKER_02: Discover our other podcasts, Call of the Cup and the Call Street Journal.
42:37
SPEAKER_02: See you next time.
42:38
SPEAKER_02: Thanks, everybody.
42:39
SPEAKER_02: God bless you.