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Dear Friend of Defend Life,

This year's March for Life in Washington and the day before were two of the greatest days in my life. In all my years in pro-life, I've never been so encouraged. I'll tell you why in a moment, then give you some great examples why you too should be equally encouraged.

Even though we haven't won a "hill of beans" legislatively since Roe v. Wade, we are now laying the foundation for ultimate victory because we are gradually winning over the youth of America. More and more youth are realizing the moral bankruptcy of the "culture of death." I've been to all 30 Marches for Life, and could write a book about them. But I've never seen as many high school and college students as I did at this year's March. Nellie Gray estimated the crowd at 200,000 and two-thirds had to be young people.

And not only young pro-lifers, but young pro-life leaders as well. I'm talking about the children (and grand­children in some cases) of pro-lifers and even children of parents who weren't even remotely pro-life.

Let me give you some examples. On Tuesday evening, I was inside the vestibule of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception prior to the Bishops' Solemn High Mass. I was passing out flyers promoting the April 1-10 New York City Face the Truth Tour (see the ad on page 6). Who comes along but young Katy Zeitler, a senior at Goucher College whose incredible conversion story you can read on page 9 of this newsletter. I gave a large handful of these Face the Truth flyers and she and her friend began distributing them with "gusto." Katy's e-mail address is happycatholic@hotmail.com which tells you everything you need to know about the remarkable and joyful Katy.

Katy, with your financial help and prayers, will soon be joining the Dominican Sisters of Nashville where she will begin molding the hearts and souls of young Catholics just as this wonderful teaching order of nuns is presently doing at Mount De Sales Academy here in Baltimore. Katy is already challenging the "culture of death."

From the other side of the huge vestibule, I was spotted by Barbara McGuigan, the pro-life movement's great­est chastity speaker. Barbara came to Maryland several years ago to speak at Mt. St. Mary's Seminary and Maria Garetti High School. She had her lovely daughter Colleen with her. Colleen, who earned a Masters in Theology from John Paul II in Washington last May, is now teaching "much needed" religion at a Catholic high school outside San Francisco. Colleen McGuigan is already rolling back the "culture of death."

Barbara McGuigan was in town to be the co-anchor of EWTN's live coverage of the next day's March. Bowie Kuhn, the former Commissioner of Baseball, was to be the other co-anchor. I asked her if she could possibly inter­view me the next day and she said "sure."

The next morning before the March, I was passing out flyers again, this time on the Mall near the Museum of American History. Along comes young Luis Garcia, a graduate of Loyola High School, the oldest son of pro-lifer and home schooling mom Laura Garcia and Dr. Ivan Garcia, a world-class eye surgeon. Luis was with a large group of students from Franciscan University where he is now a fresh­man. With great parents like Laura and Ivan, and a great education at Franciscan, Luis will undoubtedly soon be rolling back the "culture of death" as a young pro-life leader.

Now after what seems like an endless wait, the March finally begins. I see countless friends old and new. As I continue down Constitution Avenue, I think about how privileged all of us are to be at the March for Life today. It's like being at the world's largest and most joyful family reunion!

Soon I meet up with Joe Scheidler, my dear friend and hero for the last 28 years. I mention that Barbara McGuigan is co-anchoring for EWTN at the foot of Capitol Hill and would certainly like to inter­view us. As we are waiting to be interviewed, we are preceded by a group of young pro-life lovelies from Notre Dame (as in South Bend) and Dr. Pia De Solenni, another young "budding" pro-life leader who is working as a policy expert for the Family Research Council in Washington. Pia is a graduate of Thomas

Aquinas College in California and received,her doctorate in Sacred Theology in Rome several years ago. She writes a regular column f9r the National Catholic Reporter. Pia De Solenni is already rolling back the "culture of death" in the great work she is doing.

A minute later Tom McFadden, Jr., who is in charge of public relations at Christendom College, runs up to say hello. Tom "brags" to Joe Scheidler that it was "his dad" Tom McFadden, Sr., who recruited Jack Ames into the pro-life movement. Tom McFadden, Jr. is a former DRE at Sacred Heart Church in Winchester, Virginia. He is already rolling back the "culture of death" in the great work    he is doing at Christendom College.     .

Joe and I are then interviewed by Barbara McGuigan during which we talk about the upcoming New York City Face the Truth Tour. Joe suggests we forego the trek up Capitol Hill to the Supreme Court where his hearing in the NOW vs. Scheidler case was held last December 4. He had double knee replacement surgery a year ago and doesn't want to "push his luck." Instead, he suggests we head directly for the Dubliner, a wonderful Irish tavern and restaurant where pro-lifers love to gather after the March.

Joe's 27-year-old daughter, Annie, who is the Director of Youth Outreach for the Pro­Life Action League, and her older brother Eric, who is also_working full-time for the League, join us at our table along with their mother Ann and several Scheidler cousins from Indiana and Virginia. Annie Scheidler will soon be coming to Maryland to speak. Annie Scheidler and Eric Scheidler are already making a huge dent in the "culture of death."

At a nearby table, an old friend, Mary Margaret Filoromo. Mary Margaret, the daughter of pro-life activist parents, courageously walked out of her Villanova graduation ceremony way back in 1975 protesting the honoring of renegade, Jesuit, Congressman Robert Drinan, the commencement speaker. (Some Catholic colleges still haven't gotten the message). For many years after her graduation, she mentored the "Villanovans for Life" student pro-life group. Now her son Michael Angelo, Valedictorian of his class at Archbishop Shanahan in Dowington, Pennsylvania, is heading the pro-life group at Drexel University. Mike Filoromo is already rolling back the "culture of death" as a student pro-life leader.

Wow! What great sources of encouragement. I wouldn't go so far as to say we are winning, but heroic young pro-life leaders like the many I have just mentioned are beginning to roll back the "culture of death" that pervades our society. They are joyfully proclaiming the "Culture of Life." Young pro-life leaders are laying the groundwork for ultimate pro-life victory!

        I NEED YOUR  HELP!

Your generous support of Defend Life will help bring even more pro-life/pro-chastity speakers to local schools and colleges. This will help cultivate even more young pro-life leaders.

Please give.....give generously, give regularly on a monthly basis, and convince others to also give to Defend Life. Don't assume others have already heard about Defend Life. Due to the media blackout, most people have not yet heard about Defend Life and it's up to you to tell them! Remember, God loves a generous giver and He is never outdone in generosity! Thanks for all you do to save God's precious pre-born babies from abortion!

Sincerely,
Signed Jack Ames, Director