CathInfo.com

I'm just home from the pro-life rally in Dublin. Over 60,000 people turned out for it. It was organised by Youth Defence. Do any Irish Cath Info members have any comments? Perhaps the organisers could email the forum owners a press release, some photographs.

The Irish SSPX Youth Group were among the stewards of the rally. I mention this as a few years ago, I was admonished by 'Pilgrimage of Grace' for not mentioning SSPX laity.  He was rather harsh on me as I didn't know who the people were. How was I to know who they were? Any ways, I mention them now lest I be accused of not mentioning SSPX youth.

I stayed mainly observing and video recording  pro-aborts but eventually managed to march. By the time I got down to the main stage, I was just in time for Declan Ganley. I'm not a fan but I listened to him. I won't be voting for him or canvassing for him and will make my feelings known to his team.

I didn't hear the other speakers.

Sadly as it took over an hour for the march to reach the end, I had to hurry for a train. I set out for the train and ended up getting a bus. I managed a few quick greetings to a few people. Sadly, I missed people I had wanted to meet. Far too hurried at the end.

No doubt a few videos and photographs will be posted. It has trended on Twitter.  

Young Ireland

http://irishcatholics.proboards.com/user/292/recent

Great to hear that the Rally went well. I couldn't attend, however congrats to YD for achieving such a huge turnout. I would slightly disagree that YD consciously seek to be specifically Catholic. Indeed, they often go out of their way to be secular, so much so that the more hardline element of their membership are always complaining that YD aren't religious enough. That said, they probably allowed the banners so as not to cause offence.
Indeed, Precious Life's achievements in unifying the pro-life movement in the North, considering all that has gone on up there puts the petty squabbles that occur this side of the border to shame.
BTW, I also favour the PLC approach, however if people want to add a religious dimension to it, I have no problem with them doing so.

At previous pro-life rallies, people had to sneak in religious images or objects of piety or were prevented by stewards from bringing them in.One young lady had to sneak in a crucifix. These were were mainly the Pro Life Campaign group, who organised those rallies and vigils.

Whilst secular in their literature but Catholic for World Youth Day etc etc, Youth Defence always permit religious banners and items of religious piety at their marches. Also, priests and nuns march at their rally as seen yesterday in Dublin.

Youth Defence do not wish to alienate people by organising as a religious group. Their grass roots are made up all of walks of life. People came together yesterday but will do their own thing for the rest of the year.

Whilst SSPX youth were rally stewards, so too were Youth 2000 and JPII 'New Evangelisation' youth. As the founders of Youth Defence had an audience with JPII to stay in their 'good books' never criticise the 'Polish Pope'.  

My good friend Hibernicus posted this.

http://irishcatholics.proboards.com/user/292/recent

Just back from the March for Life, so I will record my impressions for future reference:
Very good turn-out; apparently the tail of the column was still making its way from Parnell Square onto O'Connell Street long after the first half of the march had arrived in Kildare Street and the speeches had begun. (I must say the speeches began too soon IMHO - they were already well under way when I got there, and I was in the first third of the procession. Eoghan De Faoite was speaking when I arrived - don't know who I missed).
I had intended to get to the Mass in St Saviour's beforehand , but didn't arrive in time. Pity - I like St Saviour's and it is good to see the two archbishops turning out to give moral support, even if this will help the pro-aborts to paint it as a Catholic thing. Of course priests, bishops and nuns are as much citizens as anyone else and equally entitled to express their opinions. I saw quite a few priests and nuns, including a couple of Franciscans in habits and some habited young Dominicans.

This being a YD event specifically Catholic banners were much more in evidence than at Pro-Life Campaign demos. I saw several banners of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a number of Papal banners, and one man carrying a picture of St Maria Goretti, whose feast-day it is. I also saw a Kerry pro-lifer with a t-shirt saying "St Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us". A large crucifix was carried near the front of the procession, and in her speech from the platform Bernadette Smyth of Precious Life made several specifically Catholic references. Everyone to their own taste (I should note that Bernie Smyth actively works with Protestant pro-lifers, some of whom would not have a high opinion of Catholicism, and in Northern Ireland it is a real achievement to have such cross-community support in the cause of life) but personally I prefer the PLC approach, because abortion is not a specifically Catholic issue, and the pro-aborts are always trying their damnedest to present being pro-life as a Catholic peculiarity, as if we were trying to make it compulsory for everyone to abstain from meat on Friday.