http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/24/AR2011012406398.htmlBy Michelle Boorstein and Ben Pershing
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Thousands of bundled-up abortion opponents rallied Monday on the Mall, encouraged by recent federal and state GOP wins and hopeful about proposed measures that would further tighten bans on federal funding for abortions.
The Youth Rally and Mass for Life, hosted by the Archdiocese of Washington, marked the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. Annual events tend to focus on mobilizing the young, and Catholic high schools, youth groups and colleges were out in force Monday in Washington.
For the first time, a morning Mass at Verizon Center was expanded to the D.C. Armory, where a parallel event was held. More than 27,000 young people attended the events, which began after dawn and included readings by youths in hooded sweat shirts and jeans, contemporary praise music and dozens of priests hearing confessions in the sports arena's dining area.