Pro-Life Day in Austin brought hundreds together to pray, learn, and actively promote respect for human life from conception until natural death.

The Day's activities began at 7 a.m. with a prayer vigil at an abortion clinic in downtown Austin. Despite the brisk air, organizers estimated that there were approximately 90 people in attendance, including Dr. Alveda King, niece of the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King.

After the vigil, hundreds gathered at San Jose parish in Austin for a pro-life rosary and Mass, celebrated by Bishop Aymond.

"God's dream is that all human life will be respected," stated Bishop Aymond during his homily. "We have a dream not just for the unborn but for all human life. We have a dream that the terminally ill will not be in danger of losing their lives. We have a dream that those on death row will be given a chance to repent, instead of taking their life from them. We have a dream that the poor and the homeless and the hungry will be invited to someone's table."

Also present at the Mass were diocesan priests and seminarians, the Knights of Columbus, the Guadalupanas, and youth groups from the University of Texas, Texas A&M University, Juan Diego High School, and other nearby parishes.

The next leg of the day began at Republic Square, where a large crowd gathered to begin the march to the Capitol for the Texas Rally for Life. Rally organizers passed out balloons and signs with the Rally's theme: Protect Every Heart. As marchers walked through the streets of Austin, they chanted, "Hey Hey Ho Ho Roe v Wade has got to go." Others holding "Honk if you're pro-life" signs received audible support from cars waiting for the marchers to pass.

The Texas Rally for Life program began with the Catholic African American Mass Choir from the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Bishop Aymond led the crowd in prayer, and Alveda King gave a heartfelt speech on her history of civil rights advocacy, her own experiences with abortion, and her optimism regarding the pro-life movement.

"This is not a battle based on one ethnic group or another, one denomination or another," stated King. "This is for all people fighting for the civil rights of the weakest and it is certainly a violation of a person's civil right, when they are innocent, to kill them."

After the Rally, many headed to the University Catholic Center for the Party for Life, hosted by Catholic Longhorns for Life. Those under 35 received t-shirts stating "I am a Survivor" and all in attendance were able to enjoy pizza, donuts, and good company.

2008 marks the second year that the Texas Catholic Conference participated in the Texas Rally for Life as a member of the Steering Committee. The Texas Catholic Conference is the statewide association of the Roman Catholic dioceses in Texas. One of the Conference's functions is to be the public policy arm of the Conference's Board of Directors, the bishops of Texas, before the Texas legislature, the Texas delegation in Congress, and state agencies. The public policy issues addressed by the Conference include institutional concerns of the Catholic Church as well as issues related to Catholic social teachings.