By Catholic Review Staff
UPDATED Sept. 23, 4:45 p.m.: Forty years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion throughout the country, hundreds of pilgrims were expected to walk in support of life during a two-day trek from Baltimore to Washington, D.C., but that event scheduled for Oct. 12 has been postponed until 2014.
“Along the Way,” a 35-mile journey, would have embarked from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore and concluded the next day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.
Bishop Denis J. Madden was to have kicked off the walk with a 9 a.m. Oct. 12 Mass at the Baltimore basilica.
The Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which helped organize the event sent out a message Sept. 23 saying, “Due to circumstances beyond our control, we have decided to postpone the “Along the Way” walk that was originally scheduled for this October 12-13. It has become apparent that with several other large events happening that weekend, the police are not able to give us the amount of support that we feel is appropriate to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being. We will be setting a new date soon for 2014 and will send out that new information as soon as possible.”
The event sought 786 walkers, who in theory would combine to take 55 million steps between the two cities, signifying the approximate number of lives taken by abortion since 1973. For anyone who was already registered to walk, the Respect Life Office will be working on refunding their entry fees in the next week. Questions may be sent to: info@alongtheway2013.org.
The walk was to also honor the Year of Faith proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI. “Along the Way,” which primarily would have followed U.S. Route 1, included a midpoint stop at St. Mary of the Mills in Laurel, where a spaghetti dinner was to be held for the walkers Oct. 12. Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl was set to celebrate a 9 a.m. Mass Oct. 13 at St. Mary.
The event was sponsored by the respect life offices of the Baltimore and Washington archdioceses and Crossroads Pro-Life.
For more information, visit alongtheway2013.org or call 301-853-4555.
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This article was originally published Sept. 17, 2013.