[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 4 (Monday, January 31, 2005)]
[Pages 82-83]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Telephone Remarks to the
March for Life

January 24, 2005

    Nellie, thank you. Thanks a lot for inviting me to speak. I know 
it's chilly there in Washington, but weather hasn't stopped thousands of 
participants from marching for life for the past 32 years, and it did 
not this year, either. And so I'm honored to be a part of this 
tremendous witness that is taking place in our Nation's Capital, and 
it's good to hear your voice again.
    You know, we come from many backgrounds--different backgrounds, but 
what unites us is our understanding that the essence of civilization is 
this: The strong have a duty to protect the weak.
    I appreciate so very much your work toward building a culture of 
life, a culture that will protect the most innocent among us and the 
voiceless. We are working to promote a culture of life, to promote 
compassion for women and their unborn babies. We know that in a culture 
that does not protect the most dependent, the handicapped, the elderly, 
the unloved, or simply inconvenient become increasingly vulnerable.
    The America of our dreams, where every child is welcomed in law--in 
life and protected in law may still be some ways away, but even from the 
far side of the river, Nellie, we can see its glimmerings. We're making 
progress in Washington. I've been working with Members of the Congress 
to pass good, solid legislation that protects the vulnerable and 
promotes the culture of life. I've signed into law a ban on partial-
birth abortion. Infants who are born despite an attempted abortion are 
now protected by law. So are nurses and doctors who refused to be any 
part of an abortion. And prosecutors can now charge those who harm or 
kill a pregnant woman with harming or killing her unborn child.
    We're also moving ahead in terms of medicine and research to make 
sure that the gifts

[[Page 83]]

of science are consistent with our highest values of freedom, equality, 
family, and human dignity. We will not sanction the creation of life 
only to destroy it.
    What I'm saying now is we're making progress, and this progress is a 
tribute to your perseverance and to the prayers of the people. I want to 
thank you especially for the civil way that you have engaged one of 
America's most contentious issues. I encourage you to take heart from 
our achievements, because a true culture of life cannot be sustained 
solely by changing laws. We need, most of all, to change hearts. And 
that is what we're doing, seeking common ground where possible and 
persuading increasing numbers of our fellow citizens of the rightness of 
our cause.
    This is the path to the culture of life that we seek for our 
country. And on its coldest days and one of our coldest days, I 
encourage you to take warmth and comfort from our history, which tells 
us that a movement that appeals to the noblest and most generous 
instincts of our fellow Americans and that is based on a sacred promise 
enshrined in our founding document, that this movement will not fail.
    And so on this day of compassion, where warm hearts are confronting 
the cold weather, I ask that God bless you for your dedication, and may 
God continue to bless our great country. And thank you for letting me 
share this moment with you, Nellie.

Note: The President spoke at 12:11 p.m. from Camp David, MD, to march 
participants at the Ellipse in Washington, DC. In his remarks, he 
referred to Nellie J. Gray, president, March for Life Education and 
Defense Fund.