Washington After Roe Day 2: Faithful Bear Witness to a New Dawn

WASHINGTON—Two days after the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, no protesters could be seen outside Washington’s Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Situated next to the campus of The Catholic University of America (CUA), the shrine is the largest Catholic church in North America.

Yet, after the Department of Homeland Security warned of violence against Catholic churches, “America’s Catholic Church” wasn’t taking any chances. Their own security staff and at least one Washington Metro Police officer patrolled the grounds as visitors streamed in and out.

Before the 10:30 a.m. mass began, the faithful quietly navigated the enormous church. Some stopped to pray at the upper church’s many chapels.

The mass itself included a prayer to religious freedom, commemorating “the gift of religious liberty, the foundation of human rights, justice, and the common good;” and the United States, described as “this blessed land.”

In a series of interviews with The Epoch Times, visitors to the shrine shared their joy over the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson.

“Science demonstrates that life starts from conception, so it’s good news,” said Ignacio Cassana.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity we now have to change the culture,” said Meredith Rice.

Rice, who works at nearby CUA, said she was somewhat afraid of violence in the wake of Dobbs.

Two people were arrested on June 25 for allegedly throwing paint over a fence separating protesters from the Supreme Court building.

In the days since the decision came down, pregnancy centers in Virginia and Colorado have been vandalized.

Meanwhile, threats to assassinate the justices who formed the Dobbs majority have proliferated on social media, sometimes staying up for hours or even days despite reports from concerned users.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Twitter’s communications team for comment on the threats

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