"March for the the Babies": It might as well never have happened

At least as far as the media is concerned.

My wife and kids went to the inaugral "March for the Babies" here in Melbourne on Saturday morning. Unfortunately, I couldn't join them - there was an unfortunate clash of scheduling that saw me at the ordination of our deacons that morning.

The march was held to mark the shameful anniversary of the passing of our liberal abortion laws here in Victoria. Cathy says there were "probably a thousand" people there.

Yet the ABC TV news that evening didn't even mention it. Nor did The Sunday Age the next day. There was a mention that it was going to happen in Saturday's Age (see this article), but then, suddenly, nothing. Deafening silence. Zilch.

I always say, in the ecumenical and interfaith business, that if you don't get pictures and reports into the media, it might as well not have happened. I don't think that this is the case with this march, I mean, I am sure that some good will have come from it, but... you see what I mean? How is a message to get out if the media just turn away and ignore an event like a thousand people marching on Parliament House on a Saturday Afternoon?

Good Lord, if it had been for a march to save the Yellow Breasted Whistling Parrot, it would have made the front page - even if only a tenth of the number turned up. But babies? Last year's news.