Henry Hyde, 1924-2007

Michelle Malkin has an excellent post and comment thread very much worth reading (including the negatives) regarding the passing of this lion of the pro-life movement.

While there were many, many flaws in the character of this man (in all of our characters?), one cannot disregard his dedication to protecting the lives of the unborn.

One of the most moving pieces I’ve ever read was from a speech that Rep. Hyde gave.  I’ve included a portion of it below:

“When the time comes as it surely will, when we face that awesome moment, the final judgment, I’ve often thought, as Fulton Sheen wrote, that it is a terrible moment of loneliness.

You have no advocates, you are there alone standing before God and a terror will rip through your soul like nothing you can imagine. But I really think that those in the pro-life movement will not be alone.

I think there will be a chorus of voices that have never been heard in this world but are heard beautifully and clearly in the next world and they will plead for everyone who has been in this movement.

They will say to God, “Spare him because he loved us,” and God will look at you and say not, “Did you succeed?” but “Did you try?”