Protesters See Mood Shift Against 'Roe'

But society is clearly more open to the idea that Roe was a bad ruling on constitutional grounds, Yoest said, and is generally becoming more concerned about ethical ramifications in such areas as stem cell research and euthanasia.

"You're seeing an increasing feeling that Roe was poorly decided. And Alito's confirmation will be a watershed moment in that direction," she said.

The bloggers, a mix of middle-aged men in suits and young women who are college or graduate school students, said they are part of an increased sophistication in the movement that speaks to young people today.

"I think there is definitely a cultural shift going on. People are seeing that the questions are deeper cultural questions, not just political ones," said Johannes L. Jacobse, a priest who came from Naples, Fla., and runs the site OrthodoxyToday.org. "I think in the next couple years people will be able to say: 'I am a pro-life Democrat.' "

His blog is among those on ProLifeBlogs.com, which links to 500 sites, its organizer said at the conference.

President Bush addressed the event by telephone from Kansas, where he traveled yesterday for a speech on terrorism. In four minutes of remarks that largely followed the language he has used in past calls to the march, Bush vowed to continue fighting for what he calls a "culture of life" and the principle that every life has value.

"These principles call us to defend the sick and dying, persons with disabilities and birth defects, all who are weak and vulnerable, especially unborn children," he said. Although he rarely discusses abortion in detail before general audiences, Bush recited his record on the issue for the activists, boasting that one of his first acts as president was to cut off taxpayer money to programs that promote abortion overseas and hailing other actions such as a ban on the procedure opponents call "partial birth" abortion. He also urged the Senate to pass legislation approved by the House aimed at preventing people from taking minors across state lines to avoid parental notification laws.

Few counter-demonstrators were visible at yesterday's event, although a small group was gathered around a light pole across the street from the Supreme Court. As they yelled, "My body, my choice," through a bullhorn, they were drowned out by dozens of young abortion opponents shouting, "Boo!" On the other side of the wide sidewalk in front of the court building, rows of teenagers stood in a silent protest, a single strip of red tape across their mouths with the word "life" written in black.

Also protesting in silence were dozens of people who began to pray before the building, dropping to their knees in a tight block just as a band of kilted bagpipers passed, playing "Amazing Grace."

Staff writers Peter Baker and Del Quentin Wilber contributed to this report.