Enthusiastic Crowds Prove Unborn Have "A Friend for Life"

By Dave Andrusko

Over 1,200 pro-lifers from every part of the United States and beyond came together in Pitts-burgh, Pennsylvania, June 27-29 to enjoy National Right to Life's 30th annual convention. NRLC's annual three-day educational feast provided a superb setting for some of the Movement's very finest speakers who spoke to and interacted with an audience whose enthusiasm was palpable from the opening general session.

"Sometimes everything just gets off on the right foot and it's as if that momentum carries over," said Jacki Ragan, convention coordinator. "The atmosphere was electric that first morning and the attendees clearly were primed for a top-flight educational experience."

Even more than usual, these pro-life champions had a dazzling assortment to choose from. It would be hard to go wrong with the caliber of speakers who graciously agreed to be a part of the pro-life educational event of the year.

Nigel Cameron, Ph.D., offered a penetrating overview of the challenge posed by cloning and related aspects of the biotechnology agenda driven by scientists and venture capitalists. Only a year ago we were assured it would be wrong to "specially create" human embryos for the explicit purpose of harvesting their stem cells. The need would be met, the public was told, by "surplus" embryos "left over" at fertility clinics.

Now there is a loud hue and cry that it is not only not wrong but imperative that human embryos be cloned for the express purpose of mass producing stem cells that are lethally extracted from the cloned embryos. Cameron warned that cloning was the "watershed" issue in the larger battle over whether it will be acceptable to turn humans into manufactured commodities owned by others, the only parallel for which is chattel slavery.

By the time Cal Thomas closed the convention with a stirring speech at the Saturday night closing banquet, convention-goers had 72 workshops, four general sessions, and a Friday morning Prayer Breakfast to select from. Thomas, one of the most widely syndicated columnists in the United States, dedicated his talk to the "little things" pro-lifers do to change a culture of death into a culture of life.

That included everything from writing a letter to the editor (one of the most underrated activities we can do) to making sure everyone we know sees General Electric's life-affirming ad showing its incredibly vivid new 4D ultrasound machine to the quiet work of crisis pregnancy centers.

Other general sessions were every bit as powerful. On Thursday night editorial cartoonist Chuck Asay, a long-time pro-life favorite, amused and informed an audience whose response alternated between gales of laughter and vigorous nods of quiet affirmation.

Friday morning's Prayer Breakfast, like the closing banquet, was jam-packed. Monsignor James Lisante did not disappoint, contrasting the pro-abortion, morally adrift Clinton Administration with pro-life President George W. Bush, who is "the real thing."

Monsignor Lisante vociferously praised the work of National Right to Life and its chapters, and reminded his audience of the inherently powerful witness of those women who have had abortions and who are now willing to tell the world how wrong that decision was. He also gently reminded us that among our important tasks is the ongoing duty to raise up the next generation of pro-lifers.

And no one will forget the story of his nephew Matthew, who was almost aborted, whose life was saved because his mother was won over by the nonjudgmental love of Matthew's grandmother.

Mary Jane Owen, who heads the National Catholic Office for Persons with Disabilities, captivated the Friday afternoon general session with a powerful talk she labeled, "The Gift of Limitations." She was joined on the podium by Burke Balch, who directs NRLC's Department of Medical Ethics, and Brian Johnston, NRLC Western director.

Balch highlighted the dark reality behind the sunny assurances that we are "respecting autonomy" when we "assist" people with disabilities to commit suicide. Balch echoed a sentiment expressed by Mary Jane Owen. As illustrated by a string of famous cases, "helping" people with disabilities to kill themselves is, in truth, discrimination based on disability.

Since 2002 is an off-election year, with all 435 member of the House, 34 senators, and a number of governors up for election, pro-lifers were strongly encouraged to get involved.

At a Saturday morning general session, a number of speakers emphasized and reemphasized a central truth: one vote or the election of one candidate can make all the difference in the world.

Lori Hougens reminded her listeners that when one Republican switched parties last year, it made pro-abortion Tom Daschle (D-SD) Senate Majority Leader, replacing pro-life Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.).

Hougens, a senior congressional liaison for NRLC, challenged pro-lifers to "get out of your comfort zone" and work hard in the months to come. Certainly, pro-abortionists are loaded for bear for 2002, as illustrated by the Pennsylvania Democratic gubernatorial primary held in May.

Mary Beliveau is the legislative and political director for the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation. She explained how pro-abortion former Philadelphia Mayor Richard Rendell won a surprisingly large victory over pro-life State Auditor General Bob Casey, Jr.

NARAL and Planned Parenthood targeted Southeast Pennsylvania and did a massive pro-abortion voter identification, registration, and get out the vote program, she said. Even though Rendell won only 10 of 67 counties in Pennsylvania, he secured 56% of the vote.

Darla St. Martin, NRLC associate executive director, ended the session titled "The Challenge," with a reminder that "We may not think we are, but we are the

chosen." By that she meant that pro-lifers, the most modest of people, have been chosen for a special purpose: to turn around a culture spiraling toward an ever wider acceptance of death. "And I know you will meet that challenge," she said, to thunderous applause.

NRLC 2002's theme was "They've Got a Friend for Life." Every meeting affirmed that unborn babies and the medically dependent do have a friend in each and every pro-lifer.

"People make sacrifices everyday for this Movement," said Jacki Ragan. "Luckily for the vulnerable unborn, they never grow weary and will never give up the battle."

To which Ragan added, "See you next year in St. Louis." (For more on the convention, see the editorial on page two and the photos beginning on page 15.)