June 28, 2010

Editor's note. The following is the closing remarks to the NRLC 2010 convention by Dr. Wanda Franz.

Dear friends,

Dr. Wanda Franz, NRLC President

At this convention I have heard what I always hear at our annual meetings: People are amazed how much they learn and how much they are energized for the pro-life cause by these National Right to Life conventions. Except this year there is a special urgency among pro-lifers because the pro-abortion policies of the fanatically pro-abortion Democrats are even worse than voters expected. Yes, you and I find it disturbing that the voters were so easily fooled before the 2008 election. But that was then, and now is now. At last people are beginning to understand that we need real change.

When you are in a fight as demanding and long-lasting as the struggle for the right to life it is easy to become discouraged over the seemingly slow pace of progress. But now, especially, is not the time to be discouraged.

This is the time to press forward

• because we are faced with the most dangerous situation we have ever had,
• because we must stop being inundated by the Culture of death,
• and because we must work for the repeal of Obamacare.

Our fellow citizens know this must be done. They will cheer us on. We must help save America.

One thing is clear, if pro-lifers sit on the sidelines and just watch the game or play third-party games, then they will have no say in the outcome in what happens next. And if they do that, they not only forfeit the right to complain--they damage the pro-life cause.

And now I am going to say what I always say at the end of these conventions:

We must pray, organize, recruit new members and volunteers, raise funds, distribute educational and informative material, and persuade our fellow citizens to act on their pro-life beliefs.

When I say we must pray, I do not mean prayer for the sake of narrow self-interest. I mean that first we must pray that our work in the pro-life vineyard be for the greater glory of God.

When I say we must pray, I do not mean for us to pray that our opponents be vanquished. I mean that we must pray for their conversion.

When I say we must pray, I do not mean that we utter false prayers of judgment and condemnation. I mean that we must pray that hearts be changed, minds be cleared, and souls be opened to liberating grace.

As for ourselves, we must pray for the gift of submission to the will of God. Though our cause is noble and just and right, we should not stand with the Pharisee in the front of the temple. Our place is with the tax collector in the back of the temple--acknowledging our faults, asking for forgiveness, and pledging restitution through sacrificial donations of talent, time, and money to the right-to-life cause.

We must also pray that we stay calm when we are pulled in all directions,

• that we think before we act,
• that we be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves" while we pursue our long-term strategy,
• and that we not inflict "friendly fire" through acts of selfishness and vanity.

Let me close by thanking all of you for coming.

We from NRLC thank our hosts from the Pennsylvania Pro-life Federation and our speakers.

My special thanks go to the staff and volunteers for making this convention a success.

Have a safe journey back home.

Pray and do God's work in the pro-life vineyard.

God bless you!

Part One
Part Two