NEW YORK - - Martin Ryan Haley, an influential pro-life advisor and consultant, died in New York City February 8 after suffering several strokes.
An experienced political consultant, Haley's involvement in the pro-life movement began as an advisor to the Family Life Bureau of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in the late 1960s.
"During 1967-73, when efforts to liberalize abortion laws were on the state level, he worked behind the scenes to help state Catholic conferences and dioceses set up pro-life groups and he trained members how to talk to state legislatures," said Bishop James T. McHugh, who served as director of the bishops' Family Life Bureau during those days.
Haley's advice helped shape the structure of the pro-life movement by focusing on the development of grassroots citizen lobbying committees which would work through the democratic process to restore legal protection for unborn children.
His firm, Martin Ryan Haley Associates, which was formed in 1950, provided political and lobbying advice to a broad spectrum of candidates and organizations.
Haley also served as advisor to both Terence Cardinal Cooke and John Cardinal O'Connor in New York City. He also served the Vatican as a consultant to the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and provided advice on foreign affairs and foreign policy.
The wisdom of Martin Ryan Haley's early guidance to the emerging right to life movement has had a profound effect on the movement in America.