"In God's Image:
Called to Build A Culture of Life"
Informs, Energizes Pro-lifers

By Joseph Esposito

More than 350 pro-lifers from across the nation attended a major conference sponsored by the Committee for Pro-Life Activities of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops March 3-5.

The three-day event, entitled "In God's Image: Called to Build a Culture of Life," attracted local, state, and national leaders to the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Nearly three dozen religious and secular leaders gave presentations on various aspects of abortion, physician-assisted suicide, and recent technological advances in human fertility.

In encompassing this broad array of life issues, the conference followed up on Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics, the pro-life document which was adopted by the nation's bishops last November.

Pope John Paul II, who has spoken strongly for a culture of life during his 20-year pontificate, sent a letter to the conference. He wrote, "The choice in favor of life is not a private option but a basic demand of a just and moral society." That helped set the tenor of the conference, which was attended by representatives of several faiths.

Cardinal John O'Connor of New York, a leading pro-life cleric, gave the keynote address. As he has done on other occasions, he warmly thanked the activists for their steadfast dedication to the cause. He urged them to continue to work to change abortion laws, educate people, and march peacefully in protest.

Among other clergymen who spoke was Rabbi Marc Gellman, who appears with Msgr. Thomas Hartman as the "God Squad" on New York and national television. Rabbi Gellman cited a recent statement on partial-birth abortion in which rabbis from around the country noted, "It is not your responsibility to finish the work, but you are not free to desist from it."

He also stressed that we "are in a struggle for human babies. You should know you are not alone. It is absolutely essential," he said, that the pro-life movement "not be seen as only a Catholic or Christian struggle."

Rabbi Gellman and Msgr. Hartman emphasized this point by asking the group to repeat and remember the following statement: "Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable; sticks alone can be broken by a child."

The individual talks and panels informed and encouraged participants in this spirit of solidarity. One of the most stimulating presentations was given by historian Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, who discussed how radical feminism has hurt women.

"Abortion," she noted, "ranks as the movement's one non-negotiable demand." But rather than helping women, this obsession has created nothing but problems. "Abortion begets more abortion and greater unhappiness for women," she said.

Fox-Genovese has written widely on women's history and was the founding director of the Institute for Women's Studies at Emory University. So it was noteworthy when she argued, "Opposition to abortion is pro-woman; support for abortion is anti-woman."

Dr. Eric Chevlen, a Youngstown, Ohio, physician, spoke movingly about how he has encouraged terminally ill patients to resist suicide. Dr. Walter Hunter of Vista Care spoke of an enhanced role for caregivers in relieving pain.

Dr. Hunter noted that suffering can include physical, emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual pain. By recognizing that " total pain" is a complex issue, health professionals, family members, and others can better assist seriously ill people. Such compassionate care will curb moves for assisted suicide.

Several experts discussed the religious and ethical dimensions of the new reproductive technologies. Rev. Kevin Fitzgerald, a researcher and bioethicist, was one of those who discussed a wide range of medical advances now being implemented.

He said in many cases such techniques are used for cultural rather than necessary medical reasons. Raising concerns about stem cell research, for example, he said, "If there are other alternatives, then why are we not pursuing them?" He suggested using blood taken from the placenta, which is rich in stem cells, as one alternative.

The conference ended with a spirited speech by Cardinal Francis George, the archbishop of Chicago. He said, "We know that the partial-birth abortion debate has exposed the abortion industry for what it is: a brutal, money-making killer of children."

He suggested the pro-abortion ethos can be simply put: "No life, no life at all, has intrinsic value simply because it is a human life. A person's worth finally depends on his or her being wanted by someone with greater power, greater physical ability, or greater financial status."

The cardinal added, "I believe that 50 years from now when the inner contradictions of our national policy governing life and death have been resolved in either a change of our laws or the destruction of our nation, people will look back and ask if anyone tried to stop the horror of abortion.

"History will show that every one of you, every one of you in this room, so tried," he contended. Surely, this can be said for the entire pro-life movement.

"This conference was an outstanding opportunity to focus on the key issues facing the pro-life movement," declared NRLC's director of Religious Outreach, Ernest Olhoff.There was a renewal of commitment by the Catholic community to protect innocent human lives through education, and ultimately to change public policy.