The Feminine Genius and the Culture of Life

By Kathleen Sweeney

The "feminine genius." What is that and how does that relate to the culture of life? To answer this question and address challenges facing women and the pro-life movement, a leadership training conference for pro-life women was held in Washington, D.C., March 23-25.

The conference, entitled "The Feminine Genius and the Culture of Life," was sponsored by Women Affirming Life (WAL) and the Pro- Life Secretariat of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. About 250 women attended, representing 25 states and 5 nations. One-third of the attendees were college and law school students.

Women Affirming Life is a national organization of Catholic women formed to motivate and train women to give public witness to the sanctity of human life. Cardinal Bernard Law, archbishop of Boston, inspired the foundation of the organization in 1989, challenging Attorney Fran Hogan to form a group of professional family-oriented women who could have a pro-life impact on a national level. WAL celebrated its 10th anniversary at this conference.

Mary Ellen Bork, one of the founders and an advisory board member of WAL, acted as mistress of ceremonies during the conference. She said the conference was designed to "go more deeply into what it means to be women who are affirming life, to influence American culture to turn back to a respect for the dignity of every human person in all stages of life," and to " figure out the best arguments in defense of the human person in the face of fierce opposition at radical feminist conferences."

The keynote address at the conference dinner was presented by another of the founding members of WAL, Mary Ann Glendon, Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard University and head of the Holy See's 22-member delegation to the Beijing Women's Conference in 1995.

Professor Glendon said women "have enriched the pro-life discussion, have deepened the message, and have improved communication of that message by emphasizing compassionate voices, stressing what we are for in addition to what we oppose."

Prof. Glendon, who is also a wife and mother of three daughters, the youngest of whom is adopted, said women in particular are called to be at the forefront in the struggle to establish a culture of life. She cited the many women who, with a common purpose but different gifts, have worked with crisis pregnancies, post-abortion syndrome, end-of-life issues, public policy, and giving pro-life witness in a variety of circumstances.

Cardinal Law, episcopal advisor to WAL, addressed participants at the conference dinner, stressing how it is out of the deepest experience of women that all will be helped to know "what a civilization of love and of life can be."

A greeting to WAL from Pope John Paul II, contained in a letter sent by Angelo Cardinal Soldano, Vatican secretary of state, was read by Cardinal Law at the dinner:
"His Holiness is most grateful to Women Affirming Life for their faithful witness to the sacredness of all human life, especially that of the unborn," Cardinal Soldano's letter read. "Women have an irreplaceable role to play in the conversion of hearts and the transformation of cultural attitudes which will ensure the growth of an authentic culture of life" The Pope encouraged the women "to persevere in...reaching out especially to women in difficulty and to those shattered by the experience of abortion."

An opening address the morning of the conference was presented by Dr. Janne Matlary, until recently Norway's secretary for foreign affairs, and an international negotiator for the Vatican. Dr. Matlary, a wife and mother of four, spoke of the need for society to change so that a woman, instead of being tempted by abortion, can continue to be fully a woman and a mother while in a career, as well as at home.

Dr. Matlary lauded Pope John Paul II's address on the "feminine genius," which speaks of how women have a unique contribution to make to society. She felt there is a "window of opportunity" for pro-life issues, an opportunity for women to define a new feminism. She observed that younger women are not as interested in the "old guard" feminism, but rather are more open to pro-life, pro-family issues.

However, at the same time, the Norwegian leader indicated there are great difficulties facing Western nations in changing pro- abortion laws. So the pro-life movement has to be very smart and look for fresh ideas on how to get pro-life concerns on the agenda.

There is a need, Dr. Matlary said, to reestablish a sense of solidarity among all human beings, as our neighbors. Above all, she admonished, do not let press opposition force you into silence because you are a pro-life Catholic--a modern form of persecution.

Several workshops with outstanding speakers were offered to equip women in various pro-life efforts. Speakers included: Mary Cunningham Agee on crisis pregnancy work; Dr. E. Joanne Angelo and Professor Cathleen Kaveny on end-of-life care; Fr. Paul O 'Brien on pro-life parish work; Marjorie Dannenfelser, Kathleen Driscoll, and Ellen Curro on pro-life witness in secular work; Dr. Mary Shivanandan on Pope John Paul II's theology of the body; Rev. David O'Connell, president of Catholic University, on a culture of life in the university; Professor Laura Garcia on prayer and pro-life witness; and Cecilia Royals on the international pro-abortion and anti-family agenda.

Helen Alvare, information director for the bishops' Pro-Life Secretariat, provided some practical tips in her talk on " Communicating a Culture of Life in a Secular Society."

Explaining the realities of our sound-bite culture, this experienced media spokesperson for the bishops advised, "If you can't say it in the first five words, you've lost them."

The challenge of getting the press to help with the pro-life message is daunting, Ms. Alvare admitted. However, since feminism started with the argument that women deserve equal dignity because "they are human beings too," she suggested one can provide the argument that the pro-life position comes from the same place: "We have to give all human beings respect or else feminism goes nowhere."

The Sisters of Life, a religious order of women dedicated to pro- life work, led a prayer service at the end of the talks. Sr. Briege McKenna spoke at the Saturday prayer breakfast, advising, "Women can make the greatest influence on society if they are women of holiness."

The conference culminated with the Mass of the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, concelebrated by Cardinal Law and Bishop Hart of Connecticut at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.