NRL Convention Speakers Focus on Humanizing the Vulnerable

By Liz Townsend

From the Opening Session with Dr. Deal Hudson to the Closing Banquet with Joni Eareckson Tada, speakers at this year's NRL Convention highlighted practical aspects of the pro-life cause along with moving reminders about those we're trying to save - - the most vulnerable among us, born and unborn.

Hudson, editor and publisher of Crisis magazine, was the keynote speaker at the June 29 Opening Session. He framed his remarks with the lyrics of the traditional Christmas song, "Coventry Carol."

The song begins with Mary singing, "Lullay [I see], Thou little tiny Child," and continues to plead for a way to save the child-- the Infant Jesus--from the threat of Herod's order to slay all the children.

Hudson drew a parallel between this song to the reality today of the mass Slaughter of the Innocents through abortion, and the plea to politicians and the public to truly see the children--to recognize their humanity. "Once you see the child, what conclusion must you come to?" Hudson asked. "That you save the child. That the child's life is not dependent upon it being wanted."

Federal legislation proposed by pro-life members of Congress seeks to enshrine these children's humanity in law, Hudson said. The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act and the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act are two bills that clearly show which lawmakers are willing to "see the child" and which--like Vice President Al Gore--"care only about pleasing the extremists and fanatics" in the pro-abortion movement.

The Born-Alive Infants Protection Act will "expose the soul of our legislators," Hudson said. "We are going to say, 'Who among you, who has previously supported abortion, will not admit that innocent life once born from a mother's womb is worthy of legal protection?'"

Hudson said the words of "Coventry Carol" came to him while watching Al Gore and Sen. Bill Bradley debating during the Democratic primaries, both "arguing over who was more committed to taking innocent life...attempting to 'out-Herod Herod.' "

But Herod, as evil as he was, caused only about 30 deaths in Bethlehem. "Herod's track record is hardly worthy of comment next to these presidential hopefuls," Hudson said, "eager to be associated with the million and a half innocent lives a year taken in this country."

There is hope, Hudson insisted. While meeting with Texas Gov. George W. Bush along with a delegation of Catholic leaders, Hudson said he was impressed with Bush's "gut commitment" to protecting innocent life. "Gov. Bush sees the child, and he will protect this child from the Herods of this world," Hudson said.

On the other end of life's spectrum, people facing disabilities and failing health are also vulnerable to those who cannot see their true humanity. Joni Eareckson Tada, a prolific author and founder of Joni and Friends, a group that provides assistance and encouragement to people with disabilities and their families, knows firsthand that each and every human being is precious, no matter what their bodies can do. Tada has been a quadriplegic for 33 years, after a diving accident paralyzed most of her body.

Tada gave a truly moving and inspiring talk at the July 1 Closing Banquet, witnessing to the grace of God that is at work in everyone. God's gift of life, she said, "is beyond valuing; it is worth the weight of the entire world's worth, if not more."

The challenges we face during our life bring us closer to God, Tada insisted. She spoke about her friend Carla, a woman with multiple disabilities stemming from a rare form of juvenile diabetes, who has endured amputations, heart attacks, painful tests, and much more.

"Carla and her body have been pared down to a mere minimal, but she's got a grand purpose for living," Tada said. "Life is her condition through which she's getting to know God better and better, for the weaker she is each day the harder she has to lean on God, and the harder she leans on Him the stronger she keeps discovering Him to be."

Tada has also learned that she needs to lean on God. On many mornings, she faces a struggle just to face the upcoming day.

"You'd think after 33 years I'd be an expert at this," she said. "But I'm no professional, I have no resources for this, I'm just so tired." So she prays, "Lord, I am weary, I have no strength - - but you do. Please give me your strength." With God's help, she is able to face her struggles with a smile.

Those who aren't able to lean on God are the most handicapped people, Tada said. They don't recognize that our lives are not valuable because of what we can do, but because we are part of God's plan.

"When we're in trouble, we set ourselves up at the centers of our own moral universe and begin making choices and decisions out of our own self-reliance," Tada said. "Perhaps, sadly, that's what happened to the many disabled people who wrote those letters to Jack Kevorkian, many of them far less disabled than my friend Carla."

Carla is "living life to the fullest down to the wire." Her daily struggles with her earthly body have affected and inspired so many people around her, bringing them closer to God.

And one day, Tada said, "[Carla] will get back that new, glorified body. That's a promise in Scripture, a new glorified body. One day, I'm gonna stand; she's gonna stand. I can't wait to have that chance to walk up to Jesus. And then I'll have a chance to tell Him, 'Thank you so much for that wheelchair, because the weaker I was in it, the harder I leaned on you, and the harder I leaned on you the stronger I discovered you to be.' "