Fordham University Hosts Jewish-Christian Conference On Life Issues April 24 in New York City

By Kathleen Sweeney, Outreach Department

Christian and Jewish scholars, religious leaders, and students will come together April 24 at Fordham University, New York, for what promises to be a lively dialogue to explore how the Jewish community can work with Christians in affirming the sanctity of human life. The event is being co-sponsored by the Institute for Religious Values and the Ave Maria School of Law.

Sandi Merle, who has inspired a group of Jewish women in the arts to oppose partial-birth abortion and co-authored A Jewish/Catholic Dialogue on Partial-Birth Abortion, is directing conference planning. Ms. Merle said that a goal of the conference is to show where the Jewish community is present in the pro-life movement and that Jewish leaders concerned about the sanctity of life are "in this for the long haul."

A special part of the conference will be a tribute to "The Legacy of John Cardinal O'Connor," by the late cardinal's sister, Mary O 'Connor Ward.

Nat Hentoff, well-known syndicated columnist and author, will be the luncheon speaker.

Distinguished rabbis addressing the conference will include Rabbi Marc Gellman, the TV co-host of The God Squad; Rabbi Moses Birnbaum of the Plainview Jewish Center; and Rabbi David Feldman, formerly the Chair of the United Jewish Appeal Committee on Medical Ethics. Meir Soloveichik, a presidential fellow from Yeshiva University, and Richard Myers, professor of law at Ave Maria School of Law, will present Jewish perspectives on legal issues affecting the sanctity of life.

Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, editor of First Things, and Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, are two of the prominent Catholic leaders who will speak to the conference. Other pro-life leaders who will speak are Maria McFadden, editor of The Human Life Review, and Jeanne Head, RN, who is NRLC's representative at the UN, the representative to the NRLC Board of Directors from New York State Right to Life, and a member of NRLC's executive committee.

Maria Geovine, president of the Respect Life Society at Fordham University, and Matt Dill, director of outreach for New York State Right to Life Committee, will discuss youth leadership in the pro-life movement.

The conference's breadth is illustrated by the range of topics that will include Judeo/Christian Commitment to Human Life; Abortion and Jewish Law; Partial-Birth Abortion, Parental Notification, and Informed Consent; Religious Perspectives on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide; and The Next Generation--Youth Pro-Life Leadership.

The Institute for Religious Values has indicated that the conference proceedings will be published and made available for extensive distribution in

order to provide useful material for further dialogue and development in Jewish communities on the life issues. For those interested in attending or supporting the conference, please clip the form below and mail it to Sandi Merle at the following address.

________ I will attend the conference at Fordham University.

Enclosed is $20 to cover expenses.
(Please make payable to the Institute for Religious Values.)

Name:________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

E-Mail: _______________________________________________

______ I cannot attend, but enclosed is my contribution to help with conference costs.

Mail to:
Sandi Merle, 101 W. 57th St. #5C, New York, NY 10019