Alexandria Church Hosts Pro-Life Conference

By Michael F. Flach
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 2/28/02)

ALEXANDRIA — The ability to offer a "non-confrontational" message is an important aspect of pro-life work, a spokesperson from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) told a group of pro-life leaders in the Arlington Diocese.

"The tone of our message is as important as our content," said Susan Wills (pictured at right), assistant director for program development in the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities.

"Law is a powerful teacher and it has been teaching children for generations that abortion is morally acceptable," she said. "There are no magic formulas to change people's hearts."

She encouraged the group to speak the truth lovingly to win the conversion of hearts and the salvation of souls and to treat people with dignity.

Wills, who attends Holy Spirit Church in Annandale, praised Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde's consistent public witness in defense of life.

"There are few bishops who surpass his energy in the pro-life field," she said. "The bishop puts his budget where his heart is. He walks the walk."

Since being installed as Arlington's third bishop in March 1999, Bishop Loverde has celebrated a monthly pro-life Mass at a diocesan church, followed by prayerful witness at area abortion clinics. He will pray in front of three abortion clinics on Holy Saturday, March 30.

Wills also applauded the efforts of the diocesan Office for Family Life, headed by Robert E. Laird. She told parish pro-life representatives they are fortunate to have a pro-life staff that is as energetic, holy and full of new ideas.

The Family Life Office sponsored the Feb. 23 pro-life conference at St. Lawrence Church in Alexandria. In addition to Wills, the conference featured Loretta Fleming from the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment and Jane Abraham from the Susan B. Anthony List (SBA).

Fleming gave a brief outline of the life issues currently being debated in the House and Senate, including a ban on human cloning and stem cell research restrictions. Abraham spoke on "Making a Difference for Life."

Wills' overview of the pro-life movement specifically mentioned how various Church ministries are constantly maneuvering for position within the hierarchy.

This "infighting" was tempered a bit in 1995 when Pope John Paul II published "The Gospel of Life," Wills said.

In that historic document, the Holy Father reminds us that there is one issue that supercedes all others — the right to life, she said. "The pope reminds us that the glory of God is man fully alive."

The U.S. bishops followed "The Gospel of Life" with their own pastoral plan, "Living the Gospel of Life." This document identified the pro-life issue as the foundation for all other issues in the Church.

Wills said the bishops' revised pro-life plan added prayer and worship to its original three-pronged program of public information and education, pastoral care and public policy.

Within the prayer segment is the need for healing (Project Rachel), holy hours and memorials for unborn children, she said.

Wills offered parish pro-life coordinators a series of "practical strategies" to assist them in their apostolate.

She encouraged them to collaborate with other parish ministries, such as youth groups, religious education offices and vocation's committees, to help break down the stereotype that pro-lifers are one dimensional in their focus.

By hosting a baby shower for the local crisis pregnancy center or advertising Project Rachel counseling services in their dioceses, pro-lifers can "soften their image," Wills said.

"Show how you are willing to help the terminally ill and the elderly," she said. "Build a sense of community."

Reflecting on her own experiences in debating the pro-life position, Wills said that in American society today, decisions are based on emotion rather than logic.

America's pagan culture is filled with a Pantheon of gods, including the desire to own the latest video game or sports utility vehicle, she said.

Paraphrasing the title of well-known books, Wills said because of our "consumerist mentality" we are "amusing ourselves to death."

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