MINNEAPOLIS — Delegates from National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) chapters across the country converged in here last week to encourage each other and plot their strategy for a year promising critical battles in the pro-life arena. Discussion focused on embryonic stem-cell research, the denial of feeding tubes to the dependent and a potential vacancy on the Supreme Court.

"The most important challenge this year, no question, is to stop appointing judges to the courts who want to legislate from the bench," NRLC President Wanda Franz told the HERALD. "We need a Senate who will advise and consent, not block," she added.

The declining health of Chief Justice William Rehnquist, 80, has fueled speculation that he will soon retire. Pro-life activists hope Rehnquist, who opposes legalized abortion, and two of the justices in favor of abortion rights — John Paul Stevens, 85; Sandra Day O’Connor, 75; Ruth Bader Ginsberg, 72; Anthony Kennedy, 68; Stephen Breyer, 66; and David Souter, 65 — will step down while President Bush is in office. They believe Bush will only nominate pro-life justices to replace them.

"President Bush is definitely, personally highly committed to extending our democratic values to everyone in society," said Franz. "The problem is you can never be absolutely certain how a judicial nominee will rule."

NRLC delegates were wary that several people mentioned by the major media companies as potential Republican candidates for the 2008 presidential election — including Arizona Sen. John McCain, former Secretary of State Colin Powell and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice — support abortion rights. With the Democratic Party consistently nominating abortion-rights candidates, they believe Bush may be their best chance in a while to forge a pro-life majority on the Supreme Court.

"We’re blessed to have such an opening in history," Franz told a cheerful crowd of about 200 activists amid an atmosphere reflecting a family reunion.

NRLC delegates drew mixed conclusions about the outcomes of the recent battles over the president’s nominees to lower courts. Some expressed optimism over the Senate confirmation of evangelicals Priscilla Owen and Janice Rogers Brown, and William Pryor, a Catholic, who are seen as favoring restrictions on abortion rights.

But others were dismayed over the deal brokered by mostly pro-choice Republican senators — including Virginia’s John Warner — to avoid ending the Senate filibuster, the most effective tool available to Democrats to block pro-life Supreme Court nominations.

"But for John McCain, we wouldn’t have the filibuster," said NRLC Legislative Director Douglas Johnson. "Now it hinges on [Pennsylvania Sen.] Arlen Specter."

The high share of Catholics involved in the pro-life movement was evident at the convention, with speeches delivered by Father Frank Pavone, head of Priests for Life; Richard Doerflinger, deputy director of the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; and U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, an evangelical convert to the Church.

Catholic attendees pointed toward another pivotal event in 2005: a world Synod of Bishops scheduled for October on the topic of the Eucharist. Some Catholics at the convention hoped the U.S. bishops will adopt a unified position forbidding the distribution of Communion to pro-choice politicians.

"In my personal view, this would be a plus for the movement and a necessity for the Church," said Leo Lalonde, president of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life. "It would take away the ability of pro-abortion Catholic politicians to use their faith to advance their candidacies."

"It would help show the true colors of pro-abortion politicians," said Kate Ewald, a director with Oregon Right to Life. Oregon’s governor is a self-professed Catholic and supporter of abortion rights.

The pro-life delegation from Virginia expressed great hope for the coming year. Geline Williams, former Richmond mayor and now head of the Virginia Society for Human Life, said she was pleased with the outcome of the recent state primaries, which saw the victories of several pro-life candidates.

VSHL priorities for the coming year include passing a bill to protect unborn children from the pain of an abortion — co-sponsored by Delegates Dick Black, parishioner of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Potomac Falls, and Bob Marshall, a member of All Saints Parish in Manassas — and legislation requiring abortion facilities to be licensed in the same manner as other outpatient facilities.

Williams asked Arlington Catholics to "pray for the opening of hearts and minds that the killing of the unborn child and the denying of hydration to the dependent are seen not only as moral questions, but as a diminishing of the freedoms of our wonderful country."

Several speakers pointed toward hopeful signs in the anti-abortion movement, including public-opinion polls trending in its favor and declining numbers of estimated abortions nationwide.

Opining on why a higher share of Americans are adopting pro-life beliefs, Franz said, "Now we have alternative media — Fox News, Christian radio, bloggers — so it is much harder for the mainstream media to continue to lie."

"It’s a hopeful time," she said. "The truth is out there."

Seventeen NRLC state chapters have adopted mission statements that promote the protection of life from "fertilization" or "conception" until "natural death," and one — from Georgia — includes on its Web site a statement against abortifacient birth-control methods. Most NRLC chapters advocate the protection of "innocent life" and more narrowly oppose abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. The NRLC’s mission says the committee "does not have a position on … contraception."

"As a Catholic, I accept the Church’s teaching on all issues," Balch explained. "However, NRLC is a non-sectarian, single-issue organization which recognizes that its focus must be on the overriding issue of the protection of innocent human life. Our opponents would like us to embrace more issues than we can be effective at."

Leaders of other pro-life organizations whose missions are more educational than political advocate a broader approach. Andy Alderson, head of the Couple to Couple League, which provides instruction on natural family planning in the Arlington Diocese, said, "We are convinced that the pro-life movement will never reach its potential until everyone stands firmly against contraception as well as abortion."

"Look at the agenda of those who promote abortion," said Father Thomas Eutenauer, president of the Front Royal-based Human Life International. "It also includes contraception and sex education. We’ll never end abortion if we only fight a third of the battle."