Life and death in D.C.

Annual Legatus pro-life conference to focus on hope despite politics in D.C. . . .

This year’s pro-life conference — with a focus on the virtue of hope — is shaping up to be one of the most memorable yet, organizers said.

“This is a particularly critical time because we know that we have the most pro-abortion president and congress in history,” said Peggy Hartshorn, chair of the Legatus Pro-Life Committee. “The influence of Legates has never been more important than it is now. It’s really important to become better educated on how we can use our influence at the national and local levels.”

Exciting speakers

The May 6-8 event, held at the Hilton Washington, features an impressive faculty that includes Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life; congressman John Boehner (R-OH), minority leader of the House of Representatives; Austin Ruse of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute; Eric Scheidler, Pro-Life Action League; pro-life motivational speaker David Bereit and Janet Morana of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign.

Kathleen Eaton, who operates pregnancy health clinics in California, is a member of Legatus’ Orange Coast Chapter. She expects the conference to recharge her.

“Pro-life is my life; it’s what I do 24/7 and I want to meet the Legates who feel like I do on this issue,” she explained. “It’s good to be with them and gain the strength to go back and keep moving forward, which is really hard.”

The Legatus conference also includes admission to the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast on May 8. This year’s lineup of speakers was not finalized at press time. President George W. Bush, who has spoken to attendees for the past several years, is not expected to address this year’s gathering.

New offerings

Conference organizers are hoping some new offerings will appeal to Legates who aren’t full-time pro-life advocates. Attendees will tour and have a private Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Catholic Church in the Americas. They are also scheduled to meet with Rep. Boehner, a pro-life Catholic congressman.

“We usually draw a group of people who are well-versed in pro-life,” said Laura Sacha, Legatus conference director. “They come to be with fellow pro-life advocates. But we also want to invite Legates who are not too familiar with pro-life work. We want to provide take-home value for them.”

Organizers have arranged for a panel discussion, bringing together pro-life leaders from different divisions of the movement — advocacy, legislative and prayer. Hartshorn, a Legate from Columbus, Ohio, and president of Heartbeat International, will moderate the panel.

“This is the first time we’re having a panel to discuss different aspects of the pro-life movement,” she explained. “We hope it will help Legates understand the aspects of the movement and better use their influence.

“Sometimes the movement seems confusing to people unless they’re insiders, but it has pretty clear divisions. Legates could be involved in one or more of these areas in their communities and at the national level. I’m excited about this panel.”

Despite the fact that pro-abortion forces have great influence in all three branches of the federal government, the battle to defend the most vulnerable among us — the unborn and the elderly — is not lost, Eaton said.

“I’m coming to the conference to get prayer, encouragement and support,” she explained. “We need to reach the hearts and minds of people of all faiths across the country with the message that we have not lost this battle.”

Patrick Novecosky is the editor of Legatus Magazine.