Supreme access

Members connect with lawmakers, Justice Scalia, President Bush, Holy Father

Very few can say they’ve been to the nation’s capital and gained access to some of the world’s most influential individuals.

Yet, more than 50 Legatus members and guests from Canada and the United States met with pro-life congressmen and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia during the annual Legatus pro-life conference in Washington, D.C., from April 16-18.

Dozens of Legatus members were among the 13,500 strong gathered on the White House South Lawn on April 16 as President George W. Bush welcomed Pope Benedict XVI to America — and celebrated the Pontiff’s 81st birthday.

Dr. John Willke, a member of the Cincinnati Chapter and founder of the Life Issues Institute, has attended every Legatus pro-life conference since the first one in 2001. The conference’s timing—coinciding with the papal visit and the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast—was brilliant, he said.

“What struck me was the relationship between the Holy Father and President Bush on the White House lawn,” he said. “The way Bush looked at him; the Pope was very comfortable with Bush. These are not just two heads of state formally standing before the public. These are friends.”

The Pro-Life Conference officially kicked off with a private 30-minute visit with Justice Scalia at the U.S. Supreme Court a few hours after the White House ceremony. Scalia gave a brief introduction before answering a few queries from members, including a question about the likelihood that Roe v. Wade would soon be overturned.

Scalia said he doubts we’ll see a reversal of the decision in the short-term, but that it would certainly be overturned one day.

“Our time with Scalia was a real privilege,” Willke said. “Here’s a guy who’s been on the bench for more than 20 years. He was like the guy next door!”

The conference also included addresses from theology of the body expert Christopher West, pro-life congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), a reception with Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and a meeting with a number of pro-life members of the House of Representatives.

“I enjoyed meeting with the pro-life political leaders,” said Alan Arnold, a member of the Orange County Chapter who was attending his first Legatus Pro-Life Conference with his wife Jeannine. “I gained a better understanding of their commitment and their challenges.”

Tim Flanagan of the Philadelphia Chapter agreed.

“It was amazing to hear from the pro-life congressmen,” he explained. “They were very passionate and sincere.”

Conference delegates — along with more than 45,000 faithful — attended the papal Mass at Nationals Park in Washington on April 17.

“I noticed that the Holy Father was sincerely delighted at the reception he received,” Willke said. “He had some very gracious and complimentary things to say about the U.S.”

The Legatus conference wrapped up with members attending the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast on April 18. Bishop Robert Finn of the Kansas City-Saint Joseph Diocese delivered the keynote address on the Holy Father’s visit to America.

President Bush also paid tribute to the Holy Father, calling him a humble servant of God, a brilliant professor, and a warm and generous soul, as he addressed the enthusiastic crowd of 2,000 at the Washington Hilton.

“His Holiness believes that freedom is the Almighty’s gift to every man, woman and child on Earth,” Bush said during his 17- minute speech. “He understands that every person has value, or to use his words, ‘each of us is willed, each of us is loved, [and] each of us is necessary.’”

The prayer breakfast was the perfect end to the conference, Flanagan said.

“It’s always good to be with Legatus members and be renewed in our faith and the Church,” he said.

Arnold agreed that it was an unforgettable gathering.

“I was amazed at the caliber of people who attended and the caliber of people we had access to: a Supreme Court justice, a senator, congressmen, the president and the Pope. It just doesn’t get any better than that,” he said.

Patrick Novecosky is the editor of Legatus Magazine.