December 2008 Newsletter
Back to Main Newsletters PageIf you are anything like me, you have probably spent the last several weeks listening to the post-election news and analyzing what went wrong. Things certainly look pretty bleak. Our president-elect is arguably the most pro-abortion member of Congress; Washington state joined Oregon in legalizing physician-assisted suicide; California defeated a parental notification measure; Colorado rejected an amendment which would have acknowledged the personhood of an unborn human being; and many other pro-life issues and candidates were defeated in dozens of other states.
It's natural to feel a bit depressed at this point - and it's certainly not a matter of "poor sportsmanship." Real people are going to be egregiously harmed because of the results of these elections. But the elections revealed a truth about our mission that we've known for a long time - the law is only as strong as the culture. If the people who make up the culture embrace attitudes and ideals that minimize the intrinsic dignity of the human person, those attitudes and ideals will be reflected in the political arena.
Nowhere is the voice of pro-life people more desperately needed than in reshaping the lethal attitudes and ideals that have permeated the culture.
Long before election day, your team of cultural warriors at Healing the Culture went to work planning a major national conference to train pro-life leaders and activists how to convert hearts and minds. We strategically decided to hold this major event two days after the elections - both as a statement that our mission transcends the political landscape, and in recognition that, win or lose, pro-life leaders would need to regroup, renew, and restock.
We couldn't have been more on target. Hundreds of battle-weary delegates packed our conference hall from three countries and over a dozen states for two and a half days of training in our Life Principles curriculum. The response to the event was amazing. Below is an excerpt from one letter we received:
Thank you for all the very evident planning, prayer, and perseverance that went into the Healing the Culture conference this weekend. Some day you may know how much you affected hearts and minds beyond those in the chairs at the Hilton.
As someone who has been involved in parish pro-life activities for several years, I tend to think I can identify the problems. I want solutions! I want change! But...Fr. Spitzer is enunciating problems far deeper and more systemic than the ones I normally consider.
Thank you for providing such a stimulating but organized atmosphere so I could focus on the heavy lifting in my brain, and not worry about finding the room for the next session.
Having two Masses and a Prayer Service in two days was a beautiful sign that you know where the solution to our woes lies. But the rigorous philosophical underpinnings of every talk acknowledged that we must both think and pray our way out of the morass in which we find ourselves. Thank you for honoring our intelligence and initiative while gently reminding us Who gave us those gifts.
Could there have been a better antidote for a bad political week than being surrounded by warriors who know where the true victory will come from? There was nothing more important I could have done with this weekend than attend the Healing the Culture conference. Thank you all.
Here is a sampling of other comments we received in a thick stack of outstanding evaluation...
- I feel more strongly than ever about pro-life from conception to natural death.
- I'm excited and energized-not the way I started the weekend.
- I now have more pro-life beliefs than I had before.
- I received my call from God to care for and suffer with the dying.
- I've always helped the unborn, but I've been transformed to help all aspects of life from the moment of conception to death.
- I will see people in a different way and want to affect change in a different way as well.
- I now feel a real calling to give my life and career to the Gospel of life.
- The truth of the four levels of happiness has transformed my thinking.
- I have come away with more confidence to discuss my beliefs and get more personally involved.
- I feel as though I'm better equipped to have "water cooler discussions. I'm more likely to "say" something, rather than just shy away.
- I've gained a deeper commitment to not just advocate for laws, but to educate for real happiness.
- This made me even more convicted about pro-life.
- I'm new to the pro-life movement and excited to see how God will use what I learned.
- I learned so much; everyone in the whole pro-life community should get these trainings!
- This encouraged me to speak up.
- I purchased material that will help me start a respect for life ministry at my parish.
- I learned the basics that will equip me to spread the message to our ecclesial community.
- I learned how to discuss life issues with others outside of a theological perspective.
- I gained knowledge and was exposed to resources that will aid in discussions with the opposition!
- This brought back worth, dignity, and meaning to my own life.
- I have never been so inspired to pray, act, and love in response to the challenges of our culture. This was the antidote to my discouragement.
- The talks moved my heart and had a true impact on my life.
- This is a program that every pro-lifer must know by heart if she/he wants to defend life.
Friends, the work we are doing to educate and train this movement's best and brightest members is invaluable. Thank you for being committed to the ongoing success of Healing the Culture. I know you are aware that every donation you make to our organization is a long-term investment in our mission to build a culture of life. Please continue to support our work with a donation today! God bless you.
Camille Pauley
President
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