Major Pro-Life Event Coming to Raleigh in January
December 13, 2007
Christian Action League encourages its supporters not to miss this rally for life
Christian Action League of North Carolina, Inc.
By L.A. Williams
RALEIGH — Organizers of the Ninth Annual Prayer Breakfast for Life and the Rally and March for Life — all set for Jan. 12 — hope their events will inform, inspire and empower supporters while making a clear declaration to America.
"We want to send a strong message that North Carolina is a pro-life state," said Barbara Holt, president of North Carolina Right to Life. "This is the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and if we are going to change the culture, we need to stand up for life and be a voice."
She expects some 250 to 300 to attend the breakfast and hear from stem cell research expert Dr. David A. Prentice.
"Dr. Prentice has testified on the national and international level and is very knowledgeable. Given the fact that a bill regarding the funding of embryonic stem cell research just passed from the state House to the Senate during the last session, this is a very timely topic," Holt said.
A founding member of Do No Harm: The Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics and a Fellow of the Wilberforce Forum Council for Biotechnology Policy, Prentice has provided scientific advice for U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon and other members of Congress and the Administration.
"People need to understand what is at stake with this issue," Holt said. "I spoke to a Sunday school class and had a gentleman say that he had talked with his neighbor and stem cell research came up in the conversation. He said that although he knew that adult cell research was better then embryonic he felt inadequate to talk about it in an informed and intellectual way."
She said Prentice's talk will help pro-life supporters learn to do just that, so that they feel empowered to spread the word.
"We need people engaged one-on-one to help dispell the myth that embryonic stem cell research has to be done to cure disease," Holt added.
She also expects the hundreds who gather for the rally to be informed and inspired by Raimundo Rojas, director of Hispanic Outreach at the National Right to Life Committee, and Ashley Ahlquist, a former NRLC intern and a contestant in the Miss D.C. Pageant, among other speakers.
Rojas, who has worked with the NRL and the NRL Political Action Committee since 1991, is credited with leading the largest pro-life election literature drop in Florida history prior to the 2000 presidential election, one of the closest races ever.
Ahlquist served as the National Right to Life Medical Ethics Intern the summer of 2007 researching end of life health care issues and attending NRL Academy classes to learn more about the pro-life movement. As a candidate for the Miss District of Columbia pageant, her platform was "Providing Positive Solutions for Crisis Pregnancies," one of at least a couple of topics she said she'll talk about at the rally.
"I also was an intern the summer of 2006 for the Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life where I helped organize pro-life booths at county fairs," said Ahlquist, the daughter of Dale Ahlquist, president of the American Chesterton Society.
A senior politics major at the Catholic University of America, Ahlquist won't be the youngest at the podium. Hai-y Le, co-founder of a Students for Life Club at Olympic High School in Charlotte and the 2007 Hero for Life winner, will speak as will Caitlin Hunt, head of Warriors for Life at Fayetteville Christian School.
NC Right to Life's Charlene Wright said having high school and college age speakers energized the crowd at last year's rally and makes sense as the pro-life movement draws in younger supporters.
"We are so excited about young people taking a stand on their campuses," she said. "It's so encouraging to see people coming up in the pro-life ranks."
The youth involvement is especially significant since many of the 35,000 abortions in North Carolina last year were performed on college age women.
"We want to encourage the youth to come out so they can see that there are other people on the state and national levels speaking out for life," Holt said. "And we want to inform them of ways they can be involved and let them know how much they are appreciated. We're looking toward them to take over the fight for life."
Other rally speakers will include Bishop Michael F. Burbidge who will give the invocation, Bishop Peter J. Jugis, who will offer the benediction, and Pastor Brian Taule, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Charlotte.
Though an important and timely issue, stem cell research is just one of many that N.C. Right to Life is monitoring in the State Legislature and in Congress.
At least seven abortion related pro-life bills died in the last legislative session and can't be introduced again until 2009. Meanwhile, pro-lifers are calling on U.S. representatives to put a stop to a proposed federal law to nullify virtually all federal and state limitations on abortion.
Holt said several N.C. pro-life bills were successful, but Tar Heel lawmakers disappointed the movement by passing the Advanced Directives/ Health Care Power of Attorney bill, which does not protect the rights of individuals and families to receive life saving medical treatment, food and fluids.
"We're working now to work up information that will advise people how to protect themselves from involuntary euthanasia," Holt said.
NCRTL is also working to influence the culture through its Heart to Heart media campaign. Wright said abortion rates have dropped in areas where the campaign's television commercials have aired and funds are being raised to introduce them to new market areas.
Information on these and other pro-life issues and action alerts can be found at the NCRTL Web site, www.ncrtl.org as can further details on purchasing tickets for the Prayer Breakfast, set for 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Brownstone Hotel and Conference Center on Hillsborough Street. Cost is $25 per person, $40 per couple and $20 for students, clergy and seniors.
There is no charge for the Rally and March for Life, which will begin at 1 p.m. at Nash Square, the corner of Hargett and McDowell streets.
"This is a real family day event, with people of all ages, from seniors to babies in strollers," Holt said. "We encourage groups to come out and bring their banners for the march."
Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League said: "The sanctity of human life is the focal issue of our time. Justice is the God-given right of every person to life, liberty, and their property. If life isn't protected, there will be no justice — no guaranteed protection of one's liberty or property either. North Carolina's Right to Life event in January is one of the most important events in our state. Would to God every dedicated Christian makes it a priority to be there."
To find out more, call the NCRTL at 336-274-5433.
Take Action: Pass this story along to your favorites on your email list. Help us spread the word!!!! Share this story with your Sunday school class or place it in an accessible place in your church for people to pick up a copy. Share it with your pastor and ask him to announce it from the pulpit. Or have the time and place for this event published in your church bulletin or newsletter.
Christian Action League of North Carolina, Inc.
By L.A. Williams
RALEIGH — Organizers of the Ninth Annual Prayer Breakfast for Life and the Rally and March for Life — all set for Jan. 12 — hope their events will inform, inspire and empower supporters while making a clear declaration to America.
"We want to send a strong message that North Carolina is a pro-life state," said Barbara Holt, president of North Carolina Right to Life. "This is the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and if we are going to change the culture, we need to stand up for life and be a voice."
She expects some 250 to 300 to attend the breakfast and hear from stem cell research expert Dr. David A. Prentice.
"Dr. Prentice has testified on the national and international level and is very knowledgeable. Given the fact that a bill regarding the funding of embryonic stem cell research just passed from the state House to the Senate during the last session, this is a very timely topic," Holt said.
A founding member of Do No Harm: The Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics and a Fellow of the Wilberforce Forum Council for Biotechnology Policy, Prentice has provided scientific advice for U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon and other members of Congress and the Administration.
"People need to understand what is at stake with this issue," Holt said. "I spoke to a Sunday school class and had a gentleman say that he had talked with his neighbor and stem cell research came up in the conversation. He said that although he knew that adult cell research was better then embryonic he felt inadequate to talk about it in an informed and intellectual way."
She said Prentice's talk will help pro-life supporters learn to do just that, so that they feel empowered to spread the word.
"We need people engaged one-on-one to help dispell the myth that embryonic stem cell research has to be done to cure disease," Holt added.
She also expects the hundreds who gather for the rally to be informed and inspired by Raimundo Rojas, director of Hispanic Outreach at the National Right to Life Committee, and Ashley Ahlquist, a former NRLC intern and a contestant in the Miss D.C. Pageant, among other speakers.
Rojas, who has worked with the NRL and the NRL Political Action Committee since 1991, is credited with leading the largest pro-life election literature drop in Florida history prior to the 2000 presidential election, one of the closest races ever.
Ahlquist served as the National Right to Life Medical Ethics Intern the summer of 2007 researching end of life health care issues and attending NRL Academy classes to learn more about the pro-life movement. As a candidate for the Miss District of Columbia pageant, her platform was "Providing Positive Solutions for Crisis Pregnancies," one of at least a couple of topics she said she'll talk about at the rally.
"I also was an intern the summer of 2006 for the Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life where I helped organize pro-life booths at county fairs," said Ahlquist, the daughter of Dale Ahlquist, president of the American Chesterton Society.
A senior politics major at the Catholic University of America, Ahlquist won't be the youngest at the podium. Hai-y Le, co-founder of a Students for Life Club at Olympic High School in Charlotte and the 2007 Hero for Life winner, will speak as will Caitlin Hunt, head of Warriors for Life at Fayetteville Christian School.
NC Right to Life's Charlene Wright said having high school and college age speakers energized the crowd at last year's rally and makes sense as the pro-life movement draws in younger supporters.
"We are so excited about young people taking a stand on their campuses," she said. "It's so encouraging to see people coming up in the pro-life ranks."
The youth involvement is especially significant since many of the 35,000 abortions in North Carolina last year were performed on college age women.
"We want to encourage the youth to come out so they can see that there are other people on the state and national levels speaking out for life," Holt said. "And we want to inform them of ways they can be involved and let them know how much they are appreciated. We're looking toward them to take over the fight for life."
Other rally speakers will include Bishop Michael F. Burbidge who will give the invocation, Bishop Peter J. Jugis, who will offer the benediction, and Pastor Brian Taule, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Charlotte.
Though an important and timely issue, stem cell research is just one of many that N.C. Right to Life is monitoring in the State Legislature and in Congress.
At least seven abortion related pro-life bills died in the last legislative session and can't be introduced again until 2009. Meanwhile, pro-lifers are calling on U.S. representatives to put a stop to a proposed federal law to nullify virtually all federal and state limitations on abortion.
Holt said several N.C. pro-life bills were successful, but Tar Heel lawmakers disappointed the movement by passing the Advanced Directives/ Health Care Power of Attorney bill, which does not protect the rights of individuals and families to receive life saving medical treatment, food and fluids.
"We're working now to work up information that will advise people how to protect themselves from involuntary euthanasia," Holt said.
NCRTL is also working to influence the culture through its Heart to Heart media campaign. Wright said abortion rates have dropped in areas where the campaign's television commercials have aired and funds are being raised to introduce them to new market areas.
Information on these and other pro-life issues and action alerts can be found at the NCRTL Web site, www.ncrtl.org as can further details on purchasing tickets for the Prayer Breakfast, set for 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Brownstone Hotel and Conference Center on Hillsborough Street. Cost is $25 per person, $40 per couple and $20 for students, clergy and seniors.
There is no charge for the Rally and March for Life, which will begin at 1 p.m. at Nash Square, the corner of Hargett and McDowell streets.
"This is a real family day event, with people of all ages, from seniors to babies in strollers," Holt said. "We encourage groups to come out and bring their banners for the march."
Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League said: "The sanctity of human life is the focal issue of our time. Justice is the God-given right of every person to life, liberty, and their property. If life isn't protected, there will be no justice — no guaranteed protection of one's liberty or property either. North Carolina's Right to Life event in January is one of the most important events in our state. Would to God every dedicated Christian makes it a priority to be there."
To find out more, call the NCRTL at 336-274-5433.
Take Action: Pass this story along to your favorites on your email list. Help us spread the word!!!! Share this story with your Sunday school class or place it in an accessible place in your church for people to pick up a copy. Share it with your pastor and ask him to announce it from the pulpit. Or have the time and place for this event published in your church bulletin or newsletter.
