National Pro-Life Conference: Day 2 (Part 1)

So many things, so little time to blog about them all...

The second day of the conference began with the speech of Peter Ryan, the president of Campaign Life New Brunswick. He shared his experience of defending pro-life cause. He told us how his pleas to the media to cover over 6000 abortions performed at Morguentaller's abortuary were denied three times, until the word was finally out. Peter's wife, Susy Ryan was arrested about a year ago for holding the picture of an unborn baby outside of the abortion facility and was charged with display of obscene material...

Those charges were dropped. And that wasn't the only positive development for the pro-life movement in New Brunswick. Even the woman who used to be the head of "pro-choice New Brunswick" has since softened her position on fetal rights. A delegate from PEI put in his two cents by telling us about the long struggle and numerous efforts it took to get the right people on the hospital board, making PEI the first province to stop performing surgical abortions. By redoubling our efforts we may achieve the same here in New Brunswick.

Then Natalie Hudson let us know about the problems the young generation is facing today and shared her ideas on how to bring the youth to the culture of life. Natalie is certain that the youth of today is just as curious and open-hearted as their parents, seeking their place in the word and looking for answers to tough questions - just as their parents used to. Thus, working with the young generation shouldn't be any harder than working with their parents.

Natalie told us how the school fails the students. It concentrates more on career training, rather than the developing of mind. It denies the existence of absolute truth, thus denying young people the answers to tough questions. It teaches pragmatism, rather than knowledge, that's why happiness is often associated with material goods or sexual pleasure.

Thus the whole culture of death is based on fear. Fear of losing control. Fear of sacrifice. Fear of loss of "freedom" - including the fear of being "trapped" in an unwanted pregnancy. Natalie calls to address that fear with knowledge. Young people must have a vision that is greater than just their current situation. Student must be able to have answers to their questions; and the answers are there - in the arts, in the music, in the poetry and, yes, even in the religion, as it's is a contribution of 2000 years to draw from. Natalie concluded by saying that the battle against the culture of death is not merely to abolish abortion, but to educate young hearts.

Natalie's words were complemented by Steve Dempster, representing the Atlantic Baptist University. He talked a little more about the purpose of knowledge and how the intellectual abilities are often used to destroy. Steve mentioned that instead of knowledge which connects us with real world, students are often taught moral relativism which denies the reality. Since the universe was created with certain guidelines, following a theory that doesn't pass reality test means simply pushing yourself against reality. Those who claim that sexuality has no consequences or that life doesn't begin until birth are doing just that.