Saturday, September 16, was the first time the New York State Right to Life Convention was held in Yonkers, and it was an auspicious beginning for an event we plan to see more of in our area. The Royal Regency Hotel on Tuckahoe Road was an ideal location - convenient, comfortable and efficiently appointed. Great organizers (with special thanks to Alan Mehldau and his committee), great weather and easy accessibility off the NYS Thruway translated to an excellent attendance of approximately 300, including at least 40 students. The hotel's relaxed ambiance set the stage for a day's worth of great pro-life speakers who did not disappoint and offered a timely meet, greet and network experience for all.
Students were much in evidence at the Convention.
Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr., champion for the unborn from the 32nd Senate District in the South Bronx, opened the day with prayers and words of encouragement to the gathered crowd. He is one of three pro-life Democrats in the NY State Senate, and he pointed out that he was the only pro-life State Senator from the five boroughs.
State Senator Ruben Diaz with Shannon Fitch, daughter of Chritine Fadden Fitch.
The very first chairman of New York State Right to Life, Ed Golden, spoke first and reflected on 40 years of fortitude beginning with the earliest times in the movement's history: it all started with only seven dedicated men.
Wesley J. Smith, Esq., author, attorney and member of the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide gave the first of his two comprehensive presentations highlighting his bioethics perspectives on stem cell research and cloning, euthanasia and assisted suicide, and the value of human life. He has authored numerous books and many of his articles can be read on his website www.wesleyjsmith.com, linked here and we will continue to display on LifeNet's journal page.
Bioethicist and attorney Wesley J. Smith
Dr. Paul Byrne, Director of Pediatrics and Neonatology at St. Charles Mercy Hospital and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics a the Medical University of Ohio in Toledo, Ohio, also presented two informative sessions on the human person's intrinsic worth, "brain death", and the moral and medical ethics of organ and tissue transplantation. Dr. Byrne's Power Point presentations were detailed and challenging on every level.
Dr. Byrne is pictured below with Maryknoll Father Paul O'Brien, M.M. Fr. Paul served for many years in La Paz, Bolivia, and gave the Convention's luncheon prayer. Fr. O'Brien is an active pro-life speaker who, with permission of local parish priests, offers Ignatian-style mini-retreats or home prayer groups with Mass and confessions. Contact him at Maryknoll in Ossining at 914-941-7590-X2745 for more details and individualized programs.
The most emotionally powerful presentations were the two personal witness talks by Julie Makimaa and Theresa Bonopartis. Julie spoke on "The Face of the 'Rape Exception'". Julie, adopted from birth, was reunited with her birth mother and learned that her mother had been raped as a teenager. Julie told with gentleness and firmness of faith the rarely-told story of a beautiful life that resulted from the unseemly violence of rape. She shared her and her family's personal journey, the celebration of the fullness of her life, and her first-hand view of the preciousness of every life. She confronted the "rape exception" with great dignity. She spoke of the decision for the birth of the child as a compassionate and healing experience for the victim of rape, as well as a too-rare life-gift for the innocent child of rape.
Julie Makimaa (pictured below) gave a powerful personal talk on the rape exception. She is founder of Sparrow Resources, an organization dedicated to defending women who have become pregnant through sexual assault and children conceived in rape and incest. All politicians who struggle to understand the "no exceptions" position on this issue should contact Julie. The dialogue would be enlightening.
Theresa Bonopartis, whose speaking engagements are rightly in demand, is Director of Lumina, Good Counsel Home's post-abortion healing and referral service for women and men. Theresa's moving account of her personal anguish after aborting a son (named Joshua) when she was just a teenager, and her and her family's lifelong journey to healing and recovery was a unique and moving experience for audience members at day's end. Theresa conducts healing retreats through the co-authored healing ministry "Entering Canaan" with the Sisters of Life of the Archdiocese of New York. Their manual was published for distribution by the United Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2004 and is available to all. Theresa's website www.postabortionhelp.org is filled with great information and resources for the post-abortive. Call 877-lumina1 or e-mail Theresa personally at [email protected] to schedule educational talks at your schools this coming year - you will not be disappointed.
Theresa Bonopartis
Johanna Cervellino is Co-chair of the Committee to Challenge Planned Parenthood and she is also a crisis pregnancy counselor. She talked about her group's challenging efforts and successes in Suffolk County fighting the incessant inroads of Planned Parenthood in our schools. A retired teacher, she is Chairperson of the Educational Committee of the Long Island Coalition for Life.
Barbara Meara spoke on the New York State Right to Life PAC efforts, and Jerome B. Higgins and Arthur Lange on lobbying tips for trips to Albany. Christina Fadden Fitch rallyed the audience as she spoke with great determination and drive on the current legislative news - good and bad.
Lori Kehoe, Director, introduced the day's awardees including Gertrude Keogh (Terence Cardinal Cooke Award), Pam Mehldau (NYSRTL William and Catherine Murphy Memorial Award), Michaelena "Mickey" Palmieri (NYSRTL Committee Award), Patricia Hatcher (NYSRTL Service Award), Wendy Sanders (Dedicated Service Award), Wendell Neugebauer (NYSRTL Volunteer Award), and James N. Tedisco, Minority Leader New York State Assembly and winner of the NYSRTL Outstanding Legislator Award.
Gertrude Keogh, former head of NYS Right to Life Committee, and Al Mehldau, a current board member and Convention '06 organizer.
Theresa chats up Sister Lucy of the Sisters of life - who appears to be very hungry!
Elizabeth Rex of The Children First Foundation and Linda Levirne of the Northern Westchester & Putnam Center for Life network below between talks.
Former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer spent several hours at the Convention. He is the Republican and Conservative Parties' nominee for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Hillary Clinton, and is quite aware of the daunting task he has in trying to defeat her very well-financed campaign. He is 100% pro-life and worthy of every pro-lifer's vote and support during the next seven weeks of campaigning. Vote Spencer for Senate on November 7th!
I as so sorry to have missed the Convention. I especially wanted to hear the story of the child of rape. Was it taped?
Posted by: Carolyn Giordano | September 24, 2006 at 05:06 PM
Julie Makimaa's presentation on "a child of rape" was not taped to my knowledge, but you can reach her through Sparrow Resources. They may have a talk on tape. You might want to contact the NYSRTL Committee at 518-434-1293 for more information. Hope to see you next time!
Posted by: Judy Anderson | September 25, 2006 at 04:35 PM
I was at your convention and am so grateful to be apart of this wonderful Culture For Life. The incredible energy in that room from all the speakers gave us such great HOPE. Thank you , Thank you, and Thank you. God Bless You Wonderful People!!
Posted by: Eileen Peterson | September 27, 2006 at 11:14 PM