MCFL 50th anniversary convention 'Centered on Life'

By Tanya Connor
 The Catholic Free Press

WORCESTER – People at the Massachusetts Citizens for Life 50th anniversary convention were Democrats, Republicans and those with no party affiliation.  But they shared a conviction for the right to life.
The convention called “Left. Right. Centered on Life” was held Saturday at Assumption University.
In her welcome, Myrna Maloney Flynn, MCFL president, said the organization is celebrating 50 years and talking about celebrating life from all sides of the political spectrum.
“Something’s really wrong … if, as a global society, we can’t be centered on life,” she said.
The first speaker, Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life of America, said she’s been a Democrat her whole life, and wants to take the party back from those who are distorting it. She questioned what would happen to the party if she left it.
Democrats for Life is losing some members, but gaining new ones, and some remain members even after leaving the Democratic Party, she said. She said many people are becoming independents and that many Democrats are secretly pro-life.  
She told of asking a Democrat distributing literature in her state of Virginia, “Did you know abortion is legal up to nine months in Virgina?”
“He was shocked,” and said he would need to learn more. She told him where to get information.
“Next time you go to vote, talk to the Democrat who’s handing out the literature,” she told listeners.
She also suggested asking people, “Did you know that 75 percent of women seeking abortion are financially insecure? Do you think financially insecure women should have the same opportunity to parent?” She suggested using the term “financially insecure” instead of “poor” and talking about “equity pregnancy outcomes.”
“Women with resources have a choice and women without resources have abortion,” she said. She said abortion doesn’t fix poverty, make people equal, or address systemic racism, and black women are the most affected by abortion.
Democrats support low income and minority communities, but are trying to shut down pregnancy support centers, she said.
“If you’re paying for abortion, why not also support birth?” she asked.
“The Democrats are pushing death as a solution to poverty,” she said, when asked about physician-assisted suicide. She said the same argument can be used against that and abortion: wealthy people can get what they want.
She offered hope as she told of pro-life legislatures around the nation working to support pregnant mothers. At least 18 states have pro-life supermajorities, which means these legislators can override governors’ vetoes, she said.
Ms. Day told how she corrects misinformation she sees on Twitter. She encouraged listeners write letters to the editor, contact reporters who publish inaccurate reports, and have conversations with friends.
If pro-lifers keep love in their hearts, there is no reason they can’t have such conversations; if they don’t have conversations, they have given up, said Rep. Joseph D. McKenna, who represents the 18th Worcester District. A Republican from Webster, he has a bill to prohibit the use of state funds for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, a leading abortion provider, or for any of its affiliates.
Listeners applauded when he talked about another of his bills, which would allow taxpayers to indicate on their income tax returns that they do not want any of their income tax liability used for “abortion services.”
He spoke of being in the minority as a pro-life legislator and getting angry responses to his pro-life votes. There can be the temptation not to stick one’s neck out about legislation that will pass anyway, against one’s will, he said.
“I strongly believe in … voting your conviction,” he said.
It is necessary to push against government policies that devalue life, he said. Compassion, empathy and truth are needed. Too many people fear offending a mother in crisis.
“Find a place of compassionate agreement and build the conversation from there,” even if you don’t agree totally, he suggested. For example, people on different sides of the abortion issue might be able to agree that abortion should be prohibited once a baby’s heartbeat can be heard.
He suggested ways of backing into conversations about abortion. In a pro-choice crowd, one could ask, “No one here supports killing a baby after it is born, right? What about five minutes before it is born? … Where do you draw the line?”
Asked about contacting legislators, Rep. McKenna suggested personalizing one’s message with one’s own story and meeting with legislators in person.