Most certainly, we all remember Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, who spoke at the 2006 dinner. Fr. Pavone explained how the same justification was used for slavery and the holocaust as is used today for abortion and euthenasia - that some are less than human and not worthy of life. He pointed out that our constitution cites the Creator as endowing humans with the right to life, and that it is the responsibility of government to secure those rights.

He talked about "survivors" of Roe v. Wade, those who were "wanted" by their mothers, those born since 1973. But Father Pavone points out that there is a difference between being "wanted" and being "welcomed". Being "wanted" is predicated on the desires and needs of another, while being "welcomed" assumes the baby's own intrinsic worth. The inevitable question is: "Who will be the next unwanted? Will it be the parents of this generation who, as they get older, live lives 'less than human' and 'not worth living' in the eyes of their children?"

In 2008, Bishop Daniel E. Flores called for a renewal of conscience in these trying times. The bishop closed his remarks with a call to “believers and non-believers alike, to work toward creating a renewed culture of life, …[one] that has a lively human conscience, and through it, teaches the generations after us that what is human is always worthy of human protection. In any way human, is human enough to be protected.

Our most recent speaker, Father John Riccardo, was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1996, after working for several years in the professional world. He has a Sacred License in Theology (STL) from The Pope John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family. He is pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth, Michigan. He can be heard on the radio at 990 AM from 11:00 AM - noon.

Fr. Riccardo gave us this image to make the number of lives lost more concrete:
The Viet Nam War Memorial is about 650 feet long. If a similar wall was built engraved with the names of U.S. victims of abortion since 1973, it would reach from Washington DC to Baltimore, MD and almost back again. At 1.2 million a year, these human beings would pack twelve MSU football stadiums.

Fr. Riccardo called on pro-lifers to do four things:

1. Arm yourself with the Truth.

2. Be gracious - many are legitimately confused.

3. Pray and fast (Wed. is his day of choice for fasting until dinner.)

4. Help people to realize that God is merciful to repentent sinners as the following examples illustrate:

Murderers, once they have turned back, have been given great tasks by the Lord:

Moses (Ex. 2) killed an Egyptian, but was called by God to lead a nation.
David commanded a soldier, Uriah, to the front lines, hoping he'd be killed in battle in order to have his wife (2 Sam). He was a great king of Israel.
Paul, who killed Christians then became a Christian. (Acts 9)
Lastly, Peter denied Christ only to be given the task to "feed my sheep" by Jesus. (John 21) Like us, Peter's fear caused him to deny Christ. Love restored the relationship.

Fr. Riccardo ended his talk with these final thoughts:

Hell defines us by what we do, but God loves us for who we are, His children, created in His image. And St. Teresa of Avila is famous for saying that with God we can...

"Begin again."