By Carol Tobias, President
Editor’s NRL News Today provided extensive real-time coverage of the annual NRL Convention in New Orleans and much more since. NRLC President Carol Tobias graciously agreed to offer a few concluding thoughts for our readers.
I had the honor of opening the 45th annual National Right to Life Convention in New Orleans. Seated at the head table with me were Sharon Rodi, Louisiana Right to Life’s representative to the NRLC Board of Directors, Gregory Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans, Ben Clapper and Bill Watkins, executive director and president, respectively, of Louisiana Right to Life (LARTL), and George Delgado, M.D., our keynote speaker for that session.
Both Sharon and Archbishop Aymond welcomed us to New Orleans, with the Archbishop thanking the attendees for being voices for unborn children as well as the elderly and infirm.
Dr. Delgado spoke about his efforts to reverse the chemical abortion process (RU-486) after the first pill [mifepristone] has been taken and before the pregnant woman takes the second. How do Dr. Delgado and more than 300 physicians reverse the effects of mifepristone? They overwhelm the mifepristone by “flooding the system”—by giving extra progesterone — in the process reversing the effects of mifepristone about 60 percent of the time.
I heard so many positive, excited, uplifting comments about the first session that I, along with many others, wondered if it was possible to keep the momentum going throughout the rest of the convention. Thanks to diligent efforts and long-time planning by our convention staff and Louisiana Right to Life, the convention started on a high note and never wavered.
The Festival of Life, sponsored by LARTL, brought the fun spirit of New Orleans to the convention Thursday night. Friday morning presentations from four pro-life presidential candidates in person and two by video brought home the importance of next year’s elections. (Pro-life Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal spoke Thursday evening.)
The poignant stories from Miss Kay, Alan and Lisa Robertson of the “Duck Dynasty” at the Saturday morning prayer breakfast reminded us of the importance of family and how abortion can affect the family. John McCormack of The Weekly Standard brought the convention to a thoughtful and thought-provoking conclusion.
Along the way we hosted the 30th annual National Teens for Life convention and recognized college students who are working with us as interns or attending the five-week NRL Academy this summer. I had the privilege of giving Safieyatu “Safie” Lamin of Rhode Island the award for winning the 2015 Jane B. Thompson Oratory Contest.
I had a chance to visit with the teens as well as with attendees who have been in this battle for most of its duration. I am struck by the determination and self-sacrifice made by our champions who work to change hearts and minds year after year. I had the pleasure of encouraging their efforts by pointing out the young people who would keep the battle going for many years to come.
We owe a special debt of gratitude to convention director Jacki Ragan, her staff and many volunteers, and Louisiana Right to Life and its staff and volunteers. These were three wonderful days, well-spent in the company of wonderful pro-lifers.
I can’t imagine spending three days with a more amazing group of people. Right-to-lifers are dedicated to helping people they will never meet. Their steadfast spirit is filled with love for the weak and vulnerable. They do everything with joy in their hearts and smiles on their faces. Our convention next year is July 7-9 just outside Washington, DC.
I can’t wait to see everyone again. Bring a friend!