Recent conference reflected on life issues

    With our nation buzzing with talk of a “war on women” and debating health care, abortion and end-of-life issues during the recent election, Louisiana Right to Life wanted to inspire people to be an effective voice for life after the election, and devised the Beyond the Vote Conference in late October.
    “With over 8,000 abortions happening every year in Louisiana alone, among other offenses against life, the public needs every opportunity to become engaged and educated on life issues,” Benjamin Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life, said.
    Approximately 200 Louisianians gathered in Lafayette for Beyond the Vote Conference, a full day of speakers and hands-on workshops aimed to raise awareness of the pro-life movement.
    Father Shenan Boquet, president of Human Life International, kicked off the event with a Life Social. He spoke on the state of life issues around the globe.
    “The United States has always been a beacon of light for the world, and once we restore the right to life back to the unborn, many nations are likely to follow us,” he said.
    The conference also included a medical ethics panel with Ryan Verret, director of the Louisiana Right to Life Center for Medical Ethics; and Mary Kellet, founder of Prenatal Partners for Life. The duo spoke on raising children with special needs, coping with a negative prenatal diagnosis, assisted suicide and health care rationing. 
    Another conference segment had training on sidewalk counseling with Yvette Fouchi, coordinator of the Louisiana Right to Life Sidewalk Counseling Ministry.
    “It is our goal to inspire as many people as possible to be the face of compassion and love on the sidewalk of abortion facilities and to shed light into the darkness,” Fouchi said.
     Representatives from the Sisters of Life from New York City spoke about their ministry.
    “The Sisters of Life exude a beautiful passion to serve Christ and his people, particularly women and their unborn children,” New Orleanian Margaret Johnson said.
    Other speakers included Dorinda Bordlee, Bioethics Defense Fund; Bob Winn, founder of Louisiana Right to Life; Dale Hoffpauir and Kathleen Benfield, Louisiana Family Forum; Kelly Boggs, Louisiana Baptist Convention; and U.S. Congressman John Fleming.
    The conference also had a track for high school and college students with workshops from Students for Life of America and Cody Reed of Louisiana Right to Life.
     “The student workshops really motivated me to get my pro-life group to be more active,” Mark Pelleteri, native New Orleanian and Louisiana Tech student, said
    Lila Rose, founder of Live Action, gave the keynote address, “Loving the Culture of Life.” She founded Live Action as a teen and has exposed Planned Parenthood aiding sex traffickers, covering up sexual abuse and promoting sex selective abortion.
    She said Live Action’s work had led to the first defunding of Planned Parenthood by the House of Representatives.
    “The real war on women is happening in abortion facilities across the U.S. as women are being told the lie of abortion,” she said. “We must bring real hope to these women and their children.”
    “I definitely feel challenged and called to spread the Gospel of Life after attending Beyond the Vote.” attendee Christina Girau said.
    Louisiana Right to Life plans future conferences.
    Kacie Hampton can be reached a [email protected].