Dignity of human life highlight at 33rd annual Respect Life Convention

Printer-friendly versionSend to friend

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson was the keynote speaker at the 33rd annual archdiocesan Respect Life Convention, held Oct. 25 at the St. Charles Convention Center. Approximately 650 people attended the convention

This year’s archdiocesan Respect Life Convention was full of new elements — a new archbishop, a new director for the apostolate, a new venue and the naming of a new fund to help support a pregnant woman choosing life for her unborn child.

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson announced at the Oct. 25 convention the establishment of the Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Fund, which will provide parishes and other organizations the means to provide direct support to pregnant women in crisis both before the baby is born and after. The archbishop made a personal contribution of $1,000 to start the fund, which will be administered through the Respect Life Apostolate.

The archbishop acknowledged that there are numerous organizations already helping pregnant women in need. “We’re not going to take their place,” he stressed. “Rather than setting up something new, we’ll try to feed those people who already are doing it.”

Archbishop Carlson has created this fund in every diocese in which he’s served. He named it after Blessed Teresa because “she helped the poorest of the poor. And I think in our society today that includes the unborn.”