Long-time activist urges continuing pro-life efforts

By PAT PASTERNAK- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Why is it important to have a right-to-life movement in the U.S. today?

Dr. Mildred Jefferson, one of the founding members of the national pro-life movement, will offer some answers at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m.

In 1970, Dr. Jefferson fought the American Medical Association's Abortion Resolution, and led a group of teachers, lawyers and nurses to set up Massachusetts Citizens for Life. She was later elected president of the National Right to Life Committee.

Living the Gospel

Dr. Jefferson, the first black female graduate of Harvard Medical School, believes that in attempting to live the Gospel message, people enter into covenant with God and one another. This covenant is based on the Judeo-Christian moral tradition. She also believes that within society, there is a concentrated drive to secularize all aspects of human life.

"This drive breaks down our covenant with God and with each other, destroying respect for the individual and the family -- and that includes our unborn children," she told The Evangelist. "We cannot assign to any individual, institution or government the right to kill."

Dr. Jefferson believes that the pro-life movement is "second only to the abolitionist movement in the profound change it has brought about in American thinking."

Education needed

Referring to government bureaucracy and federally funded assistance programs which she feels only feed the system and keep the poor and helpless where they are, she indicated that education is the key to breaking the cycle of dependence upon governmental agencies.

Dr. Jefferson hopes her talk will encourage a healthy discussion of pro-life issues among those of different beliefs. The discussion of conflicting ideas, she noted, can often make profound changes in the way person views important issues.

The Capital Region Pro-Life Council will sponsor Dr. Jefferson's visit. Its main focus is education on all life issues. The group provides information to the general public, particularly to women who may be faced with untimely or problem pregnancies. They also advocate for unborn children, newborn infants, the elderly, medically dependent persons, the mentally handicapped and the physically disabled.

(For information about Dr. Jefferson's presentation, contact Mary Dooley at 463-7575, or Eileen Sullivan at 482-6992.)

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