Right to Life gala emphasizes education, unity and service
John Keenan, Right to Life Idaho’s interim president, delivering opening remarks at the 2024 gala on June 26. (Courtesy photo/Mark Miranda)
By Steve Green
for the ICR
“There is great hope . . . God called us. He made the stars; He made us. We need to face reality and work to change hearts through God’s grace,” said John Keenan, Right to Life
(RTL) Idaho’s interim president, while speaking to the nearly 150 attendees gathered at the 2024 Right to Life Idaho Gala held at the Galaxy Event Center in Meridian on Wednesday, June 26.
Keenan said, “There is a need for change, both naturally and supernaturally.”
The gala coincided with the second anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade and returned control of abortion legislation to each state. Father Dennis Day, a retired priest of the Diocese of Boise and longtime pro-life advocate, provided the event’s opening prayer.
Keenan explained that although Idaho passed the “Heartbeat Bill” in 2022, there is more work to be done, saying that one of the goals of RTL is to educate people about the fight for the rights of all people, both born and unborn. Keenan called attention to abortion rights activists who argue that abortion is a matter of reproductive health care, asking how the life of a child in the womb can be ended under the label of health care.
Lisa Stover, another board member of RTL Idaho (recently crowned Mrs. Idaho), addressed those at the Gala, saying, “We must be prepared to have this [pro-life] conversation with people. We cannot be afraid to announce our stance publicly.”
When asked why events like this gala are important, Stover answered, “These events show that the pro-life movement is still needed here in Idaho. Life is still valuable in this state, and people want to know what to do to help, so coming together is important.”
The gala’s keynote speaker was Adam Schwend, Western Regional Director of State Affairs for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. In this role, he works closely with many states and their legislators to promote the protection of the unborn. Schwend said the pro-life movement should celebrate triumphs: the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the resulting trigger laws in five states, over 1,500 lives saved in Idaho because of lifesaving laws, and 2,750 pregnancy-help organizations across all 50 states that have provided more than 16 million client sessions.
“People need to be part of the solution,” Schwend said as he provided three practical action points that can be accomplished now:
Unite as a pro-life movement. There are many organizations that have different missions but the same end goal. “Despite being different, the movement as a whole cannot afford pettiness to prevent unification,” Schwend said. “After all, the opposition is already united.”
Identify leaders within the community who are willing to fight for life.
Identify donors. “There is no federal money coming to this movement,” Schwend noted. “We need to find pro-life donors who are willing to give generously.”
Schwend explained that pro-life Idahoans should not be discouraged by the slow pace of progress because there is hope for change.
“We shouldn’t expect to reverse this culture in 24 months.”
During his keynote speech, Schwend highlighted three ways everyone can help the pro-life movement: with time, talent and treasure.
He challenged pro-life Idahoans to volunteer their time by reaching out to a pregnancy center or pro-life organization and asking how they can help. Schwend explained that identifying talent involves asking yourself, “What am I good at?” and finding ways to apply that talent to saving lives and helping mothers and pregnant women. “Perhaps you are a doctor or nurse . . . the movement needs you,” said Schwend.
He challenged pro-life Idahoans to be generous with their treasure, donating what they can. He noted the pro-life movement does not have deep pockets and often competes with abortion rights groups that are well-funded.
Schwend’s final message was, “Keep Idaho a pro-life state.” He explained that Idaho’s life-saving legislation and legal protections can be lost if Idahoans are not vigilant and active. He noted that he had already witnessed such legislative regressions in other states. Schwend said voting is a right, but informed voting is a responsibility, and he challenged the gala attendees to stay informed about ballot measures and candidate positions.
John Keenan, Right to Life Idaho’s interim president, echoed Schwend’s remarks: “The culture accepts the death of the unborn, so we need to help people step up and show them how to get involved.” Lisa Stover offered a similar message: “Look for ways to get involved and work together to protect both mom and baby. We must not lose hope but be encouraged . . . Life in Idaho can and must be protected at all stages.”
For more information about Right to Life Idaho, visit rtli.org, which describes RTL Idaho as a non-profit organization run by volunteers “dedicated to defending the most vulnerable in our society. [They] advocate for the unborn, disabled and elderly through education and legislation.”
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