By Mary Claire Gart
ASSISTANT EDITOR

Strategies for reacting to the tactics of the abortion rights movement were the focus of several speakers at Speak Out Illinois 2001, which drew several hundred pro-life advocates to its 10th annual conference Jan. 13.

Cristina Benavides takes part in a memorial service Jan. 13 for 41 million unborn babies killed since Roe vs. Wade. CNW/Dorothy Perry

Dr. J. C. Wilke, who was honored with the Life Leadership Award at the conference, said the pro-life movement should stress its compassion, pointing out that much of their effort is spent in pregnancy help centers and that 80 percent in the movement “are women and they’re helping women.”

Asking his audience never to refer to abortion rights activists as “pro-choice,” he suggested they say, “It’s time to stop killing babies during delivery. You know that’s what partial birth abortion is.”

“You won’t hear much about a woman’s choice to kill a baby at seven months,” he said.

In his opening remarks, Cardinal George said the pro-life movement can learn from the patience and persistence of the abortion rights activists who had worked for decades before Roe vs. Wade. “If they can do it, so can we,” he said. “We cannot afford the luxury of giving in, even if we succeed only in incremental steps.”

Another encouraging sign he noted is the greying of the abortion movement ranks. On the other hand, “Anyone at the March for Life will be astonished at the number of the young people there.”

While pro-lifers can’t match the other side’s access to the media and funding, the cardinal said fewer women are seeking abortions and this decline is having an impact on the industry.