Denver Catholic

CATHOLIC LIFE I 3 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER I SEPTEMBER 18, 2013 ns,Gospel of Life Conference to focus on science, medicine and law BY JULIE FILBY New this year, Denver's Gospel of Life Conference will be combined with the annual conference of the Catholic Medical Association as well as the White Mass honoring medical professionals. It will be held Oct. 19 at St. Thomas More Church in Centennial. "The issues the Respect Life Office deals with the majority of the time are issues of science and medicine," explained Lynn Grandon, program director of Respect Life Resources of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver. "Our concerns are the same (as the Catholic Medical Association); our messages OLIC REGISTERare the same because of what's f Our happening in the culture." The conference themed "Honoring Humanity: The Bearly Sat-ginning and the End" will cover serious beginning-of-life n andtopics, as well as delicate endthe pil-of-life decision-making. Fea-by-onetured speakers will be Father nts andTad Pacholczyk, Ph.D., director he doorof education at the National edral. Catholic Bioethics Center; and super-Nikolas Nikas, president and chools,general counsel for the Bioeths goingics Defense Fund. al could Specifically Father Pacholnd thatczyk will discuss "Infertility and any dis-the Ethics of Assisted Reproducaily life.tive Technologies" and "Ethical we haveDecision-Making for Compros of themised Patients and Patients at us fromthe End of Life," he wrote in an us away GOSPEL OF LIFE CONFERENCE New this year: Combined with Denver Catholic Medical Association conference Date: Oct. 19 White Mass: 8:30 a.m., honoring health care professionals (wear white lab coats) Celebrant: Archbishop Samuel Aquila Conference: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Where: St. Thomas More Church, 8035 S. Quebec St., Centennial PHOTO PROVIDED THIS YEAR'S Gospel of Life Conference Oct. 19 "Honoring Humanity: The Beginning and the End" will be combined with Denver's Catholic Medical Association conference and the annual White Mass honoring medical professionals. email to the Denver Catholic Register. These are included among predominant life issues as they "affect those who are vulnerable and not able to speak on their own behalf or defend themselves," he wrote. Father Pacholczyk holds a doctorate in neuroscience from Yale University and completed post-doctoral work at Harvard University. At the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia, he is currently focused on the significant moral concerns raised by the HHS Mandate under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Nikas will explain, from a legal perspective, what has happened in the United States since abortion was legalized with the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade 40 years ago. "This will be a really poignant talk," Grandon said. "He is a legal expert, and I expect his talk will be very high energy. "They're the best in the whole nation," Grandon said of the two respected speakers. The conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the White Mass celebrated by Archbishop Samuel Aquila, who himself studied pre-medicine before responding to a call to the priesthood. The White Mass acknowledges the efforts of doctors, nurses Speakers: Father Tad Pacholczyk, Ph.D., National Catholic Bioethics Center; Nikolas Nikas, Bioethics Defense Fund Cost: $35 by Oct. 15, $40 at the door Register: www.ccdenver.org Questions: Call 303-742-0828 or email LGrandon@ccdenver.org and all health-care providers under the patronage of St. Luke, patron of physicians and surgeons, whose feast day is Oct. 18. All health care professionals and students are invited to wear white lab coats to the Mass. "We really want to honor these medical professionals that stand for Catholic ethics," Grandon said. "(They're at times) swimming against the tide." The cost of the Gospel of Life Conference is $35 before Oct. RESPECT LIFE MONTH October is Respect Life month as designated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Throughout the month, Catholics are called to renew their personal commitment to defend all human life through liturgies, prayer vigils and other events. Respect Life Sunday When: Oct. 6 Designated by: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops More info: www.usccb.org/ RespectLife 40 Days for Life What: Prayer and outreach to end abortion When: Sept. 25-Nov. 3 Vigil locations: Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, Greeley and Vail More info: www.40DaysForLife. com 15, or $40 at the door. Registration, which includes breakfast and lunch, is available online at www.ccdenver.org (see link in upper right corner). St. Thomas More Church is located at 8035 S. Quebec St. in Centennial. For more information, call 303742-0828 or email LGrandon@ ccdenver.org. Julie Filby: 303-715-3123; julie. filby@archden.org; www.twitter. com/DCRegisterJulie three thedral, d an op- Santorum talk to benefit crisis pregnancy center t to the nd Juan uncle)BY JULIE FILBY e, Page 5 The Denver Catholic Register recently spoke with Sen. Rick Santorum, a Catholic pro-life politician and candidate for the Republican nomination for president in 2012, during a visit to Colorado for the Care Net National Pregnancy Center Conference. Santorum, known for his record defending life while a Pennsylvania senator including sponsoring the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act in 2003 and Born Alive Infants Protection Act in 2002, talked about the importance of crisis pregnancy centers in the country. He will return to Colorado Oct. 4 to speak on the topic at an event at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland to benefit Life Choices, a network of pregnancy centers in northern Colorado. "For a long, long time the pro-life movement was characterized, I don't think rightfully so, as self-righteous moralizers condemning people for having abortions," he told the Register. "Crisis pregnancy centers show (women) God's love. They let them know 'we love you, we're going to support you … we'll be here to help you.'" In caring for mothers as well as children, he said, pregnancy support ministries have helped change the once-negative view some had of pro-lifers in the U.S. "In the last 10 years, you see less and less portrayal of the pro-life movement as angry people," he continued. "I think one of the reasons for that are the crisis pregnancy centers." Ministries of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver serving women in unplanned pregnancies include Lighthouse Women's Center that opened at 3894 Olive St. in Denver last October; and Gabriel House. Gabriel House has four locations in the archdiocese: Denver, Boulder, Aurora and Lakewood. Lighthouse is a licensed medical center that offers pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, medical care, counseling, A NIGHT FOR LIFE WITH RICK SANTORUM When: 7 p.m. Oct. 4 Where: Budweiser Event Center, 5290 Arena Circ., Loveland Tickets: $20, $50, $150 VIP dinner Purchase: www.budweiser eventscenter.com or call 1-877-544-8499 Proceeds benefit: Life Choices reproductive health care education and referrals to a network of resource agencies in the Denver area. Gabriel House is a network of volunteers that provide material, spiritual and emotional support to pregnant women and families. "Catholic Charities is really striving to create a Catholic continuum of care," said Lynn Grandon, executive director of Lighthouse. According to Santorum, there may be no ministry more important than supporting women in unplanned pregnancies. "I hope people support crisis pregnancy centers," he said, adding that it's as important of a ministry as there is for the Church. "Rick is a Catholic politician standing for life," said Grandon. "We know Rick understands life begins at conception; we stand with him and affirm that we should always be willing to stand behind centers that address the moral issues. "At Lighthouse, we love those girls not just during their crisis, but going forward as they monitor and care for their fertility." Santorum has seven children (and one deceased) with wife Karen, including daughter Bella. Bella, born with the genetic condition trisomy 21, was not expected to live beyond her first year. "She's doing fabulous!" he said of the now 5-year-old. Santorum is currently serving as the chief executive officer of Echo Light Studios, a company that produces and distributes films for families of faith. When asked if he was considering a run for the presidency in 2016, he responded: "I'm open to it, I'm praying about it to see where the Lord's leading me." Tickets for "A Night for Life with Rick Santorum" are available at www.budweiser eventscenter.com or by calling 1-877-544-8499. Father Rocco Porter, pastor of Blessed John XXIII University Parish in Fort Collins, will open the evening with comments and prayer. Tickets are $20, $50 or $150. Proceeds will benefit the five locations of Life Choices, as well as a new mobile ultrasound unit launched this summer. Julie Filby: 303-715-3123; julie.filby@archden.org; www. twitter.com/DCRegisterJulie

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