by Dennis Kellogg
Director of Communications
Those attending the Nebraska Right to Life’s Walk for Life Gala heard updates from pro-life and political leaders, and an inspiring message from a woman who survived an abortion.
Approximately 500 people attended the event Jan. 26 at the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel in Lincoln.
In remarks to those gathered for the event, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts reiterated a theme he emphasized often during his time as governor:
“Nebraska is a pro-life state.”
“Nebraska is what America is supposed to be. We have a role to lead the nation on this issue,” Senator Ricketts said.
He urged pro-life supporters to pray and work together this year to defeat an effort to place a right to abortion in the state’s constitution. He said the “real fight is going to be here in Nebraska this year,” and added, “God is on our side.”
Ricketts was joined at the Gala by Rep. Mike Flood and Rep. Adrian Smith from Nebraska’s congressional delegation. A number of state senators, state office holders and board members were also in attendance.
Nebraska Right to Life Executive Director Sandy Danek called 2024 a “pivotal year” for the state.
“In past (presidential election years) we’ve said, ‘This year is the most important election ever.’ Often it feels that way, but this one is indeed that because of this ballot initiative,” Danek said. “This is serious. It could eliminate protective laws already in place.”
Danek called the proposed amendment vague and encouraged all voters to “pick it apart.”
“You’ve got to read between the lines,” she said. “You’ve got to know the truth.”
She noted the measure allows an abortionist to determine the viability of a baby in the womb and said allowing an abortion after viability for “health reasons” could cover anything from a woman’s age to her financial status.
The keynote speaker for the evening was Melissa Ohden, who survived a saline abortion and went on to found the Abortion Survivors Network. She is the author of the new book “Abortion Survivors Break Their Silence.”
Ohden shared her remarkable story of being “accidentally born alive.” Her prognosis to live after surviving her abortion was poor. She said she forgave her birth parents. About a decade ago, she discovered her birth mother lives in Kansas City, where Ohden now lives. The two talked for several years before meeting for the first time in 2016. Ohden’s birth mother is now a part of her life.
Ohden used her own story to encourage Nebraska pro-life supporters in their fight against the effort to enshrine a right to abortion in the state constitution.
“When the battle seems hard and you are giving it your all, I want you to have hope,” Ohden said. “God is doing infinitely more than we could ever imagine… Just know you are not fighting alone.”
The Walk for Life Gala also included the presentation of the Light for Life Award to longtime Nebraska Right to Life volunteer Shirley Lang and the Julie Schmidt-Albin Leadership Award to pro-life State Senator Joni Albrecht.
A panel of pro-life experts answered questions about current efforts to restrict abortion. Panel members were Bud Synhorst of Nebraska Right to Life; Dr. Elana Kraus, maternal-fetal medicine specialist; and Jason Kirsh of the Nebraska Christian Leaders Forum.
Father Timothy Danek, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Auburn, served as the emcee for the night. The Walk for Life Gala was held the night before the annual pro-life Mass at St. Mary Church and the Walk for Life from the State Capitol to the student union on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Watch a video of Melissa Ohden’s entire presentation from the 2024 Walk for Life Gala in Lincoln on our Catholic Diocese of Lincoln YouTube channel.
