Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 15. That is the date of this year’s Bishops’ Pro Life Conference and it promises to be exceptional. This year’s keynote speaker is Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop Emeritus from the Archdiocese of New York.
Cardinal Egan was ordained a priest on December 15, 1957 after completing his seminary studies at the Pontifical North American College. He was consecrated a bishop on May 22, 1985, in the Basilica of Saints John and Paul in Rome. From 1985 to 1988 Cardinal Egan served as Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar for Education of the Archdiocese of New York. On November 8, 1988, Pope John Paul II appointed him to be the Third Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport.
On May 11, 2000, then Bishop Egan was appointed Archbishop of New York and on January 21, 2001, Pope John Paul II appointed him to the College of Cardinals. Among his numerous responsibilities, his Eminence served as a member of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities and the Pontifical Council of the Family.
This year’s conference will be a bit different from past conferences in that all activities will occur on Saturday, October 15. Past conferences have started on Friday evening with a banquet and continued on Saturday with a variety of speakers and topics.
The day will begin with Mass at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln. Cardinal Egan will preach the homily. The conference talks will begin after Mass and take place in a new venue, Cathedral School.
The topics and speakers for this year’s conference promise to be very engaging and educational. The first topic is the U.S. Bishops’ new statement on assisted suicide entitled "To Live Each Day with Dignity."
In light of renewed efforts by physician-assisted suicide (PAS) proponents to legalize the practice, this document exposes the false freedom and compassion used to sell the PAS agenda. And the document explains an "infinitely better way to address the needs of people with serious illnesses."
Father Christopher Kubat, who was a physician before becoming a priest, will present this topic. Father Kubat is currently director of Catholic Social Services for the Diocese of Lincoln. As a part of this presentation, I will give a short overview of the Church’s teaching on medical treatment decisionmaking and advance directives.
The second topic is "Conscience and the Catholic Voter" presented by Father Damien Cook. Father Cook is a priest of the Archdiocese of Omaha where he is pastor of St. Peter Church. Father also serves as Archdiocesan pro-life director. This topic is quite timely as we move into another presidential election cycle in 2012.
The next topic is "Discovering Hope and Love After an Adverse Prenatal Diagnosis." There seems to be an increase in pregnancies with serious fetal anomalies—or at least public attention to such pregnancies—so this topic is critically important. A panel of experts will address the medical, moral and hospice care options for parents facing an adverse prenatal diagnosis.
Finally, Patricia Bainbridge will bring to Lincoln her extensive experience and knowledge about Planned Parenthood in a talk entitled "Exposing and Opposing Planned Parenthood." Patricia is chairman of the board of Human Life International and recently retired as pro-life director for the Diocese of Rockford, Ill.
The day will conclude with a reception and banquet featuring Cardinal Egan and all three Bishops from Nebraska. The reception and banquet will be held at another new venue, the University of Nebraska East Campus Student Union. More information about the conference is available online at www.nebcathcon.org.
You can contact Greg at The Nebraska Catholic Conference, 215 Centennial Mall South Suite 310, Lincoln, NE 68508; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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