by Katie Patrick
It didn’t take long for my coffee to go cold as I’d forgotten about it while I recently sat across the table from Shirley Lang, listening to her talk about the early days of Nebraska Right to Life.
Our conversation started off by listening to her remember the day when the Supreme Court, a body of government whose job it was to interpret law (as she reminded me), had instead created law in its decision of Roe v. Wade – a law that many people across the country, including Shirley, were horrified at.
In the beginning, it was her disbelief that seven judges should think and act in a way that Americans couldn’t fathom, but as time went on she found herself confronting professors, medical professionals, and young people who thought otherwise – and attacked her for it. But that didn’t stop her. For more than 30 years, she answered God’s call and fought for the lives of women and their unborn children.
Join Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska for our Celebration of Hope event as we present Shirley Lang with the Heart of Christ award on Saturday, March 11, at Embassy Suites in Lincoln. You’ll enjoy food, fellowship, live Irish music, a panel conversation focusing on the Catholic response to the global refugee crisis featuring members of the Ukranian and Afghan community, and a program highlighting the work of CSS this past year.
During the refugee panel, you will hear about how we are assisting refugees who have arrived in Nebraska and what you can do to help. Today, there are 100 million people either displaced within their home country or who have fled to other countries due to conflict or natural disaster. That is a 35% increase in just five years. Pope Pius XII in Exsul Familia states, “Indeed, there never has been a period during which the Church has not been active on behalf of migrants, exiles and refugees.”
Come and learn more about how we, as Catholics, can help those who have been affected. Make your reservation at csshope.org by March 6 for Catholic Social Services Celebration of Hope. We look forward to welcoming you!
