Pro-Life Speaker : Theresa Gilbert

I have some catching up to do on my recent speaking but that will have to wait as I hop off to another engagement this afternoon. Until then, here is a video I showed to some high school students yesterday for fetal development. I noted before that the heart starts beating by 3 weeks and by 5 weeks we already had brain waves plus little arms, legs and eyes forming – fascinating how quickly we all developed in our mother’s womb before she likely even knew we were there!

St. Thomas More Training

Over the past three days I have spent a part of my afternoon with two high school pro-life clubs providing apologetics training as they prepare to travel to the National March for Life. We cover many arguments for abortion and how to respond using questions and counter examples.

I also talk about the word “choice” so often used in this debate. I do consider myself pro-choice… yet, anti-choice when it comes to harming or killing another human being. Whenever we talk about “choice” we have to answer “Choose what?” If the choice is what ice cream to have or what school to attend I am definitely pro-choice – go for it! Your choice to eat vanilla ice cream over chocolate does not harm or kill anyone.

If the choice is whether or not to drink and drive, abuse someone or rape someone then I am most certainly anti-choice – the choice to drink and drive, abuse someone and rape someone is wrong.

In the abortion debate, then, we need to answer “Choose what?” What is abortion? Abortion is the intentional killing of an innocent human being. And until someone can prove to me otherwise, that choice is always wrong. The choice to give life and either parent or adopt – well, I am pro-those-choices.

Thank you to the students at St. Thomas More and Corpus Christi high schools for your time, thoughtful questions and responses. Most importantly, thank you for responding to the challenge to build a country that respects ALL human life from the moment of conception through to the end.

Are you going to the National March for Life? Perhaps joining one of the regional March for Life events? It’s quickly approaching – May 12th!

Visit the official website for information on the March, Rose Dinners, Youth Conference and prayer events throughout May 11, 12 and 13.

Join the Facebook group.

Involved with campus pro-life activism? Attend the National Campus Life Network dinner: Life & Justice: The 3rd Annual Campus Pro-Life Student Dinner!

A part of what I am able to offer is pro-life apologetics training, recently specifically for high school pro-life groups. This includes a powerpoint, workbook, discussions and follow up resources. I’ve done it in 4 parts or 2, depending on what the group wants.

Yesterday I finished a series with a lovely group of young ladies. In the beginning of each series I ask everyone to share their name, grade and finish the sentence “I am pro-life because…”. To help them a bit I offer some suggestions: Was it a particular fact you heard that made you pro-life? A story? An encounter?

Among the responses, an important and telling one is when a student shares that it was another student (usually there, too) who talked to them about pro-life and the issue of abortion. They joined the group and have become active as a result.

I think this really highlights what we, pro-lifers, are doing and need to do more of. We need to talk to people. We need to share our position. Articulate it well and listen respectfully to the other person. You never know where the conversation will lead and it might just result in another person becoming pro-life, or committing to more involvment for the cause.

A big thanks to the ladies at Christ the King in Georgetown for a great two days!

photo:  Lia Mills, with Rebecca Richmond, Director of NCLN, and Larissa Zantua, TRL staff member, cuts green ribbon inaugurating Student Life Link

Toronto, March 30th, 2011 – On Thursday March 24th, the Toronto Right to Life Association (TRL) and National Campus Life Network (NCLN) unveiled a new resource for high school pro-lifers in Canada.  This project, Student Life Link, is a network and resource for high school students to encourage the formation and development of pro-life high school clubs.

Student Life Link features a website containing resources, contacts, speaker suggestions and motivation for students and teachers to start pro-life clubs at their schools.  A Facebook page and group will enable students to share ideas, news, and connect with one another.

Lia Mills, who has garnered attention for her Youtube videos and powerful speaking ability, introduces the project on the new website and invites her peers to join in.  “Together we begin today to shape tomorrow, to build a pro-life Canada,” she says.  “It begins here and it begins now, with you, with me, and with our generation.”

“Young people need more than just the truth about abortion,” adds Rebecca Richmond, Executive Director of NCLN.  “We also need strategies and opportunities to get that message out to our peers and our society.  Getting involved is what builds us into pro-life leaders for not only the future of our country, but also the present.”

This project was inspired by an earlier collaboration between TRL and NCLN on a Student Club Manual for high school students.  Like the manual, modelled on NCLN’s university manual, Student Life Link also draws on NCLN’s expertise and resources from years of working with pro-life university groups and adapts them for the high school environment, an area of focus for TRL.

“Student Life Link will complement the current work and accomplishment of teachers, students, school boards, and local Right to Life organizations.” says Rebecca Richmond.  “Clubs need that local help and support.  What we’re trying to do is add a layer of support that is accessible to students through online media and which encourages collaboration and idea sharing among groups.”

“The tagline and motto of the project is A Pro-Life Canada Starts Here,” explains Paul Klotz, Executive Director of TRL.  “It sums up the growing optimism and confidence of our pro-life youth and we hope it will inspire these young men and women, through their involvement with a high school pro-life club, to choose, support and fight for fight in high school, in university and beyond.”

The project was launched on Thursday March 24th at the 2^nd Annual Student Leadership Conference, co-sponsored by TRL, the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s Respect for Life Committee, and the University of Toronto Students for Life.

For more information, visit the website at www.studentlifelink.ca or contact Paul Klotz at 416 483 7869 or Rebecca Richmond at 416 483 7869 (office), 416 388 0461 (cell).

Speaking March 24th

I had the honour of speaking at Toronto Right to Life’s 2nd Annual Respect for Life Student Leadership Conference on Thursday, March 24^th, at St. Michael’s College of the University of Toronto.  The event, co-sponsored by the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s “Respect for Life Week” Planning Committee, and the University of Toronto Students for Life, was attended by 237 high school students and teachers from schools across Toronto, including a few from Oshawa and Ajax, Ontario as well.  14 schools in all were represented.   The theme of this year’s conference was “Toward a Future for Life!”

It was a great opportunity to share the pro-life message with many interested students. Here are some of their responses to my presentation:

“I feel more equipped to defend the pro-life position. To show teenagers how much abortion is wrong.”

“I thought that it was an impacting presentation because it presented me with powerful and effective information, especially the videos and powerpoint.”

“Very inspirational and informative.”

“The part the impacted me the most is the video played showing body parts of aborted babies.”

“I feel that the whole presentation helped/impacted me in general because it made me understand a lot more about the issue and what we can do about it.”

“The video on the abortion procedure” helped/impacted me the most.

“The video. Seeing the raw images of what actually happens” helped/impacted me the most.

Thank you to Toronto Right to Life and all who helped make the day a great success!

Baby G at 9 weeks.

I am very pleased to share that my husband and I are expecting our first child in September!

This is an image of our little one at 9 weeks old – already their heart was beating since 21 days and nervous system well underway.

I’m looking forward to doing talks and training even more now, as being able to experience the gift of life growing within me adds a whole new dimension to the information I share through the presentations.

I have been active in the Pro-Life Movement for over 10 years, with a focus on campus pro-life activism. I have spoken to a variety of groups about:

- what it means to be pro-life,

- how to get involved,

- strategies for effective activism,

- defending the pro-life position, and

- starting and maintaining a pro-life group in a high school and on campus.

Presentations are: comprehensive, interactive and motivating.

Book me for: high schools, youth groups, campuses, churches and pro-life events. If you would like to book a presentation for your group or at your event please use the tab at the top “Book a Presentation”.

For Life,

Theresa Gilbert

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