Pro-life issues are at the heart of many social and political discussions. Particularly with the overturning of Roe V. Wade last year, there has been confusion and a need for pro-life support now more than ever.
Right to Life of Adams County seeks to educate the public on pro-life issues. While the group’s main focus is on abortion, attention is given to other pro-life issues such as euthanasia, infanticide, and embryonic stem cell research.
Lyn Schlipmann, a board treasurer and chair of the annual dinner, has been involved with the group for 20 years.
“The main goal of our ministry is to educate people about the pre-born and hope to make them believe that the pre-born are human beings deserving of the equal protection that any life has,” Lyn says.
The Right to Life ministry supports pro-life efforts all year long. During October, Respect Life month, the group holds two events. Firstly, the Life Chain takes place on the first Sunday in October. Individuals gather on the sidewalk of Broadway between 14th and 16th for an hour of silent prayer, holding signs in support of the pro-life movement. Later in the month, the ministry hosts the annual Respect Life Dinner, which features a presentation by an inspirational pro-life speaker. The speaker also presents at an all-school assembly at Quincy Notre Dame.
The group also sponsors a yearly bus trip to the March for Life in Springfield. The group puts messages on billboards and uses their website as well to educate about life issues. In addition, a poster and essay contest takes place each January in the schools during Sanctity of Life week, and a dogwood parade takes place each May.
Pro-life work is close to Lyn’s own heart and experience.
“My husband, Mike, and I have always been very pro-life,” she says. “In 2010, we had a granddaughter who was born at 24 weeks. We saw how perfectly developed she was and how defenseless she was at that stage.”
Life issues are an important part of our faith. Lyn emphasizes the need for Catholics to be involved in the pro-life movement, giving of their time, talent, and treasures to these essential efforts.
“Anyone who believes that God creates life at conception, could not deny that life deserves to be protected at all stages of development,” Lyn says. “We need to communicate that to our legislators and those who are not pro-life. We need to support our pregnancy centers that help pregnant mothers. Abortion is ending a life.”
There are various service opportunities throughout the year. For more information or to get involved, please visit rtlac.org or contact Lyn Schlipmann at 217-653-0075.