Many well-known international and local speakers addressed Human Life International’s Conference on a wide variety of life issues. This set of DVD recording of their talks is well worth owning. It contains more than eight hours of the best pro-life, pro-family speakers and is an excellent resource for parishes, or for anyone who is interested in learning more about God’s great gifts to us of LOVE, LIFE and FAMILY.
Program 1:
Mgr Philip Reilly: Saving Mothers and Babies through Sidewalk Counselling
Monsignor Reilly has been involved in the Pro-life movement in America for 39 years. He is the founder of The Helpers of God’s Precious Infants, an apostolate of prayer and counselling outside abortion sites. His approach has been embraced in The USA and around the world and has closed many abortion clinics and saved countless babies and is supported by Bishops and Cardinals internationally. Msgr. Reilly describes the Helpers methods of ‘taking God seriously’, and the importance of being physically present at abortion sites – modern day Calvary’s, where innocent life is taken, as Mary and John were, at the foot of the Cross in a prayerful and peaceful way. This is a truly moving and inspiring talk.
Program 2:
Bishop Hugh Slattery, MSC : HIV/AIDS : A call to action - responding as Christians
An Irish Missionary of the Sacred Heart and Bishop of the Diocese of Tzaneen, Bishop Hugh Slattery gives practical and solid examples of how we should respond to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. He highlights the root of the problems as well as hopeful and helpful solutions – solutions found in the teachings of the Church. Bishop Slattery highlights the renewal of Family life as a solution to the culture of death.
Fr Andrew Cox: Papal Authority: Conscience and Dissent
Fr Andrew Cox, Vice Rector of St Francis Xavier Seminary in Cape Town gives a thorough overview of the authority of the Magisterium of the Church, specifically related to issues of Conscience and dissent. Fr Andrew gives a lucid and rational explanation of the basis for the Church’s teaching authority and rebuts the arguments for ‘freedom of conscience’ when making decisions related to human life.
Program 3:
Dr Brian Clowes: The Family under Siege
A stalwart of the Pro-Life movement and author of books such as “The Facts of Life” and the Pro-Life CD Library, Dr Brian Clowes presents the first two dynamic talks. He gives an overview of the attacks that the family faces in the modern world from a culture that is increasingly hostile to family, life and love. He exposes an all out attack on the family, as God intended it.
Program 4:
Dr Rob Walley: The future of Maternal Care in Africa in the light of Evangelium Vitae
A former consulter to the Pontifical Council for Health and founder of MaterCare International, an organisation with a mission to breathe new life back into the practice of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Dr Walley highlights the problems faced by pro-life Medical professionals, who increasingly face great opposition from within the medical fraternity He showcases the work done by MaterCare International, especially in the treatment of Obstetric Fistula in Africa, and new initiatives to prioritise the much-neglected field of maternal healthcare, in the light of Evangelium Vitae.
Program 5:
Dr Heinz Wirz: Abortion, Contraception and Breast Cancer
Well known South African speaker on Human Sexuality, Dr Heinz Wirz, founder of the Fertility Mastery Association of South Africa and expert on Natural Family Planning presents the link between Contraception, abortion and Breast Cancer. This talk casts light on this important, but little known connection.
Jeanine McGill – Abortion in South Africa – a legal perspective
Jeanine McGill, South African pro-life activist gives an overview of the status of unborn life under South African Law. She describes the shortcomings of the law and points the way forward in legally challenging the current legislation.
Program 6:
Deacon Steve and Joan Armstrong: Natural Family Planning: God’s Way
Joan and Steve Armstrong, the first Couple to teach the Sympto-Thermal method of NFP in Africa give their personal testimony on the blessing of Natural Family Planning in their marriage. This talk gives a description of how modern NFP works, and how it serves to build up marriage and family life. Anyone who wants to know more about NFP would do well to watch this presentation by probably the best teachers of NFP in South Africa.
Dr Brian Clowes: The Mission of the Pro-Life Movement
Dr Brian Clowes, long-time pro-life activist and author of books such as “The Facts of Life” complier and the ‘Pro-Life CD Library’, presents his final talk, in which he outlines the challenges and purpose of the pro-life movement. He explains what the pro-life movement seeks to do and why. This is an inspiring talk, and a good explanation of why the pro-life movement exists, what its ultimate mission is, and what we are called to do.