2018 Oratory Contest participants: Liam Siegler, Gabrielle Landry, and Zoe Henderson. (The fourth contestant, Timothy O'Brien, submitted his speech by video.)

Massachusetts Citizens for Life held its 2018 annual convention on Saturday, March 24, 2018, gathering dozens of pro-lifers from around the state to learn more about what is really happening in abortions today. While fewer and fewer abortions are being performed every year in the Commonwealth, there are new ways in which the lives of the unborn are threatened, new attitudes among people about life and abortion, and a new need to approach both mother and child as being under threat and in need of our love and care.

The event was graciously hosted by Cardinal Spellman High School in Brockton, and everyone there were so very helpful and made the day go so smoothly in their accommodating facilities. We are very grateful to them for welcoming us.

The following article originally appeared in the Fall 2017 issue of the MCFL News magazine, a perk of membership mailed out quarterly to all members.

It wasn't that long ago that embryonic stem cells were touted as lifesaving research that merited funding with billions of taxpayer dollars. Pro-life objections to the destruction of human embryos were categorized as cold-hearted, anti-science sentimentality. Then, in 2007, Dr. Shinya Yamanaka discovered a way to reprogram adult cells to act as embryonic cells. Called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), Yamanaka's discovery made the destructive science virtually obsolete. There is still not a single validated case of lifesaving results with embryonic stem cells.

Dr. David Prentice, Vice President and Research Director for the Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI), reports that over 1.5 million people have been treated with adult stem cells, resulting in lives saved and health improved for dozens of diseases and medical conditions. Prentice said, “Within the past year there have been many advances in adult stem cell science, including new strategies and advances using adult stem cells to treat stroke, even years after the stroke event; multiple sclerosis, putting people into remission, not just stopping progression of the disease; and improving repair of both knee joints as well as damaged hearts.”

By Anne Fox, President of Massachusetts Citizens for Life

Pro-lifers rightly observe that the pro-aborts have taken over the media, entertainment, etc. We also know that it is our job to keep the awful reality of abortion right in front of people. We know that people would rather not think about abortion but, when they are forced to, they come down on the side of life.

A very clever collection of pro-life art on Instagram plays into both these facts. The art posted by Instagram user @jonathonvanmaren gets us into the arts and forces people to think about abortion. I find myself noting certain pieces which I think would be good to share.

By Nancy Valko

A disturbing statement made by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, head of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for life, appearing to support the European Court of Human Rights decision to reject Baby Charlie Gard’s parents’ request to go to the US for an experimental treatment for their critically ill son struck a nerve with many Catholics. And although Pope Francis quickly expressed his support for Baby Charlie and his parents shortly after the statement, the ethical issue of experimental treatment remains confusing to many people, Catholic or not.

But what has the Catholic Church really said about experimental means?

Massachusetts Citizens for Life’s Summer Academy brings pro-life high school students together for workshops and seminars that equip them to become pro-life ambassadors in their schools and communities. Part of the experience is learning to get up in public and speak about life issues and so we’ll be bringing you some of the speeches that the 2017 participants gave this summer.

By Sarah Ryan

I thought I should preface this by telling you that I am extremely nervous - for two reasons. The first is that I am not a fan of public speaking. It doesn’t matter if there are ten of you or ten thousand of you, I will inevitably turn red, have shaky hands, and stumble over my words.

But there is another reason why I’m nervous. I’m nervous because I am not the same person I once was. If you had met me five years ago, three years ago, possibly even a year ago, you would be meeting an entirely different person from who I am today.

On Saturday, April 8, a beautiful spring day, several dozen pro-lifers gathered on the Boston College campus for Massachusetts Citizens for Life’s annual convention to hear speakers and to hold discussions on topics ranging from abortion to physician-assisted suicide.

(See photos from the day at the end of this article.)

The theme of the day was “Keep the Momentum Going,” based on the fact that nationwide and in Massachusetts, the pro-life movement is making advances. Anne Fox, president of MCFL, explained, "Abortions are down one-third in the country as a whole and down 55% in Massachusetts, pro-life legislators are in the majority in Congress and in virtually all the state legislatures, we have elected a pro-life President and … we'll have a new Supreme Court Justice whom we expect to rule fairly on life cases. This is amazing momentum on which we plan to build."

See many wonderful photos from the banquet at the end of this article.

The annual fundraising banquet for MCFL on Thursday at the Four Points Sheraton in Norwood gathered hundreds of Pro-lifers to a room filled to capacity to hear Irish singer Dana Scallon and support the mission of MCFL.