Bishops’ Pro-Life Banquet to be a celebration and recommitment

A couple of key, hard-fought election victories will be celebrated at the Bishops’ Pro-Life Banquet in Lincoln on Nov. 22.

But the banquet also will be a time “to strengthen our resolve, sharpen our minds, and renew our dedication to the cause of Life,” according to the Nebraska Catholic Conference (NCC), the banquet’s organizer.

“Together, we’ll step away from the world’s noise, listen for the voice of the Lord, and like St. Joan of Arc, boldly declare ‘I Fear Nothing.’”

“I Fear Nothing: Pro-Life Evangelization in a Modern Age” is the theme of this year’s banquet.

Typically it would be held in September or October to more closely align with October as Respect Life Month, but this year the event was put on hold until after the election.

“This year’s banquet holds even greater significance as it will be the first major pro-life gathering following the vote on Nebraska’s abortion-related ballot initiatives,” the NCC said on its website.

On Nov. 5, voters rejected Ballot Initiative 439, which would have enshrined abortion as a constitutional right in Nebraska, and approved Initiative 434, which provides constitutional protection to pro-life laws already in place and allows the Legislature to enact further pro-life measures.

“Praise be to God for an inspiring victory for Nebraska women and children!” the state’s three bishops said in a joint statement following the election. “We are overjoyed at the defeat of Initiative 439 and the success of Initiative 434.

“Nebraskans have sent a clear message to the rest of our nation: Nebraska is a pro-life state that will stand up for its most vulnerable citizens.”

The banquet will be an opportunity to learn, help the pro-life movement and join in fellowship with other pro-life Nebraskans.

The keynote speaker will be Greg Schleppenbach, a national pro-life leader and former NCC executive director. Schleppenbach currently serves as executive director of The Culture Project, another extension of his pro-life work. The national organization, active in the Archdiocese of Omaha and other locations, aims to help form young people and promote the inherent dignity of humanity, the benefits of sexual integrity, and healthy social media use.

The Bishop’s Pro-Life Banquet will be held at The Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel, 333 S. 13th St., and begins with a 5:30 p.m. cocktail hour, followed by dinner, an awards ceremony and the keynote address.

Registration is open through Nov. 17. Single ticket prices are $60 and are reduced to $30 for students, priests and religious. Tickets for a table of ten are $600.

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