More than 50 people gather for religious liberty lunch

Celebrating legislative victories, providing mutual support and encouragement, and equipping people to argue for religious liberty, family and pro-life issues were several goals of a June 22 luncheon at Christ the King Parish sponsored by the Thomas More Society.

Mission accomplished, with more than 50 people attending and sharing freely, said Ed Morse, president of the Omaha branch of lawyers who volunteer their time and expertise on pro-life and family issues. "We build social capital by learning from each other, encouraging each other and praying for each other," Morse said.

The gathering, which was on the feast day of Ss. Thomas More and John Fischer, included a panel discussion featuring Tom Venzor, executive director of the Nebraska Catholic Conference (NCC), who discussed recent legislative victories in Nebraska such as a pro-life license plate and requiring the state to provide hospice and palliative care information to mothers expecting a child with potentially terminal fetal abnormalities.

Venzor and others also discussed recent victories in Iowa, including a law banning most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and defunding Planned Parenthood.

A similar ban on abortions passed the Nebraska Legislature and became law seven years ago, and the NCC continues efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, Venzor said.

The NCC and Thomas More Society fight for the common good, Venzor said. "Anytime we can get together in solidarity is a cause for joy," he said.