California Catholic Daily
July 16, 2010

The San Diego chapter of the Knights of Columbus is sponsoring the “Mother of Life Conference” at San Diego State University’s Viejas Arena on Saturday, Aug. 14. The event will feature notable luminaries of the pro-life movement, as well as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and his wife, Callista.

The event is scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and is billed by the Knights as "the Largest Pro-Life Conference in Southern California," with the goal of “supporting Life from Conception to Natural Death.”

Scheduled speakers include Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J., a well-known biblical scholar best known for his appearances on EWTN; Fr. Thomas J. Euteneuer, president of Human Life International, the world's largest pro-life organization with affiliate offices and associates in 80 countries; Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life and Missionaries of the Gospel of Life, president of the National Pro-life Religious Council, and pastoral director for Rachel's Vineyard; and Lila Rose, a student activist at UCLA who has dedicated herself to building a culture of life and ending abortion. She founded Live Action, a student-led organization that has conducted undercover investigations resulting in several exposés of corruption and illegal activity by Planned Parenthood.

In addition, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich and his wife, Callista, are scheduled to speak. Gingrich, a Republican, is rumored to be a possible candidate for president in 2012. "We believe life begins at conception,” says a joint statement issued by the couple. “It is a gift from God and must be respected as such. We deeply support Pope John Paul II’s call for a culture of life and reject a culture of death -- including acts such as abortion and euthanasia. We believe life must be protected from conception until natural death"

The arena exhibit hall for the event, which will feature 50 exhibitors and vendors, is already sold out. Some of the exhibitors include 40 Days for Life, Catholic Answers, the Catholic Diocese of San Diego, Culture of Life Family Services, the Goretti Group, Helpers of Gods Precious Infants, Human Life International, Ignatius Press, John Paul the Great University, Life Choices, Life Perspectives, Priests for Life, Rachel’s Hope, St. Ephrem Pro-life Center, St. Joseph’s Communications, and Silent No More. The entire list is too lengthy to print here, but can be found on the conference’s website (http://www.motheroflifeconference.com/)