A Week of Witness for Life and Dignity

The Catholic University of America showed up in a big way for all things pro-life last week. Addressing some of the biggest current global issues – from human trafficking to protecting life at all its stages – thought leaders from both within and beyond our campus community came together to represent the voiceless and fight for the dignity and rights of every person.

Event highlights:

• January 22, Global Anti-Human Trafficking Movement at a Crossroads (held at the Columbus School of Law)
• January 23 (day): March for Life (campus-wide event)
• January 23 (evening): IHE event, Where Does the Pro-Life Movement Go From Here? (Ross Douthat/Lila Rose NYT podcast held at Heritage Hall)

Global Anti-Human Trafficking Event

On January 22, five former U.S. ambassadors who led the nation’s anti-human trafficking efforts in the U.S. State Department – in a range of administrations from Presidents George W. Bush to Joseph Biden – discussed major challenges facing America’s leadership in combating modern slavery. Columbus School of Law Professor Mary Graw, who directs the Modern Prosecution Program and is world-renowned expert in this field, moderated the discussion.

These former ambassadors included Mark Lagon (Bush Administration, 2007-2009); Luis C.deBaca (Obama Administration, 2009-2014); Susan Coppedge (Obama and Trump Administrations, 2015-2017); John Cotton Richmond (Trump Administration, 2018-2021); and Cindy Dyer (Biden Administration, 2023-2025). 

The panelists expressed deep concern over cuts to anti-trafficking efforts in the State Department that include a 70% staff reduction; elimination of 69 international programs targeting child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking; and other significant changes. 

The panelists called for restored funding, independent leadership, and a renewed focus on prevention, protection, and prosecution. 

March for Life

All classes were cancelled Friday afternoon so that everyone who wanted to participate in the annual March for Life could join the thousands who gathered in our nation’s capital to be powerful witnesses for life.

IHE Lila Rose / Ross Douthat Conversation

On Friday evening after the March for Life, The Institute for Human Ecology (IHE) hosted two of the country’s most prominent Catholic voices at Catholic University’s Heritage Hall to discuss the future of the pro-life movement: The New York Times (NYT) columnist Ross Douthat and Live Action founder and president Lila Rose. 

This event was free and open to the public and was recorded in front of a live audience for the NYT podcast, Interesting Times with Ross Douthat. The conversation centered on how, in spite of the monumental 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade, state laws have not swung in a pro-life direction, and the national abortion rate has actually increased. 

Where does this leave the movement to defend unborn human life? What kind of legislation should the pro-life movement be seeking? What kind of social policies should it support? What compromises should it be willing to accept? 

All in all, it was a great week of impactful discussions at Catholic University – conversations that will hopefully spark action in public policy and legislatures around the country and world. With so many innocent lives hanging in the balance, what are we willing to do to defend them?