Omaha, Nebraska

Summer, 1993

Humanae Vitae Conference

We gathered in Omaha, that summer of 1993, to celebrate 25 years of Humanae Vitae. There were 1,500 of us from 29 countries, a veritable small village of doctors, historians, nurses, nursing mothers, priests, scientists, nuns, young married couples, single people, bishops, Lutherans, a cardinal, politicians, philosophers, theologians, publishers — even an ex-abortionist.

One evening, after a day of talks and small-group sessions, we were bussed to an off-site auditorium, one large enough to hold us all.

The lights dimmed, the murmuring ceased, and the tall theater curtain parted just enough to reveal 16-year old Gianna Jessen, center-stage, beautiful in a long black velvet gown. And Gianna started to sing.

Gianna, with the voice of an angel, had us in the palm of her hand.

When she was finished, when the thunderous applause was done, the curtain closed.

We never saw her halting steps as she left the stage.

We would not have seen that Gianna has cerebral palsy. Wouldn’t have known why.

But we did know. We had been told.

Gianna Jessen had been aborted.  She had been left to die in a Los Angeles hospital.  And she had been rescued.

The saline solution had burned her body and the long time without oxygen left her with cerebral palsy.

Gianna is 31 now. She still sings. She even runs in marathons!

And she speaks out on behalf of other children aborted and left to die. She has spoken out in a new ad aimed at presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Last night Gianna was a guest on the Hannity & Colmes show. What a joy to see her again!

One wonders how Mr. Colmes can live with himself after arguing with her……

Oh, he has his reasons, you might say. And you may have yours.

I challenge you: imagine yourself bringing your nuanced pro-abortion arguments to Gianna and explaining to her the fine points of your position. Bring your list. Your list is long. You’ve thought this through.

But first, first, listen to Gianna sing.