"Focus On Life" Dinner on 4-15-08

On Tuesday, April 15, Huron County Right to Life hosted its annual “Focus on Life” benefit dinner at the Bad Axe Knights of Columbus hall.  Three hundred people attended this event including local pastors, elected officials, youth, youth ministers and members of the Knights of Columbus.

The keynote address was given by photojournalist Michael Clancy.  Michael shared his life story and how the photo he took of a 21-week old fetus in utero during a corrective surgery changed his life.  Michael talked about the struggles he encountered in getting that photograph published.  He showed the audience the photos he took of the 21-week old fetus, Sam, as he reached out of the surgical opening and grasped the finger of the surgeon.  He explained that eventually the photo was published in various written publications and has been viewed by millions on the internet.  The photos and Michael’s complete story can be found on his website www.michaelclancy.com.  Michael also showed clips of Sam as a three-year old testifying before Congress.

Michael explained that he is compelled to share his photograph with the world in order to give a voice to the unborn.  He encouraged everyone to do whatever he/she can do to help protect the unborn.

Bill Kean of Right to Life of Michigan gave an update on the current petition drive to amend Michigan’s constitution to allow unrestricted research on human embryos.  He warned attendees that this constitutional amendment will allow the destruction of human embryos by extracting their stem cells during research.  Kean noted that this type of research not only destroys the human embryo but has also been fruitless.  There have been no treatments or cures as a result of embryonic stem cell research.  In contrast, adult stem research has lead to treatment or cures for 70 different ailments.