Radio Transcript

 
 LIFE ISSUES NO. 1631

 AMELIA KLEPACKA
 

 Today I have a heart-warming story from England.  This happened before their general election a few months ago.  It seems that a local candidate for parliament, Barbara Follett, had a strong pro-abortion position.  She was a founder of their "Emily's List" which is the same pro-abortion, political fund-raising group that we have here in the United States.  Follett was invited to be the guest of honor and to give junior school awards to students at the John Henry Neumann School in Stevange, England.

 Fourteen-year-old Amelia Klepacka, one of six from a poor family, had won an award for modern languages.  When Amelia heard who was to be the guest of honor and give her that award, she refused to accept it.  Amelia said:  "My conscience will not allow me to accept the prize from someone who is anti-life in the things  she has done, and proposes to do, and who discriminates against Catholics who wish to become members of parliament."

 The schoolgirl said she was "doing it for the people who have no voice and for the babies who are being killed in the abortion death camps of England."  She said that by letting Mrs. Follett into the school, the headmaster was giving credibility to her policies and was providing a platform for her views.

 Continuing, Amelia said, "This is encouraging the parents to vote for her, which is exactly what she wants.  She is not the sort of person who should be a member of parliament.  Babies, for her, have no choice.  If Barbara Follett says she is pro-choice, that means she is pro-abortion."  Amelia is the third child in her family.  Her mother had done pregnancy counseling for many years, and the entire family has joined others praying outside of abortion clinics.  Her sister Maria founded a movement called "Youth for Life".  And earlier this year, her mother had written the headmaster at the school saying, "I hereby confirm that we wish to take advantage of our statutory right to withdraw all of our children - Beatta, Amelia and Camilla - from sex education classes in any subject which attempts to cover sex education."
 Well, her story hit the headlines and was reflected in columns of newspapers all across England.  Some supported, some objected, but they all heard the story.

 Letters of support poured in.  "Bravo! -- Congratulations for the stand you have taken -- do not waver -- do not give in -- we remember you in our prayers." -- "There are children yet unborn who will live as a result of your actions" -- "Thank you for your courageous stand." -- "How brave a young lady you are.  Have you thought of becoming a member of parliament?" -- "You are a bright light in a wicked world.  Love and blessings to you."  And so, on and on the comments continued.

 A major journalist in the London Times summed it up this way:  "Politicians' current obsession is with the havoc wreaked on society by dysfunctional families and the effects of poverty on morality.  Perhaps they should pause to observe exactly how a functional family produces six intelligent, high-achieving children with very little money, but with an almost terrifying moral certitude."

 Well, let me tell you, would that there were more such families and that more of us could be accused of "terrifying moral certitude".  Seems to me Jesus was.
 

[10/06/97]