Defend disabled, unborn with equal vigor, Catholic brother urges

Brother Paul O'Donnell spoke at the National Life to Right Conference held in Washington DC this past weekend (over the fourth of July, 2008). He also manned a space next to Bobby Schindler and his sister, Suzanne Vitadamo in the display section of the Conference. I was privileged to be able to speak and to meet them, and had the opportunity to buy and read my now autographed copy of the book that the family has written about the struggle to save Terri's life.

God bless!

Defend disabled, unborn with equal vigor, Catholic brother urges

ARLINGTON, Va. (CNS) -- A Catholic brother who cared for a brain-damaged fellow brother for more than 12 years urged activists in the pro-life movement July 5 to defend the rights of the disabled as vigorously as they fight for the unborn.

Brother Paul O'Donnell, a member of the Franciscan Brothers of Peace in St. Paul, Minn., spoke at a workshop session of the National Right to Life Committee's annual convention in Arlington.

He said he ran into conflict with health care professionals, even at Catholic facilities, as he sought appropriate care for Brother Michael Gaworski, founder of the Franciscan Brothers of Peace, who suffered a severe brain injury after he contracted a rare bacterial pneumonia at age 32.

Until he became involved in Brother Michael's care, said Brother Paul, "I had no idea of the effect the anti-life forces had had on the health care industry."

"Quality of life is not a Gospel value," he said. "It's a secular value. Quality of life is Hollywood secularism and materialism. ... Where there's love there is no burden."

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