Traveling to the capitol with other students from the metro area, BSM’s Students for Human Life participated in the Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) day on Tuesday, March 13. This day at the Capitol is for students who want to aid in the propagation of pro-life ideas. At the beginning of the day students were informed about the bill, and later they met with St. Louis Park House representative, Ryan Winkler, who will vote on the bill after it is passed by Health and Human Services, Judiciary and Public Safety, and State Government Innovation and Veterans.
Students for Human Life not only strives to protect the dignity of the human person, but they also pride themselves on being a politically neutral group. “The club is unique because it doesn’t fit into most peoples paradigms: conservative vs. liberal, traditional vs. progressive. It challenges our students to uphold issues seen on both ends of the spectrum,” said Mr. Zach Zeckser, Students for Human Life club advisor.
In society, the media and political leaders try to change our beliefs in order to match theirs. As a Catholic High School, our foundations are rooted in the Catholic Social Teachings and the belief that from the beginning, all life is sacred. “We see ourselves as more of a club that is grounded in philosophy [rather than] a club that tries to adjust certain issues,” said Mr. Zeckser.
The group meeting opens with a prayer every Thursday morning, and focuses on educating the group on a life topic with the intention of provoking the members to action. “If we aren’t discussing future plans, events, outreach, etc. then we are presenting on current events and past historic events that affect, or have affected life issues,” said senior Afua Painstil.
In addition to these informational meetings, group members also participate in volunteer work at the North Side Life Care Center, South Side Life Care Center, attend monthly peace vigils, and will soon be volunteering with MCCL, writing letters to encourage a natural and full life to women questioning it. “[The club and our work is] about upholding and defending the dignity of the human person from conception until natural death,” said Zeckser.
Controversial topics are hard to talk about, and even harder to understand, especially the details that occur outside of the public eye. “It’s most important to understand that there are truly two sides to these important human life topics. Anyone who quickly says, “I’m for or against [a specific] human life topic” has not examined it carefully. Questions about abortion, the death penalty, and Euthanasia are very difficult, ethical, and moral questions to answer,” said freshman Mary Pat Ross.
Students for Human Life provides an outlet for those who feel extremely passionate about protecting the dignity of every single person, but also a place to connect with other people who have the same values. “I enjoy being able to connect with students who have similar views on such controversial issues. I also really enjoy being able to stand up for what I believe in. Instead of sitting and saying, ‘I wish that would change’ I actually get to be a part of making the change happen,” said Ross.
