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Pro-Life Ministries and Activities
About the Culture of Life Speakers’ Bureau
Education is an essential component of creating a culture of life.The Diocese of Austin Office of Pro- Life Activities and Chaste Living has assembled the Culture of Life Speakers’ Bureau to assist parishes, groups and individuals in their educational efforts.
We aim to help people become authentically pro-life with regard to a wide variety of issues. Our Speakers’ Bureau is a key component of this goal.
If you are interested in becoming a speaker, please contact our office.
Schedule a Speaker
To schedule a speaker, simply fill out the Speaker Request form, (CLICK here) and return to: CultureofLifeSpeakersBureau@austindiocese.org or mail to: Office of Pro-Life and Chaste Living 6225 Highway 290 East, Austin TX. 78723-1025. (Either save the form to your computer and email it at a later date, print it and mail it, or after filling it out just click on the envelope icon at the top of the form and enter our email address in the sidebar. You will receive confirmation that your request has been received.)
Speakers are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no cost for scheduling a speaker. However, parishes may be asked to pay for the speaker’s mileage.
Please allow 60–90 minutes for each presentation unless other arrangements are made in advance.
It may be possible to arrange panel discussions on selected topics with appropriate advance notice. Please contact our office for details.
Topics
These talks are all designed to be given to high school youth or adults unless otherwise noted. If you don’t see a topic you are interested in listed here, please contact us and we will do our best to accommodate your request.* Talks also offered in Spanish
Bioethical and Reproductive Technologies
Why does the Church oppose things like embryonic stem cell research, in vitro fertilization, surrogate parenting and cloning? This talk helps to clear up some misconceptions when it comes to reproductive technologies.
Abortion 101*
This is a facts-only talk about what defines conception; the history of abortion; and what the Church teaches about difficult cases like rape, incest and abortion for the sake of the mother’s life or health.
Abortion Apologetics*
We take the most common arguments in favor of the right to choose abortion and measure them against the Church’s teachings while at the same time teaching the audience how to defend the truth about life.
The Death Penalty
Is death a just punishment? How does the death penalty challenge our mission to build a culture of life? In this talk, we discuss how today’s culture of death has led us to accept the death penalty as a just punishment and what the Church really teaches about capital punishment.
Introduction to Pro-Life Issues*
When people hear the words “Pro-Life,” they automatically think about the issue of abortion. This talk exposes the audience to ALL the pro-life issues, including beginning-of-life issues, end-of-life issues and others. (Middle school version available.)
End-of-Life Issues
When is someone legally dead? What about suicide, assisted suicide and euthanasia? This is an in-depth look at end-of-life issues. (The adult version focuses on what people need to know when they are faced with the task of making end-of-life decisions.)
Fertility Awareness
In this age of continuous assaults on God’s design for life and love, this talk helps to set things in their correct order and opens the door to God’s gift of fertility and our responsibility for this gift.
(This is geared toward high school students. A parent review session is available. Middle school version coming soon!)
Stewards of the Environment
As we seek to build a culture of life, Pope Benedict XVI said, “If we wish to build true peace, how can we separate, or even set at odds, the protection of the environment and the protection of human life, including the life of the unborn?” This talk helps us to see the connection between a culture of life and our call to protect the environment. It gives practical things we can do to respect and protect God’s creation. (Will also be available for elementary and middle school youth.)