Dear Friend and Reader,

Blessings to you and your family again this Advent Season from all of us at the Culture of Life Foundation.  We hope this note finds you in good health and great anticipation!

Though the beauty and grace of the season is upon us, as 2011 comes to a close, we can’t help but reflect upon the present state of our country.  The thoughts and prayers of our Nation are sadly diverted away from the grace of the season.  We can't help but be distracted by the current ills of our policies and the hopes for our coming election.

Sadly, despite long-standing and rigorous efforts, the policies and principles – instituted, “with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence…”(1) to protect the foundations upon which our nation was built – are eroding with increasing speed.  Overwhelming evidence shows without a doubt that the moral fabric of America is truly wanting.  A growing acceptance of same-sex marriage and alternative families; of mercy killing and designer children; of genetic “enhancements” and human animal hybrids; of government-run healthcare and “value of life”–based rationing; of the growing denial of Judeo-Christian principles upon which our nation was built, are only a few examples lighting the marquis of our country’s moral diseases….  Yet why, we must ask ourselves, have our policies and efforts failed us?  The answer resides not so much in policy, but in our foundations and values; in the people – the fabric of our Nation.  What ails us is earnestly more than economic or political.  It is deeply moral.  It is cultural. 

Our policies are only the banks of this vast river, our Culture.  If we truly want to shape a course in the right direction, we must change the dynamic of the water; we must change the moral conscience of our Culture.

And how, we must further ask, do we do this?  We return are attention to the source, to the framers of our moral democracy; a democracy built upon Judeo-Christian values.  Heeding the words and foresight of Thomas Jefferson, “When [the moral sense] is wanting, WE ENDEAVOR TO SUPPLY THE DEFECT BY EDUCATION, by APPEALS TO REASON….  DEMONSTRATIONS BY SOUND CALCULATION….  That promotes interest in the long run.”

Through your help and generosity , Culture of Life Foundation has been supplying this education; education in morals, values and the fundamental principles of faith and reason upon which our nation and Culture was founded.  We supply it to a broad, public audience in simple language translated from scholarly research and analysis and apply it to the pillars of our Culture: Life, Human Sexuality, Marriage and Family and Bioethics.  

But this is not a short-term process.  As you well know, the work of education is a long-term investment with tangible benefits accruing gradually and building over time.  This past year, Culture of Life Foundation has grown to reach an audience predominantly of educators who utilize our briefs and materials in the classroom, reaching students in high schools and colleges, not only in the United States, but all over the world.  Our briefs have been translated into Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, German, Arabic, Polish and even Japanese.  Many are disseminated through other organizations and institutions at their request, including, for example, Zenit News Agency, which publishes a bi-monthly column in bioethics authored by Culture of Life Foundation Fellows, reaching hundreds of thousands of English readers alone.  All thanks goes to you for having made this possible.

  And yet, our work to date is not nearly enough.  For the upcoming year we would like again to double our reach through the growth and enhancement of our programs.  To begin with, our current technology is unable to sustain our current growth.  In addition to a new website with greater resources for our readers, we would like to add video media for our younger friends so they can download visual commentary in their hand-held devices and watch-and-learn throughout their busy days.  We hope to retain three additional fellows from the disciplines of medicine, sociology and psychology who can explain and promote the truth of the human person from other fact-based disciplines, such as the biological sciences, psychology and sociology.

Through our current Culture of Life E-Briefs, website, conferences, editorials, radio and TV interviews, speaking engagements and events, the insightful work of these fellows reaches the broadest possible audience both domestically and internationally, and in languages we can all understand.   

We would love to say that our Culture shall experience a moral renewal tomorrow or with a simple policy change, but that would be a lie.  Cultural renewal and the renewal of our country’s corresponding policies and programs belong to every individual and member of Society; one person to another.  Cultural renewal happens one conscience at a time.

            The Culture of Life Foundation fights for life every day. We fight with education, the formation of conscience, one person at a time, and we fight with prayer.  Please help us with your continued prayers and economic support.  We do not hire fundraising or development contractors; we reach out to you personally and direct your support right to our programs.  The depth of your help and the measure of our success are inseparable.  Thank you for joining us.

Our prayers are with you, your family and your efforts.  We ask that you consider again including Culture of Life Foundation in your prayers and in your daily life as well.  The formation of conscience is no small task; it is the task of good people. 

            Thank you again for your leadership and support .

With every wish for every blessing,