You can have the White House; I’ll take the youth groups 

By Christopher Stefanick

This past week there appeared one sad story after another about the new administration’s stance on life issues and marriage.

I had sincere hopes that Obama would make good on the promise he made to the American people when he was elected, “I will listen to you.”  But in his first week in office Obama has made it painfully clear that he has no interest in listening to a large portion, if not a majority of Americans when it comes to life and marriage issues.  (And California’s vote for traditional marriage has reminded us that even in traditionally “blue” states, social conservatives are still a majority!)

But the news hasn’t made me lose hope for the future of America, because 10 years in youth ministry has shown me that there’s a greater power than the White House to effect change in our country. 

This week has brought one victory after another for the moral “Left” in America.  Within minutes of inauguration, the new White House Web page stated “we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act,” which upholds the rights of 45 states to keep their laws defending traditional marriage, and 30 states that voted (many, overwhelmingly so) for constitutional amendments defending traditional marriage.  Within 72 hours of taking office, the administration overturned the Mexico City policy that was set up in response to the UN-urging member nations not to promote abortion beyond their borders as a form of family planning.  Now American tax dollars will be paying for abortions in Mexico.  And as soon as he is given the chance (which, God willing, Congress will not give him), Obama has promised to turn a deaf ear to pro-life Americans once again by signing FOCA (Freedom of Choice Act), which will overturn every state law putting even modest restrictions on the abortion industry, even restrictions voted into existence—such as parental notification, bans on partial birth abortion, and the rights of hospitals and doctors to refrain from supporting and performing abortions. 

In the midst of all this depressing news, I got a powerful reminder that the future of our country isn’t going to be determined solely by executive orders from the White House.   A young, L.A. politician who had attended my youth group, and with whom I’ve stayed in touch through the years, contacted me.  This young adult, like many of the teens who had attended my youth group in the East L.A. area, has grown up to be a hardworking over-achiever.  He was the right-hand man of a senator from L.A., became P.R. director for a huge firm, and is already running for political office.  As a Democrat with a career on the line, he had gradually become pro-choice and pro-gay marriage. 

He wrote: “You’ll be happy to hear that I have ‘converted’… I’m now pro-life.  Still Democrat, but pro-life.  Between you, my wife, and my conscience … I just had to do it.  I’ve also voted to uphold the traditional definition of marriage….I think there’s room for my perspective in my party…If not, then I’ll just become an Independent.  At least I’ll know there will be ‘room for me’ in God’s Kingdom.”  This is the result of one youth minister’s work, but there is an army of youth ministers hard at work across America. 

I saw the impact of this army’s work at the March for Life the day after Obama’s inauguration.  Close to 30,000 teens packed into a pro-life youth rally, and thousands had to be turned away.  As I looked around that room of glowing and hope-filled faces, I realized that true power doesn’t rest in 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW in D.C., but in that arena full of young Catholics. 

At the March for Life, attended by over 100,000 people, and, once again, ignored by the mainstream media, it seemed that 75 percent of attendees were under 30, verifying the opinion that the pro-life movement is getting younger, while the pro-abortion movement is getting older.  This is due in no small part to the strength of parish, high school and university ministry programs across the country. 

While this past week has already given me ample cause to lose hope in this administration when it comes to life and family issues that Catholics hold dear, I’ve also been powerfully reminded not to lose hope in the future of our country. 

Authentic cultural “change” doesn’t happen overnight or in a highly visible way.  It was a quiet, interior revolution, one converted heart at a time that transformed ancient Rome into Christendom.  That same agent of change is living and active in the hearts of young people across America, quietly building a culture of life.  The pro-choice, gay-marriage movements can have the White House.  I’ll take the youth groups.  As long as we have them, the future is ours. 

Christopher Stefanick is director of the Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry Office of the Denver Archdiocese.