“My long term goal … is to utilize the education piece of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund.”
Monahan joined the March for Life board in June “with every intention of staying” at her job with the Family Research Council, but when the organization's founder Nellie Gray died in August, Monahan was made the interim president.
Monahan previously served as director of the Center for Human Dignity at the Family Research Council, and before that worked in various capacities at the Department of Health and Human Services. She holds a Master of Theological Studies from Catholic University of America.
“Jeanne is a strong pro-life advocate who will continue the strong leadership of Nellie Gray and bring us closer to a culture of life,” said Patrick E. Kelly, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “The Board and I are very much looking forward to working with Jeanne in this new, full-time capacity and are looking forward to our largest March in history this January.”
She said that January's event will utilize jumbotrons and will be succinct, lasting roughly an hour. A handful of legislators will speak, and they will be “leaders on both sides of the political aisle who are pro-life.”
Monahan also intends to have a celebrity speaker, as well as music that will be “interesting and engaging” for young people.
“One major goal I have … is to get all of the participants to do some kind of act of lobbying on the Hill while they're here; not only to peacefully protest, but to make an appointment with their legislators and to go and talk to them about the necessity of pro-life legislation, and to do so in a positive and compelling way.”
The new president also wants to focus specifically on helping young people lobby their legislators.
“We'll do everything we can to engage media in a positive way and to raise as much awareness about the fact that abortion is the human rights issue of today,” she said.
Monahan noted the Fund is launching a more “savvy” social media campaign by updating their Facebook page, better utilizing Twitter and reaching out to youth with new media.
Monahan sees a great deal of hope for the pro-life movement going forward, because “young people are overwhelmingly pro-life … they have their finger on the pulse that this truly does destroy a human life.”
Asked about the future of the pro-life movement, she said that “one thing I think is critical moving forward is that we show abortion is bad for women … that we use truth and technology and science, all to our advantage. All we need to do with the abortion issue is bring it into the light.”
She cited advances in ultrasound technology and understanding of fetal pain as factors which have enlightened young people about the truth behind abortion.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
At Catholic News Agency, our team is committed to reporting the truth with courage, integrity, and fidelity to our faith. We provide news about the Church and the world, as seen through the teachings of the Catholic Church. When you subscribe to the CNA UPDATE, we'll send you a daily email with links to the news you need and, occasionally, breaking news.
As part of this free service you may receive occasional offers from us at EWTN News and EWTN. We won't rent or sell your information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Monahan emphasized that she plans to “do everything I can to show the fallacy” of the slogans that abortion is a “so-called right for women and good for women's health.”
“Abortion is not good for women, and obviously not good for the babies who aren't allowed a right to life.”
As she looks ahead to January, Monahan gets “the sense that the way providence has played out, that this is going to be a very important year for the March for Life, for people peacefully protesting.”
