PRINCETON, New Jersey, AUG. 16, 2010 (Zenit.org).- A conference at Princeton University will draw together people from opposite sides of the abortion issue to engage in “vigorous debate” and explore ways of bridging the divide.
Jennifer Miller, executive director of Bioethics International, who is co-chairing the conference, noted that most of the people who have already registered stand on the pro-choice side.
“We need to have a greater pro-life attendance for a fruitful conference and dialogue,” she stated.
The Oct. 15-16 event is titled: “Open Hearts, Open Minds, and Fair Minded Words: A Conference on Life and Choice in the Abortion Debate.”
The idea for the conference sprang from an address given by U.S. President Barack Obama at the University of Notre Dame last year, in which he urged people on both sides of the abortion issue to work together and to engage in debate with open hearts and minds.
The conference aims to provide a place where “people who disagree discuss their beliefs humbly, are open to change, speak respectfully, and actually listen and learn from those who have a different view.”
The co-chairs of the event include: Peter Singer, Frances Kissling and Charles Camosy.
Speakers include: Helen Alvaré, John Finnis, Bill Hurlbut, Chris Kaczor and Christian Brugger.
The conference aims to explore opportunities to bridge the “abortion divide” and the issue of the moral status of the fetus.
Participants are encouraged to discuss several issues with their opponents, including whether abortion exacerbates discrimination against persons, if a fetus might feel pain and what we should do about it, how far the right of conscientious refusal should extend, and whether abortion should be a matter for the courts or the legislatures.
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On the Net:
For more information: http://uchv.princeton.edu/Life_Choice/
