Catholic media group broadcasts pro-life message

By J.D. Long-García, The Catholic Sun
July 5, 2007

VirtueMedia, a non-profit educational organization that began in Phoenix in 1998, broadcasts pro-life commercials around the world.

Last month, VirtueMedia filmed spots with Norma McCorvey, or Jane Roe of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion more than 30 years ago.

“The Norma McCorvey spot is critical because the world doesn’t know that the woman from Roe v. Wade is now a pro-life Catholic,” said Tom Peterson, president of VirtueMedia. “She never had an abortion and she regrets ever having anything to do with the case.”

After the landmark case, McCorvey tried coping with the guilt she felt with drug binges and by taking jobs at abortion clinics, trying to justify her involvement in the legalization of abortion.

Then, in 1995, she had what she calls her “first conversion.” She was baptized into the Christian faith. Three years later, she became a Catholic.

“God and I have this understanding. I get into newspapers and He gets the glory,” McCorvey said of her pro-life lobbying efforts.

She met with Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted on June 26 before he filmed a VirtueMedia announcement that will air in parishes this October.

“I remember when we were in Wichita together,” the bishop said to McCorvey. “I remember because you gave such a Catholic message and we were in a Protestant church.”

They both chuckled.

“That’s what I do best is give people grief,” she said. “But I’m nice about it because I’m Catholic.”

In his October announcement, the bishop will encourage Catholics to support VirtueMedia’s pro-life efforts.