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Entries in Lex Vitae (1)
BC Law students revitalize pro-life club
EagleionlineBC Law students revitalize pro-life club
By Sean Collier
A group of students has taken the helm of Boston College Lex Vitae, revitalizing the law school’s own pro-life student organization. The club will host its first event this Thursday.
The Thursday event will feature Prof. Elizabeth Schiltz from the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Prof. Schiltz will discuss a dilemma faced by disability rights activists who are also proponents of abortion rights, a dilemma highlighted by Prof. Samuel R. Bagenstos in a 2006 article in the Harvard Journal of Law & Gender. The talk will explore the concern that in difficult situations, when faced with the decision of whether to end a life, families can be subjected to pressures coming from prevalent social biases against persons with disabilities. Prof. Schiltz will explore this concern from the perspective of a pro-life lawyer who is herself raising a child diagnosed prenatally with a genetic disability.
BC Lex Vitae is dedicated to challenging misconceptions that too often surround life issues, including abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, human cloning, and other situations involving the decision to end or otherwise devalue human life. Lex Vitae hopes to present the law school community with information crucial to making informed decisions, always beginning with the inherent dignity of human life.
The club has existed on the books at BC Law for several years but has not had active membership. The current members decided to revitalize the club and begin hosting events to stimulate discussion about these difficult issues. The club’s name is Latin for “law of life”, a phrase that invokes both the recognition of our responsibility to respect human life, as well as the legal community’s unique role in making this respect more and more a reality. Lex Vitae exists in line with the mission of Boston College Law School to foster a commitment to others and to explore the dignity of the human person.
Prof. Schiltz’s talk will be held on Thursday, April 24th at 12:45 in EW 115B. Lunch from Chipotle will be served, including vegan burritos.
Students interested in more information on Lex Vitae, or who wish to join the group or get on the listserv to hear about future events, should email bclexvitae@gmail.com.