History of Right To Life Of Indianapolis

The Right to Life of Indianapolis Mission Statement is to promote respect for the worth and dignity of all human life, including the lives of the unborn from the moment of conception, and the disabled and elderly, until their natural death.

In 1972, the Committee for the Preservation of Life (CPL) was founded and co-chaired by Notre Dame Graduate and Indianapolis businessman, Charles E. Stimming Sr. and others at the request of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

His co-chair was Paul W. Philips of Fort Wayne.  Members were located in Anderson, Bloomington, Evansville, East Chicago, Indianapolis, Lafayette and Elwood.  Its purpose was to make a response to the impending threat of the abortion movement.  Mr. Stimming and Valerie Dillon, Dr. Paul Muller, Shirley Evans, Jack Mooney, Dr. John I. Nurnberger and Rev. Theodore Mikolon all spoke out for life before various groups, and were the first to sound the alarm against abortion in the city of Indianapolis.  Initially they saw their task as educational, not political.  The members were devoted to educating everyone they could reach about the true nature of abortion as the act of taking a life, and not just as a medical procedure to which any woman had a right.  Mr. Stimming provided funds when needed, to allow supporters to attend meetings to better educate themselves on this issue. Besides providing educational talks, the following year CPL arranged to have a table at the Indiana State Fair to increase their educational thrust.  The Committee for the Preservation of Life was duly incorporated on March 13, 1974.

To demonstrate opposition to the January 22, 1973 Supreme Court ruling on abortion as well as to demonstrate support in Indiana for a Human Life Amendment to the United States Constitution, CPL determined that a large rally should be planned at the Indianapolis Convention Center.  Contacts were made in each church with the task of getting congregations to attend.  The first “Rally for Life” was April 13, 1974 with 5000 people present. The rally included many national pro-life leaders, including Mildred Jefferson, President of National Right to Life. After the successful rally, CPL became affiliated with Indiana Right to Life and National Right to Life.  A few core people continued CPL, meeting in the Main Library in Indianapolis with Sandra Behringer as President. 

The Committee for the Preservation of Life, Inc. was changed to Right to Life of Indianapolis, Inc. on July 21, 1980. Dorothy Wodraska was President with Virginia Martin, Secretary. Mrs. Joan Byrum has led the organization as President from 1995 to 2008.  Governed by a Board of Directors, an Advisory Board, Officers and Committee Chairmen, the prolife organization has grown in status and numbers, attracting attention to the pursuit of its goals through educational projects, activities and programs. 

Right to Life of Indianapolis now reaches over half a million people with the pro-life message every year, through various events and educational outreaches. Teens for Life Clubs and booths at state, county and city events such as the Indiana State Fair and Home Schoolers Association conventions, provide great opportunities to educate the public about the sanctity of human life.  An educational library of prolife literature and materials for students, teachers, researchers and interested citizens is available at our office, at no cost.  Speakers on a variety of topics are provided for any age group, schools, universities, churches, events, or special occasions.  The annual Celebrate Life Dinner at the Indianapolis Convention Center features renowned, educational speakers.  Essay, Oratorical and Art Contests are sponsored annually for public and private schools and home-schooled children.  The Joan Byrum Pro-Life Scholarship is awarded each year to a high school senior who has shown great diligence in promoting the right to life.  A bimonthly educational newsletter is published for 26,000 Right to Life members. For more information on our current educational programs, click here.

Since its inception, Right to Life of Indianapolis has been completely reliant on individual donations, benefactor gifts, grants, businesses, clubs and churches for their cost of operation and projects.  We work closely with many churches and organizations that honor the sanctity of life such as Gabriel Project, Life Centers, Birthline, St. Elizabeth/Coleman Pregnancy & Adloptkion Services, and Urban Outreach, to name a few.  We have an ongoing relationship with several post-abortion healing ministries to assist the men and women who grieve because of their abortions.