Harvard

STANFORD

| On Campus Social Science and Social Justice For the Unborn

S C H O L A R I S A L E A D I N G VO I C E I N T H E P R O - L I F E M OV E M E N T

By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

AStanford University-educated scholar is using his skills as a social scientist to champion pro-life causes from inside the nation’s epi- center of power and politics.

Michael New (Stanford Ph.D. ’02) is using his skills as a social scientist to promote pro-life causes from the nation’s capital.

Michael New’s deep-rooted faith calls him to “be an activist on this issue. I can engage these debates in thoughtful, life-affirming ways.”

The Stanford doctoral graduate of 2002 serves as an associate scholar for the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the Northern Virginia-based research and education arm of the Susan B. Antho- ny List. The Lozier Institute seeks to end abortion via the legal and legisla- tive arenas and to promote opportu- nities for female leaders dedicated to life-affirming causes. When the insti- tute formed in 2011, New became the think tank’s first associate scholar.

Much of New’s passion for pro-life causes dates back to his undergradu- ate days at Dartmouth College, where the 1997 alumnus helped launch Dartmouth Coalition for Life. The student organization even staged an Ivy League Coalition for Life confer- ence in spring 1997. During graduate studies, New was actively involved with Stanford Students for Life.

The pro-life movement deeply clicked within New’s core as a college student, and the Pittsburgh native “never looked back.”

Fast forward to January, 2020, New was in high demand for his pro- fessional expertise during a series of activities surrounding the 47 th annu- al March for Life on the National Mall. New, who has attended every rally since 2003, researches statistics, trends, and legal and legislative de- velopments involving abortion.

Among his engagements, New served as a speaker for a breakout lunch for Ivy League students on be- half of Students for Life of America. During the gathering on January 25 at the Marriott Marquis Washington, D.C., New urged Ivy League students to “be keyboard activists and promote pro-life ideas on their campuses.”

Still, students should not limit their efforts to hitting keyboards, New said. Rather, they should volunteer at pregnancy help centers or take to concrete sidewalks during campaigns on behalf of 40 Days for Life.

In addition, New challenged stu- dents to use their emerging profes- sional skills to promote a culture of life on their campuses and in their future careers. “Be creative, and do not be afraid to be unconventional,” he said.

Likewise, New lamented how the pool of pro-life and Christian voices within higher education is limited, especially at leading universities. “Consider a career in the academy,” he said. “The bench is thin.”

New, a visiting assistant professor in political science and social research at The Catholic University of America, has carved out a niche career by researching, writing, and speaking about the social science of pro-life issues. He regularly gives presentations on the impact of anti-abortion laws plus shifts in pub- lic support for pro-life positions.

Also coinciding with the March for Life rally, New served as a speaker during the Law of Life Summit. During the event on January 23 at the Renaissance Washington, D.C. Downtown Hotel, New gave a presentation on significant declines in abortion rates. “This nicely shows that pro-life educational, service, and legislative efforts have been effec- tive,” he said.

At a March for Life gathering, New gave a talk entitled Using Digi- tal Media to Correct Mainstream Me- dia Disinformation during the Family Research Council’s Pro- LifeCon 2020 at the organization’s appeared in ThePhiladelphia Inquirer, out there.” headquarters on Northwest G Street. The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Na- Recently, New also oversaw the

Such efforts dovetail with the tional Review, The Weekly Standard, The 40 Days for Life campaign in Wash- Washington-area resident’s growing Federalist, and the New York Post, plus ington. This year’s campaign involved work as an expert witness. New has a plethora of scholarly and policy pub- 507 cities, where participants aimed testified during federal lawsuits in- lications. In addition, New has spoken to counter abortion via prayer and volving anti-abortion laws in Ala- at universities including Harvard, Uni- fasting, community outreach, and bama, California, Illinois, Texas, and versity of Pennsylvania, and the Mas- peaceful vigils outside clinics. Wisconsin courtrooms. sachusetts Institute of Technology. For the D.C. effort, participants

Before settling near the nation’s New’s extensive credentials also gathered on the public right-of-way capital, New held faculty positions include service as an adjunct scholar outside the Planned Parenthood ofwith the University of Alabama, the with the Cato Institute, a faculty fices on Northeast Fourth Street. On University of Michigan-Dearborn and member for Notre Dame University’s February 27, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ave Maria University. From 2002 to Vita Institute, and a fellow with the Coffey of the U.S. Archdiocese for 2004, he also served as a postdoctor- Witherspoon Institute. Military Services, a noted anti-abor- al researcher at the Harvard-MIT However, New’s efforts are far tion activist, served as the keynote Data Center. from limited to the theoretical. Most speaker for the campaign.

As New was wrapping up doctor- Saturday mornings, the lifelong Cath- Not surprisingly, New has inter- al studies at Stanford, political scien- olic heads to the Planned Parenthood faced with most of the pro-life move- tists were uninterested in probing office in Washington, D.C., where he ment’s big names, dating back to his developments in the abortion arena, joins with other pro-life activists to years at Dartmouth. “The pro-life issue including the impact of fresh legisla- offer sidewalk counseling, resources, is more than me sitting at a desk re- tion. “The pro-life movement did not and prayer to potential patients. Area searching,” New said. “You should be have its own social scientist,” said college students often join him to doing some work directly interacting New, now of Hyattsville, Maryland. offer prayer support for the effort and with people impacted by this issue.” “I realized I could do this for them.” the group later breaks for a time of Of his life’s work on the front lines

Since then, New has appeared on reflection over coffee. of the pro-life movemeent, “I try to EWTN News Nightly, CBN News and “It’s good to be a prayerful pres- do what God calls me to do,” said CNN International. His writings have ence,” said New. “God uses everybody New. | cu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

stanford news-in-

Chi Alpha Continues Ministry Online

As part of its plan to continue its ministry to Stanford students while they are off campus due to COVID-19, Chi Alpha (xastanford.org) is digitally streaming three worship services per week. Service times are Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. PST, Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. PST, and Thursdays at 6:30 a.m. PST. Ministry leader Pastor Glen Davis is also offering prayer for individual requests by text or phone. Davis’s devotional videos may be found at xastanford.org/ devotional-videos.

YALE

| On Campus Theology on Tap

L E C T U R E F E AT U R E S H O N O R A B L E J U D G E G U I D O C A L A B R E S I

By Kayla Bartsch, Yale ’20

Excellence––but only with decency and humanity.” became one of the youngest scholars ever to be granted a full professorship find Calabresi perched in his customary pew, second from the front on the

These are the words of the Honat Yale Law, and contributed groundright. Calabresi has been a pillar of

orable Guido Calabresi, delivered at breaking research to the field of law the St. Thomas More community for

a public conversation at St. Thomas and economics. He was appointed as decades, having stayed connected to

More Catholic Chapel and Yale after graduating. In

Center at Yale. fact, most of Calabresi’s life

On February 13, Calhas been spent in the Elm

abresi, a senior judge of the City. Born in Milan, Italy,

United States Court of ApCalabresi was a young boy

peals for the Second Circuit, when his parents, who re

was the guest speaker at

Theology on Tap, a delight1930s, fled to the United

ful series of monthly conStates and settled in New

versations hosted by St.

sisted Italian fascism in the

Thomas More that are ian-Catholic roots have

geared towards community members over the age of 21. Attended mainly by upperclassmen and graduate stu

Haven. Calabresi’s Ital

Credit: Duke Law School

As a senior United States circuit judge, the honorable Guido Calabresi finds moral direction from his deep faith in Christ. deeply influenced his faith and his judicial vision alike. When faced with moral quandaries as a presider over

dents, the series allows for rich conversations on faith, life, and exegesis, with the relaxed feel of an intimate, after-dinner gathering, thanks to the “tap.”

True to his motto, Calabresi has certainly led a life marked by excellence. Calabresi graduated summa cum laude from Yale College (’53), won a a Sterling Professor, Yale’s highest honor, and became the Dean of Yale Law School before he was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve on the United States Court of Appeals. But, as Calabresi said, excellence is empty when it stands on its own. Throughout his life, Calabresi’s unthe court, Calabresi has turned to the moral formation of his faith. To interpret and execute manmade laws, there must be a higher, divine law towards which one can turn. When required to preside over weighty cases, Calabresi has found strength and guidance through Catholic teachings on justice and mercy.

When required to preside over weighty cases, Calabresi has found strength and guidance through Catholic teachings on justice and mercy. He believes a judge, first and foremost, ought to uphold the law as it stands, but should always be searching for ways to incorporate mercy and grace into his or her decisions.

Rhodes Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford, graduated first in his class at Yale Law School (’58), clerked for a Supreme Court justice, wavering faith has served as the foundation for all of his endeavors.

Every Sunday at the 10 a.m. mass at St. Thomas More Chapel, one can He believes a judge, first and foremost, ought to uphold the law as it stands, but should always be searching for ways to incorporate mercy and grace into his or her decisions.

It is important, as a judge, to be affected by troubling cases and sometimes troubling laws, Calabresi said. He noted that, when interviewing potential clerks, he will always ask them if there is any point of the law that concerns them morally. If they answer “no,” it is not a promising sign of their future employment—there are absolutely moral stakes in the law, and anyone interpreting the law should feel the weight of those stakes deeply.

Aside from his time on the bench, Calabresi has also served as an academic and often spiritual mentor to his students. As a professor at Yale Law for several decades, he has had no shortage of bright, hungry minds to shepherd. Over the years, Calabresi has witnessed countless students succumb to the pull of an ambition that knows no bounds––a drive to succeed divorced from the drive to do good. He noted that he has often been the first in his student’s life to tell them that “excellence by itself is a disaster.”

In some ways, this is unsurprising. As Calabresi observed, “in school we tend to, inevitably, award people according to their excellence, and not look beyond it.” Especially at a place like Yale Law, students are used to being rewarded for their pursuit of greatness, and are constantly striving after their next achievement. Calabresi sees this mindset as one in need of considerable tweaking. He reminds his students that “some of the worst people who did the worst things were excellent, extraordinarily able. Hitler was extraordinarily able.”

ya l e ne w s - in - b r ie f

Metaxas ’84 Releases New Book

Eric Metaxas, Yale ’84, the author of multiple New York Times’ best-sellers, recently released Seven More Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness, the sequel to his book, Seven Men. His latest book highlights Martin Luther, George Washington Carver, and Billy Graham, among others. Some of Metaxas’ previous works include: Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World (2017), Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (2011), and William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery (2007). He also has written over thirty children’s books.

This is not to say that excellence is without its worth. For those called to serve in prominent public positions, a high level of competence in certain affairs is necessary. For Calabresi, “Goodness without excellence is wonderful, but is not likely to be effective in a variety of situations.” Thereby, his mantra remains sound. Excellence always—but only with decency and humanity. | cu

Metaxas hosts the nationally syndicated radio program, The Eric Metaxas Show, and has been featured as a cultural commentator on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News.

Black History Month Lecture Features Patricia Chappell

St. Thomas More, the Catholic Chapel and Center at Yale University, hosted Sister Patricia Chappell of Notre Dame de Namur in February as a guest speaker for Black History Month.

Chappell is a licensed social worker and the first African American to serve as the executive director of Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic nonviolent peace and justice movement. She spoke on the topic, “Is Building the Beloved Community an Impossible Dream?” She challenged attendees to do their part in reforming the Roman Catholic Church in order to make it more inclusive and encouraged individuals to use their privilege for the good of others. “While there’s nothing inherently wrong with privilege, it is the use of that power that will make you either a person of integrity or ruthless,” Chappell said.