in May 1970, a subcommittee of the
Pennsylvania Catholic conference (PCC)
met in Harrisburg to formulate plans
to combat abortion through educational
means. The committee established a
non-sectarian state-wide group (separate
from PCC) to be called pennsylvanians
for Human Life (PHL) with seven regional
offices throughout the state including
the Southeastern Region that encompassed
the Philadelphia and suburban area,
west Chester to the west, and Doylestown
to the north. By November, eight local
chapters, eager to stem the growing
abortion clamors, were underway.
The PHL southeastern Region set up
its office in Bala Cynwyd, a suburb
of Philadelphia, A steering committee
composed of chapter representatives
established by- laws and elected officers
including Dr. Dorothy J. Czarnecki,
a gynecologist, President; Dr. Donald
F. McGuigan, a dentist, vice-president;
John E. Arnold, with degrees in civil
engineering and in law, Treasurer.
The Board of Directors, consisting
of representatives from the local
chapters included: Dr. William o'Connell
of Chestnut Hill, Robert Reymos of
Coatesville, Dr. James Kelly of Delaware
county, Mrs. Michael McDonough of
jenkintown, Mrs. Edward Flynn of North
Penn, Robert Lambert of Yardley, and
Nurse Regina Bennett of warrington.
Louise Bolger was hired as Executive
secretary, later becoming Executive
Director, in its first year, PHL trained
speakers, spoke to 250 groups including
high schools, colleges, medical and
nursing schools, ministers' meetings,
church groups of many denominations,
civic clubs, and PTAS.
in 1975 PHL was reorganized with more
emphasis on education, the true purpose of the
work.
A smaller board with less chapter
representation resulted because
some of the chapters, working on
their own, preferred to engage in
political activity and public demonstrations.
The State PHL office in Harrisburg
was now truly political in nature
and became the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation. Other chapters chose to concentrate on other Pro-Life issues including Chastity Education and Crisis Pregnancy Centers, such as Birthright. The
Philadelphia area southeastern region,
retaining the original name, PHL, and the original focus on education, was the only
group not a member of the Federation.
In 1993, having already dropped
the Southeastern region designation,
Pennsylvanians for Human Life added
“Pro-Life Educational Services”
to its name. Although the PHL office
has physically moved from its original
location in Bala Cynwyd its educational
presentations have developed strongly
through the years while its purpose
has never wavered :to protect forever
the human infant in the womb.
In 2000, the official title became Pennsylvanians for Human Life Education Services.0
Past Presidents
1975-1976 Sally McCann
1976 -1977 Dr. Edward M. Sullivan
(acting)
1977 -1979 Dr. Donald F. McGuigan
1979-1983 Molly Kelly
1983 -1985 Dr. Donald F. McGuigan
1985-1987 Anne Barr
1987 -1989 Margaret Hoffner
1989 -1991 William Donohue, Esq.
1991 -1993 Karen Byer
1993-1995 Alvin A. Clay.III
1995-1997 Margaret R. O'Rourke
1997-2000 David Portnoe
2001-2003 Terence K. Heaney
2004-2006 Anita Nardone
Executive Directors
1971-1987 Louise Bolger, Program
Administrator
1987 -1994 Mary Ellen Devlin, Program
Director
1994 -1996 Kristen Haaf Ciaccia, Program Director
1996-1998 Anne Schmiesing, Program Director
1998-1999 Kristina Balten, Office
Manager
1996-1999 Martha H. Short. Office
Manager
1999 - Present Martha H. Short, Executive
Director
1999 - present M.Kathleen W. Bond,
Office Manager
| Vince
Benedict, Peg Luksik, Molly
Kelly & Steve Friend |
Since 1970 Pennsylvanians for Human
Life has been a leader in educating
students regarding the protection
of the most basic human right -
life itself.
PHL is non-sectarian and non-partisan,
hoping always to reach its widest
audience, young and old. No fee
is imposed but donations do help
with educational materials used
in presentations and are gratefully
appreciated.
Louise Bolger, Exec. Director
with Rep. Chris Smith (R) |
NJPHL presents programs designed
for students throughout the Delaware
Valley. All programs are presented
by dedicated volunteer speakers
who wholeheartedly offer their expertise
and time to explain the beauty of
young life in the womb, emphasizing
that each human being’s life
has value and begins at conception.
| Al
CLay, former president of
PHL |
PHL presents major aspects of the
current abortion debate and challenges
students in grades 9-12 to examine
the facts regarding fetal development,
abortion procedures, the abortion
industry and the effects of abortion
on mothers, fathers and society
as a whole.
| Louise
Bolger, Executive Director
of PHL, 1971-1987 |
