A tribute to the life of pro-life activist and pregnancy center founder Chris Slattery

Disclaimer: The following is a guest post.

Early in the morning of Wednesday, November 22, 2023, longtime pro-life activist Chris Slattery passed away after a courageous battle with two different cancers. He was 68 years old. Chris at one point worked in advertising, but after experiencing success counseling abortion-minded women to carry their pregnancies to term – he dedicated his life to the pro-life movement.  

Chris is best known for founding the pregnancy center network, Expectant Mother Care, later known as EMC Frontline, with 14 locations in the New York City area. Chris was among the first pro-life activists to make effective use of ultrasound technology. He even took ultrasound imaging to the streets with mobile medical vans.

His efforts in saving preborn children did not go unnoticed by supporters of legal abortion. Chris frequently faced opposition from New York State Attorneys General, New York State Governors, and New York City Council members who were eager to stop Chris’s lifesaving work. That said, Chris was never fazed or intimidated by this opposition. Instead, he was always passionate about his pro-life work. Overall, Chris estimated that 43,000 lives had been saved as a result of his pro-life work. 

Since I am a college professor with an interest in mentoring pro-life students, I always admired the internship program that Chris ran. He frequently encouraged students to intern with him in the “Abortion Capital of America.” I often described it as the toughest pro-life internship in the country.

Shortly after their arrival, Chris would have his interns sidewalk counseling in front of New York City abortion facilities.  However, in exchange for their hard work, Chris arranged for his interns to attend pro-life conferences, New York Yankees baseball games, and Broadway plays. Literally hundreds of young people have developed skills in sidewalk counseling and pregnancy help because of Chris’ leadership.

Chris Slattery was a regular at pro-life conferences and at pro-life leadership meetings. He was a superb pro-life activist, friend, husband, and father. He will be missed. RIP

Author’s Note: A $500,000 dollar-for-dollar matching fund is being provided to build on the pro-life work begun by Chris Slattery in NYC. Go to https://www.compasscarecommunity.com/nyc/ to invest in saving women and preborn boys and girls from abortion in memory of the lifesaving work of Chris Slattery.

Michael J. New is an Assistant Professor of Practice at The Catholic University of America and a Senior Associate Scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute. Follow him on Twitter/X @Michael_J_New.