| INITIATIVES FOR LIFE The Michael Bell Memorial
Awards
The International Alliance of
Catholic Knights brings together eleven orders of Catholic men, working in twenty-five
countries throughout the world. All share the same commitment to the service of Christ and
their fellow men, and all are deeply committed to promoting the principle of every human
being's right to life from the moment of conception until natural death.
It was in pursuance of this
commitment that in 1992 the Alliance decided to seek out and recognise outstanding
initiatives in defence of the Right to Life being taken by organisations and individuals
throughout the world, by instituting an international award for "Initiatives For
Life".
The awards were named
"The Michael Bell Memorial Awards" in honour of a man who gave heroic service to
the Right to Life movement during his lifetime and whose influence and example spread to
many parts of the world.
Michael Bell lived in Bournemouth, England.
He was a lawyer and devoted himself to the protection of human life by prayer and action.
He was a member of the secular Franciscan Order, the founder of the international
Association of Lawyers in defence of the Unborn, founder and chairman of the Life Care and
Housing Trust, founder of the Dorset Family Concern Association. and chairman of the
Bournemouth Life group.
Michael Bell was fearless in
defence of moral principles, appearing frequently on television and radio, and making
regular contributions to the press. He was also a man of prayer, and would often be seen
kneeling on the pavement outside an abortion clinic quietly reciting the Rosary. For
several years he held national office in the Knights of St Columba. In all things he
gave example and encouragement to all who knew him in many parts of the world.
It was the great number of
outstanding "Initiatives for Life" that Michael took during his lifetime that
inspired the International Alliance to institute this award scheme to identify and
recognise new initiatives which are constantly being taken in defence of all human life.
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