Cindi LoForti leaves ‘amazing’ pro-life legacy to tend to family needs

Campaign Life Coalition national president Jim Hughes told The Interim that a little more than 10 years ago, “we were praying to God for someone to come and help us in the Niagara peninsula. At the same time, Cindi LoForti was praying to God for something to do as a gift to God.”

The result was a perfect match of needs, as Mrs. LoForti came forward to volunteer her services. Now, after almost ten years as CLC Niagara director, she has decided to step down. She made the decision in order to spend more time with her family, especially her daughter Amber, who was diagnosed as having a brain tumour earlier this year.

On Nov. 14, at the annual dinner of CLC Niagara, Mrs. LoForti was honoured for her years of dedication.

Hughes described LoForti’s legacy at CLC Niagara as “amazing.” She was instrumental in bringing CLC ads to Niagara’s buses, for example.

Mrs. LoForti told The Interim that while she was a student she memorized all the ads on the inside of the city buses. She thought, “if students could remember a pro-life message, even subconsciously, how far could that go in helping pregnant women in distress?”

The ads featured a toll-free number to contact for help, facts on the development of the unborn baby, and facts about abortion. The campaign became a controversial front-page story in the Niagara Falls Reviewer.

Mrs. LoForti also became an important liaison with the local media. With her astute handling of the media, she was able to craft a very positive pro-life message. Local coverage of life issues has become more fair as a result. “I don’t consider fair coverage to be pro-life coverage,” she said, “just the objective reporting of the facts.”

CLC Niagara also undertook crisis pregnancy counselling under Mrs. LoForti’s leadership. Each year, the office has counselled 60 to 80 women, and helped them after their pregnancy with clothes, cribs, and strollers.

“We ask them to bring back their old clothes (and) pick up larger sizes, because it keeps us in touch. We can refer them to services they need,” Mrs. LoForti explains. “Because of the credibility we have in the area, people who would not usually be on our side are referring women to us.” Women are now being referred from public-health nurses, social workers, the local food bank, Project Share, and Nova House, a women’s shelter.

Reflecting on Mrs. LoForti’s achievements, Mr. Hughes concluded, “She’ll be missed – and that’s the understatement of the year.”