University of St. Thomas
Blessed John Paul II proclaimed that we are all "called to stand up for life! To respect and defend the mystery of life always and everywhere." At the University of St. Thomas Prolife Center, this is our mission - to carry out the calling through our works and prayers against all attacks on human life.
We work each day to achieve legal protection of all human life, including the unborn, the elderly, and the very ill.
We are driven by the single truth that all life is precious, from the moment of fertilization to the moment of natural death. Our goal is to equip lawyers with the knowledge and skills needed to change our country's laws to reflect this truth.
The Center focuses on three key areas to promote effective legal protection for human life:
International Call for Papers
October 21-23, 2026
The Prolife Center at the University of St. Thomas and the VITA Research Center at Universidad del Istmo (UNIS) invite scholars to participate in an international conference dedicated to examining the anthropological foundations of civil law in light of the Christian understanding of the human person. Celebrated on the Feast of St. John Paul II, this conference takes inspiration from his profound contribution to theological anthropology, human dignity, and the relationship between truth and freedom. At a moment when civil law is increasingly shaped by contested views of the person—particularly in matters of sexuality, biotechnology, family life, and human rights—this gathering seeks to recover and articulate a coherent account of the human person grounded in reason and illuminated by faith. Faithful to the Catholic intellectual tradition and open to ecumenical and interdisciplinary dialogue, the conference will explore how law both reflects and forms society’s understanding of the human person. We welcome contributions that draw upon Scripture, Thomistic and personalist philosophy, natural law theory, Catholic social teaching, and related traditions.
Guiding Questions
Submissions may be presented in the following workshops:
Workshop 1: Human Rights & the Anthropological Basis of Law
Workshop 2: Interamerican Court of Human Rights: Function and Jurisprudence Protecting life
Workshop 3: Human dignity as the Ontological Excellence of the person
Workshop 4: Revisiting Natural Law: Foundations, Challenges, and Contemporary Relevance
Paper Submission Guidelines
An abstract (500–750 words) clearly presenting your thesis and methodology
A brief curriculum vitae (2–3 pages) with institutional affiliation and contact information
Submission Deadline: June 15, 2026
Notification of Acceptance: August 15, 2026
Full Draft Deadline (for commentators): September 15, 2026 Submissions should be sent in PDF format to: tscollett@stthomas.edu or jmendez@unis.edu.gt
Publication Opportunities: The organizers are pursuing publication of selected papers in an edited scholarly volume or peer-reviewed journal consistent with the conference’s themes.
About the Organizers
Prolife Center at the University of St. Thomas (MN) Rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition, the Prolife Center seeks to integrate faith and reason in the forming legal professionals.
VITA Research Center, Universidad del Istmo (UNIS) A Natural Law Center for human flourishing. Dedicated to research on the dignity of the human person and its implications for law, culture, and public policy.
For further information, please contact:
Teresa Collett Professor of Law Director of the Prolife Center at the University of St.
Thomas University of St. Thomas (MN) tscollett@stthomas.edu
Jary Méndez Maddaleno, PhD. Vicedecana Facultad de Derecho VITA Research Center
Universidad del Istmo jmendez@unis.edu.gt
The Prolife Center was founded on the belief that if we are going to see the day when our country's laws respect all life, we need more lawyers who are equipped with a deep desire to change the law as well as the knowledge and skills needed to do so.
Our director, Professor Teresa S. Collett, has decades of experience representing individuals and organizations, supporting state governments and testifying before state and national legislative committees in order to protect human life.
Principal Faculty Member Professor Michael S. Paulsen is among the nation's leading scholars of constitutional interpretation.
Featured Video
Carolyn McDonnell, Litigation Counsel at Americans United for Life and Prolife Center alumna, shares insightful perspectives on what prolifers might anticipate with the inauguration of President-elect Trump.
Presidential Powers and Abortion - December 2024
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and returned the regulation of abortion to the states, President Biden instructed all federal agencies to take action to protect and expand access to abortion throughout the country. This webinar explores the actions of the agencies and their legality.
Physician-Assisted Suicide - A Webinar Update
Professor Teresa Collett and Jason Adkins from the Minnesota Catholic Conference discuss physician-assisted suicide and anticipated legislative efforts to legalize physician-assisted suicide in Minnesota in the upcoming 2024 legislative session.
MOMS group argues to intervene in abortion case - TheCatholicSpirit.com
Professor Teresa Collett argued at the MN Court of Appeals for MOMS, Mothers Offering Maternal Support, on November 1, 2023.
Minnesota Protection of Life and Conscience - an update
Professor Teresa Collett participated in a webinar discussing the prior Minnesota legislative session and Minnesota Protection of Life and Conscience in September 2023.
The Prolife Center has made significant strides toward accomplishing our mission of training law students and attorneys to protect life. With your financial support, we can undertake even more initiatives. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the University of St. Thomas Prolife Center.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible gift to the center, please visit the university's online giving page (link below). In the 'Choose your Designation' field, select Prolife Center in the School of Law from the drop-down menu.
Contributions can also be mailed to the Development Office at University of St. Thomas, P.O. Box 64947, St. Paul, MN 55164-0947. Specify that your gift contributes to the work of the Prolife Center at the University of St. Thomas School of Law.