Our Leadership

Yvonne Bontkowski

Executive Director

Pamela Acker

Board Member & Research Advisor

Carolyn Moebest

Board Member & Advancement

Michael Kramer, D.C.

Board Member

Meredith Shane, R.N.

Board Member

Amanda Miller

Board Member & Media/Communications

Maria Kemp

Exemption Coordinator

Deacon Keith A. Fournier, J.D., M.T.S., M.Phil.

Board Member & Spiritual Advisor

Coming Soon

Bios

Yvonne Bontkowski

Yvonne Bontkowski

Executive Director

Yvonne Bontkowski was was born in Chicago area and raised in a devout immigrant Polish Catholic family.  In 2002 she joined the prolife organization, Children of God for Life as a Research Official  until her retirement in 2020.  During that time, she assisted with investigating vaccines and other medicines that either contained or utilized aborted fetal material in their development and production.  In addition, she helped uncover the gruesome details of the numerous abortions involved as scientists very casually and  graphically described the details and methods used to obtain fresh organs and tissues.

In faithful obedience to the admonition of the Pontifical Academy of Life, which stated in 2005 that there is a duty to “take recourse” to moral alternatives and to make one’s protest known to the pharmaceutical industry in order put an end to the gross exploitation of aborted children in scientific research.  Her work is focused on educating the public regarding both previous and current research on vaccines, medicines and other consumer products produced using aborted fetal cell lines.

She is currently a homeschooling mom of 8 children, 3 Grandchildren, Married 35 years to her retired US Marine husband, and resides in South East Wisconsin.

Pamela Acker

Pamela Acker

Board Member & Research Advisor

Pamela holds a Master of Science degree in biology from The Catholic University of America, a degree that she pursued after years of interest in fighting against the use of aborted fetal tissue in the vaccine industry.  While there, she conducted research in vaccine delivery using T4 bacteriophage nanoparticles, but ultimately left the university because the vaccine lab began using the cell line HEK-293.  In addition to teaching in classrooms from middle school to college for nearly a decade and a half, Miss Acker has published two books:  Vaccination: a Catholic Perspective, a comprehensive look at this very politicized topic that was published by the Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation, and Biology: a Traditional Catholic Perspective, a high school biology textbook that she co-authored with the founders of Angelic Doctor Academy.  She now works full time with the Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation using her knowledge of biology to defend a traditional understanding of human physiology as designed by God and not as a byproduct of random evolutionary processes.

Carolyn Moebest

Carolyn Moebest

Board Member & Advancement

Carolyn Moebest is a pro-life mother of eight, widow, grandmother and small business owner for over 43 years. Her expertise in small business “start ups” has led her to successfully lead two residential construction companies and a home maintenance company.

Closest to her heart is the safety of children. Her advocacy in  pro-life work  began in the 1990’s and continues today.  Carolyn is  stridently “Pro-life” from conception to “natural death.”

Michael Kramer, D.C.

Michael Kramer, D.C.

Board Member

Dr. Kramer is a chiropractic physician who lives with his wife and 5 children in North Carolina. As a freshman in the Midwest, his interest and advocacy in pro-life organizations led him to accept a role as president of a universities pro-life organization. In the years that followed, as a husband and father, his desire to protect the most vulnerable and voiceless among us has only increased. He hopes to work in any way he can to assist in advocating and educating for ethically derived vaccines. The pro life cause and the ending of the abuse of the use of fetal tissue for profit hits very close to his heart, as he was himself a target, diagnosed with an uncommon and complicated condition in utero in the 1980s. Living on time his mothers physicians advised against giving him at life, he intends to continuing advocating for the defenseless until he can’t any longer.

Meredith Shane, R.N.

Meredith Shane, R.N.

Board Member

Amanda Miller

Amanda Miller

Board Member & Media/Communications

Amanda Miller is a native of Clearwater, Florida. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame prior to serving as an officer in the United States Army. During her service in the Army, Amanda worked in an array of positions including as a public affairs officer. She has been married for 20 years with five beautiful children. Her family has traveled the world and lived all over the country, including Alaska and Hawaii.

Following her Army service, Amanda established her own business as a photographer. She has employed her skills as a photographer professionally and continues to offer her photography services on a voluntary basis supporting her local schools and community events. Amanda is a long-time advocate for the rights of the unborn. She has worked with numerous advocacy groups and with the Catholic Church to promote life.

Maria Kemp

Maria Kemp

Exemption Coordinator

Maria Kemp became (somewhat unwillingly) educated on exemptions after getting terminated from her job in 2021 for not getting a certain vaccine. She was 6 weeks pregnant at the time and up until then, a follower of whatever her doctor said. But this felt different and she trusted her motherly instincts. Getting fired was the best thing that happened to her and she is now a fierce advocate for medical freedom. Parents have the right to research for themselves and ask questions. Maria is passionate about spreading awareness on exemptions in each state. She resides in Nashville, TN with her husband and 4 children.

Deacon Keith A. Fournier, J.D., M.T.S., M.Phil.

Deacon Keith A. Fournier, J.D., M.T.S., M.Phil.

Board Member & Spiritual Advisor

Deacon Keith Fournier, BA, JD, MTS, MPhil. is a Deacon of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, Virginia. He is a Constitutional Lawyer and Moral Theologian. He has been happily married to his wife Laurine for 50 years. They have five grown children and eight grandchildren. Deacon Fournier has served as a member of the Catholic Clergy, a Deacon, for 30 years. He served for many years before his ordination as a lay Christian leader. A graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, University of Pittsburgh Law School, the John Paul II Institute and the Catholic University of America, Deacon Fournier is a Constitutional Lawyer and Moral Theologian.
He has dedicated fifty years of ministry to evangelization, apologetics and the promotion of authentic Christian unity. He has spent his life as a “missionary to the culture” in many capacities – as counsel and Dean to the Franciscan University of Steubenville in the 80’s, first Executive Director of the American Center for Law and Justice in the nineties, founder and President of Common Good Foundation, Editor in Chief of Catholic Online, Dean of Catholic Online School, and for over five years, he and his wife relocated to Tyler, Texas to assist Bishop Joseph Strickland in several capacities; as legal and theological advisor, Director of Deacon Formation and Dean of Catholic Identity for the School..
Deacon Keith and his wife Laurine recently moved back to Chesapeake Va. He holds three theology degrees. His BA in Theology and Philosophy from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, his first Master’s Degree in Moral Theology (Marriage and Family Emphasis) from the John Paul II Institute of the Lateran University (emphasis on Marriage and family) and his MPhil in Moral Theology from the Catholic University of America. He completed all requirements for the PhD but did not complete the Dissertation. His dissertation, which he still hopes to complete, was on the Theological Anthropology of the Gift in Pope St John Paul II.
He holds his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and, in his decades of legal practice, appeared as Co-Counsel in several Pro-Life, Pro-Family and Religious Liberty cases at the US Supreme Court.
A published author of 8 Books and hundreds of articles. He had eight books published in the U.S., Europe and the Philippines including; “ Titles of the Holy Spirit” (Franciscan University), “Evangelical Catholics” (Thomas Nelson); “Bringing Christ’s Presence Into Your Home” (Thomas Nelson); “ Wounds that Heal” (Servant), “In Defense of Life” (NavPress);“ A House United?  Evangelicals and Catholics Together” (NavPress), “ And Nothing But the Truth” (with Jay Sekulow) (Thomas Nelson) and “The Prayer of Mary: Living the Surrendered Life” (Thomas Nelson). He has also written and published numerous booklets and Hundreds of popular and scholarly articles on contemporary social, religious, family and policy issues
Debra Vinnedge

Debra Vinnedge

Founder

Debi Vinnedge was the original Founder of Children of God for Life in 1999 whose efforts initially were focused on the bioethics issues of human cloning, embryonic and fetal tissue research.

Mrs. Vinnedge is a nationally recognized author and speaker and has provided written testimony for Congressional hearings on embryonic stem cell research. She introduced the Fair Labeling and Informed Consent Act to members of the US House and Senate, legislation that protects religious rights, moral conscience and requires informed consent on medical products using aborted fetal or embryonic materials.

She has appeared on both local and national television programs and has been a guest speaker on major national television and radio broadcasts, including Fox News’ Hannity & Colmes, Vatican Radio, Ave Maria Radio, EWTN, Human Life International and Living His Life Abundantly. Her work has been featured in leading Catholic publications such as Our Sunday Visitor, New Covenant Magazine, EWTN Question and Answers, EWTN’s Ethics in Healthcare, American Life League’s Celebrate Life, the National Catholic Register, Human Life International Reports and numerous diocesan newsletters and periodicals, including the Vatican’s Medicini e Morale.

Under her direction, the organization’s Campaign for Ethical Vaccines has gained the backing of hundreds of thousands of supporters nationwide including numerous medical professionals, pro-life organizations and religious groups. The organization has provided assistance and educational materials to over two dozen foreign countries.

Mrs. Vinnedge was the recipient of the Catholic Medical Association’s 2014 Evangelium Vitae award for her work at Children of God for Life. She has been married 47 years with two children, five grandchildren, and one great grandchild.  Mrs. Vinnedge retired in 2021.

Past Board Members

José L. Trasancos, Ph.D., President

Stacy A. Trasancos, Ph.D., Vice President

Most Rev. Bishop Joseph E. Strickland, J.C.L., Spiritual Advisor

Deacon Keith A. Fournier, J.D., M.T.S., M.Phil., Legal Advisor

Fr. Paul Pecchie, Spiritual Advisor

Fr. Anthony Zimmerman, S.T.D., Spiritual Director

Judie Brown, Vice President of Pro-Life Activities

Jay Carpenter, M.D., Vice President

Jan G. Halisky, Board Member