It's been more than 25 years since Chris Smith defied conventional wisdom by risking a pro-life stance in his first campaign for the U.S. Congress and winning.

That was back in 1981 and the fantastic thing is that, every two years since, he's run proudly pro-life and been re-elected.

Since the 80s, his stunning series of victories in the district I call home have led the movie buff in me to picture Smith as a life-affirming Jedi knight battling the forces of the philosophical Death Star that hovers over New Jersey, Washington and many corners of this earth.

Nothing he's done since being elected to Congress at the age of 27 has changed this impression.

In fact, his determined championing of the rights and interests of so many facets of humanity - from children forced to toil in sweatshops to women kidnapped and sold into lives of prostitution to unborn children whose opportunity for life is threatened - have stood as a beacon in an often dark and stormy sea.

Those efforts will be recognized warmly June 16 when Smith receives the St. Thomas More Award at the fifth annual Red Mass and Professional Dinner beginning at 4 p.m.

Noting that Smith embodies so many of the qualities St. Thomas More was known for, Linda G. Richardson saluted the Congressman as "a man who inspires admiration for the work he does and the way he lives.

"When you think of St. Thomas More and the standards he lived by as a family man, a statesman and a faithful servant of the people of God, you can easily see why the St. Thomas More Steering committee selected Representative Smith," she said.

Sponsored by the diocesan St. Thomas More Society, spearheaded by the diocesan Family Life Office, the event is held for all lawyers, judges and government officials who reside or work in the four counties of the diocese - Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean and Burlington.

The evening will begin with Mass celebrated by Bishop John M. Smith in the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption. A dinner will follow the Mass at 6 p.m. in the Lafayette Yard Marriott.

The award, given by Bishop Smith at the dinner, recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the state and country, and who has witnessed the faith in both public and private life. Associate Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito, the 2006 St. Thomas More Award winner, will introduce the congressman.

In a recent telephone interview from his Washington, D.C., office, Smith, nationally and internationally renowned as a champion of human rights, religious freedom, veterans' affairs and healthcare, said he is looking forward to the event on many levels.

"I'm humbled and grateful to be receiving this award," said Smith. "None of us are in any of these jobs to garner awards but this is very moving for me."

"To be receiving it from Bishop Smith is particularly moving. He does such wonderful work for our community with peerless spiritual direction, devotion to (Catholic) education, healthcare, social justice outreach, all second to none. I'm just so grateful to be a Catholic of the Trenton Diocese."

A resident of Hamilton, Smith and his wife, Marie - parents of Melissa, Christopher, Michael and Elyse - are looking forward to sharing the evening with many of his supporters and constituents. It's an opportunity, he said, to thank them for their steadfast support through a series of elections in which he has always faced pro-abortion opponents.

"I've been fortunate," he acknowledged. "You would have to ask the constituents why they support me. I'm not shy about where I stand. I try to (serve) humbly. I believe you lead with ideas and convictions..."

"On fundamental right to life issues, children need advocates. They don't need people who wilt under pressure," said the congressman who noted that 49 million abortions have been performed in the United States since the right to the procedure became law. Smith talked about his long, consistent personal history in the pro-life movement, a cause he embraced a year before Roe v. Wade became law. "In 1972, I was a Trenton State College student and I had to do a speech for a class. I looked into many topics but decided to give the speech on abortion."

"I got three rebuttals from other students," he recalled. "They were harsh, personal and totally misguided and I was faced with fight or flight for the first time on the subject. It occurred to me that if I and others did not speak up, (children) would be killed in huge numbers."

"A year later, Roe v. Wade was imposed and the numbers are approaching the total number of civilian and combat deaths in World War II. The usual number given for the war is 55 million and with abortion in America, we're approaching 49 million and it's called a right. It isn't a right. It's child abuse."

Smith said the Church has always taken the lead in helping people to recognize the human rights issue at the heart of abortion. "The Church is a beacon of clarity and encouragement for all of us to speak out in defense of human life."

"The Church is a comfort and a guide...The Church calls politicians to be true to a human rights standard," he said. "Our pope, the cardinals, bishops, parish priests, our religious, our schools, they all get it right: it is a human rights issue and a catastrophe to society. It is decimating the family, hurting women. There are so many victims."

Smith said his inspiration comes from Matthew 25 - specifically, Jesus' exhortation to 'Do for the least of my brethren what you do for me.' "I try, as meager as those efforts are, to promote Matthew 25, to encourage people to see Christ in the person with AIDS, the suffering in Darfur, the unborn child at great peril."

With abiding faith, he looks forward to the day when sanctity of life is restored to its place as a pillar of American society. That day must come, he said. He hopes it is sooner, rather than later.

"The overriding message is that we need more men and women in government to do their due diligence, to stand up for what is right," Smith said. "We need to realize in this world that as laity or clergy or politicians, we are no less obligated to do his will to promote justice. We need to realize that we don't get immunity just because we're elected."

Tickets for the annual Red Mass and Professional Dinner are $60. For information contact Mary Ann Romagna at 609-406-7400, ext. 558 or go to www.dioceseoftrenton.org/go/redmass