Giuliani to Speak at Family Research Council Summit

ABC News’ Jan Simmonds Reports:  The Family Research Council Action (FRCA) announced Monday that Rudy Giuliani, R-N.Y., will speak at the organization’s "Washington Briefing 2007: Values Voter Summit" in Washington, D.C., on October 20th.   

Giuliani’s acceptance comes in the wake of the decision by a large group of Christian conservative leaders to support a third party candidate if the Republican Party nominates a candidate with pro-life views.

Media reports have cited Rudy Giuliani, specifically, as being a problematic nominee for Christian conservatives because while he "abhors" abortion, he also believes women have the right to choose.  Giuliani’s family history and views on gay rights have also been a public cause for concern to the group.

FRCA is the non-profit legislative action arm of the Family Research Council.  The FRCA’s stated purpose is "to educate the general public and cultural leaders about traditional American values and to promote the philosophy of the Founding Fathers concerning the nature of ordered liberty."

By speaking at the summit, Giuliani will receive yet another opportunity to convince the Christian conservative wing of the Republican Party that they should not fear his candidacy and alternatively, should support it.

James Dobson, the founder and chairman of the evangelical organization Focus on the Family Action, also plans to speak at the summit.  Dobson has been viewed by many as helping to lead the charge against Giuliani and other Republican candidates who do not hold pure pro-life positions.

The former New York Mayor is the eighth presidential hopeful to commit to address summit, "the largest gathering of pro-family activists in the nation’s capital," according to the FRCA.  The organization notes that the Democratic presidential candidates have also been offered time on an equal basis, but have so far declined.