James Patrick McFadden (1930-1998) was a journalist and publisher, who began his career at National Review magazine in 1956, later becoming the Associate Publisher. In 1973, in response to the Roe v. Wade decision, he founded the Ad Hoc Committee in Defense of Life, an anti-abortion lobbying organization. In 1975, he founded the Human Life Foundation, and its quarterly, the Human Life Review. He also founded in 1975 the National Committee of Catholic Laymen, which produced several publications, including the still-published newsletter catholic eye.

J. P. McFadden died on October 17, 1998, after a five-year struggle with cancer. All three of his organizations are being continued.