The LifeLines Tour that visited the counties of Cavan, Donegal and Sligo over the past week was a great success.
Since the abortion referendum in 2018, there's been very little visible pro-life activism on the ground. That’s not to take away from the wonderful individual pro-life efforts that have continued at a local level. But in a coordinated way, there hasn't been much on the street outreach to the public in recent years.
That’s why it was so great to see young people going door-to-door again in the North West of the country, fearlessly spreading the pro-life message. As the photos from the tour show, the participants had a terrific time as they went from town to town leafleting and engaging with people one on one.
It's been very encouraging watching the big numbers turning out to pro-life marches and rallies in recent times. But it’s also critically important that we confidently and unapologetically take the pro-life message to every street and hamlet of the country.Â
It’s a privilege to be part of a movement where doing something as simple as putting a leaflet through a letterbox can have the profound impact of saving a life that might otherwise have been aborted. It’s clear from talking to the LifeLines team that they appreciated this point and understood the positive impact their efforts could have. They also discovered on the tour that the public is much more receptive to hearing what the pro-life side has to say about the new abortion law than the media would have us believe.
So let’s take encouragement from what these young ambassadors for life achieved over this past week. A big thank you to everyone who hosted, fed and welcomed LifeLines to your area. And a very special word of thanks to the members of the LifeLines team themselves who participated in this year’s tour. You are an amazing group! Sacrificing a chunk of your summer holidays to witness to the cause of life is a noble and commendable thing to do. You can be justifiably proud of the hope and encouragement you have given to others to follow in your footsteps.
The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, has acknowledged that €171,139 was spent on the deeply flawed and extreme abortion review. This is a huge amount of money considering it has been spent solely on a limited research study and the production of a piece of writing which forms the report.Â
Even the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, voiced his disapproval of the review for its extremely limited scope of investigation due to its failure to even interview a single woman who considered an abortion but did not proceed with the appointment. Therefore, the amount of money spent on this review considering its flawed outcome is unjustifiable. It is yet another example of the government’s spendthrift attitude, particularly when it coincides with attempts to push for more abortion in Ireland.Â
The €171,139 spent on the review can be added onto the millions of euro already spent on abortion provision in Ireland since the law became operational in 2019. At a time when the government is complaining about a lack of funding available for key services, there appears to be no shortage of money available for providing abortions or bankrolling reports which seek to make an already extreme law even more extreme.
We are delighted to announce that our National Conference this year will take place on Saturday, 14th October 2023 in the RDS Concert Hall, Dublin 4.
The theme of the conference is 'Growing the Pro-Life vote, Bringing about change at election time' and underlines our focus on getting more public representatives elected who will speak up courageously for human rights, for the right to life of unborn children and for care and support for women in unplanned pregnancy.
Stay tuned for updates on speakers in the coming weeks but for now, mark the date in your diary. See you there!Â
We are truly heartbroken about the passing this week of our friend and former colleague, Louise Clara (Keegan), after bravely fighting a year-long illness.
Louise was an invaluable member of the Pro Life Campaign during the lead-up to the 2018 abortion referendum. She was deeply loved and cherished by all of us. Her kind and thoughtful nature, along with her infectious and bubbly spirit, left a lasting impact on everyone she met.
Louise's unwavering commitment to the pro-life cause was inspiring, and she worked tirelessly on its behalf. Despite her debilitating illness, she displayed incredible strength, always putting her family and friends before herself.
 With the Oireachtas adjourned for the summer, it presents a perfect opportunity to approach your local TDs and Senators and urge them to reintroduce some humanity into the debate on abortion. The Three-Year Review, a seriously flawed process which produced a one-sided and extreme report, will be considered by politicians in the autumn. It’s important that we take action over the summer.
We have produced a quick and easy Virtual Postcard for you to sign, which will automatically send an email to your local TDs. Use the button below to navigate into your county on our website and find your constituency.
It’s also important to have meetings with your TDs. These can be as simple as dropping into your local TD’s advice clinic to outline your concerns. Click below to register to lobby your local TDs. Don’t worry – we’ll help you every step of the way with advice on making the appointment to points you might consider raising.
We are heartened by the number of people actively involved and interested in meeting their politicians to express their views. The People Before Profit Bill which regrettably passed at 2nd stage of the Dáil on 31st May must also be countered. Even the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, has said this Bill goes far beyond the recommendations of the Three-Year Review – which are already extreme in their own right.
During Summer 2023, it is crucial to engage with our politicians and remind them not to overlook the referendum promises. We need to fight to ensure our abortion policy is aimed at reducing the abortion rate.
Please take a moment to get involved in the Humanity Campaign. Remember even the smallest effort will make a big difference.
The seventh annual Ceiliúradh Cois Life Dinner for Pro-Life Education will take place in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin 4 on Saturday, September 9th 2023 at 7:00pm.
Join us for an evening of celebration, live music, great company and dancing! Not only will this event be an opportunity to introduce more people to the pro-life cause, but it’s also a fantastic occasion to reunite with friends and fellow volunteers.
Our guest speaker this year is Lord David Alton. A leading human rights defender, David Alton has been a consistent voice for the oppressed and marginalised since he began his political career in Britain in 1979. First elected as a Liberal MP for a Liverpool constituency, he now sits as a crossbench peer in the House of Lords. And as always, this event is supported by Senator RĂłnán Mullen.Â
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It is sure to be an uplifting and enjoyable evening and the proceeds of the dinner will ensure that the vital education and support work of the Pro Life Campaign can continue — including running educational programmes for young people in the pro-life movement on college campuses and through the Future Leaders Programme and assisting new mothers and those with unplanned pregnancy with practical items and support.
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The price of a table of ten is €1,500. Individual tickets are €150 each.  If you would like to join us on the evening, you can purchase your ticket(s) instantly below.  Please note if you wish to reserve tickets/a table and pay later or use a form of payment other than credit card payment, please email [email protected]
Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you there!
We are putting out a call for anyone in possession of any documents, photographs, correspondence, etc. relevant to the Irish pro-life movement throughout the decades. We are particularly keen to receive anything in your possession related to periods such as the 1983 referendum. A comprehensive history of the pro-life movement is yet to be written, but the historians of the future will need primary sources. We are asking for people to get in touch with the Pro Life Campaign if they possess such material (no matter how old or dusty!) to ensure it is preserved now and not lost to the ages.Â
Vital Signs is the e-newsletter of the Pro Life Campaign. We hope you and your families are keeping well in these unusual times. This email is to update you on what we have been working on recently, including news stories, project updates, and details of upcoming events. If you want to get in touch with us please do so by emailing [email protected]
