It’s no secret that the mainstream media likes to portray the pro-life movement in the most negative light possible - accusing it of trying to curtail peoples' freedom and of being heartless and indifferent towards harrowing personal situations.
On the good news front though, the media playbook has become so predictable it is wearing thinner by the day as more and more people are awakened to the fact that the mainstream media is trying to impose rather than propose stories and ideas worthy of consideration. This interview at the US March For Life with a woman who lost four of her siblings to abortion is an example of a perspective that we don't hear on mainstream media. She was brought up in a household that was 'pro-choice' and having come to the realisation that her siblings had no voice was encouraged to become pro-life.
The more people stumble upon alternative stories and perspectives like this on social media that they don’t hear on the mainstream media, the more they question why so many stories of importance are hidden from them by the old ‘trusted’ media outlets! We shouldn’t lose heart then but instead make a point of continuing to share content like this with friends and family, and across social media. The truth is getting out, slowly but with greater strength and visibility than before.
Based on euthanasia data from the Canadian provinces of Québec, Ontario and Alberta, it is possible to estimate that in 2023 there were approximately 16,000 Canadian euthanasia deaths. Since legalisation in 2022, there have been more than 60,000 euthanasia deaths in total. The 2023 figures represent a considerable increase from the 13,241 euthanasia deaths in 2022. Canada’s shockingly high euthanasia statistics are the worst in the world, with euthanasia accounting for 6.8% of all deaths in Canada.
When Canada introduced legalised euthanasia, there were similar claims to those we’re hearing now in Ireland that it would learn from “best practice” abroad and would introduce a “robust” system with effective “safeguards”. The Irish Joint Committee on Assisted Dying will soon publish its report recommending whether Ireland should introduce a form of euthanasia/assisted suicide. It’s very important that Irish citizens lobby their elected representatives on this issue and urge them to oppose any attempts to introduce such a law. A Pro Life Campaign Webinar on 19 March at 7.30pm (covered elsewhere in Vital Signs) will give relevant information which can be used as part of efforts to lobby your TDs and Senators.
The majority of medical professions in the Irish healthcare system are opposed to euthanasia and assisted suicide. Professional bodies opposed to euthanasia include the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and the Irish Palliative Medicine Consultants’ Association. These professionals have demonstrated considerable foresight and have obviously learned from the negative experience of countries like Canada. In Canada, there were plans to introduce euthanasia for mental health reasons on 17 March 2024, but this Bill has been pushed out until 2027 – perhaps indicating that in government circles in Canada there is an awareness that euthanasia has become far too pervasive. Ireland should be ahead of the curve and not follow the same mistakes made by Canada, which are now being recognised by their government.
The push to legalise euthanasia in Ireland is gathering pace now that the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Assisted Dying has brought its public hearings to a close.
Don’t miss this vitally important webinar featuring Senator Rónán Mullen and Stephen Browne for all the up to date news on developments and to find out about the next steps in the campaign to stop euthanasia/assisted suicide from being legalised in Ireland.
The webinar will take place on Zoom on Tuesday, 19th March at 7.30pm.
In the Saturday 17th February edition of the Irish Independent, columnist Sarah Carey made a strong case in favour of retaining the three-day waiting period between abortion appointments. This section of the 2018 abortion law was included in the pre-referendum draft legislation, which was published in spring 2018 and encouraged many ‘moderate’ Yes voters to vote for Repeal. Notably, in political circles, this included Minister Simon Coveney who was assured that such “safeguards” would keep abortion “rare” in Ireland and ensure informed consent. However, there are now efforts to remove it, on foot of the deeply flawed three-year review report, which Sarah Carey rightly described as “undermin[ing] trust in our democracy.” This point was echoed in the recent report of the Health Committee on the three-year review, which noted that individual members had expressed concerns that implementing the three-year review’s recommendations “entail a substantial departure from the proposals presented to the electorate before the May 2018 referendum.”
Sarah Carey wrote: “I’ve never heard of any elective procedure that didn’t involve a gap between a consultation with a doctor and the actual procedure. The abortion pill (there are actually two medications, taken a day or two apart) is not an antibiotic. Something serious happens to the body afterwards. According to the HSE website, there is cramping, bleeding, dizziness and diarrhoea. There can be nausea, vomiting, flushes and sweating.”
Listen back to Melissa Byrne (Students For Life Ireland's Outreach Officer) who was interviewed earlier in the week on Spirit Radio about the recent reply Carol Nolan TD received from the HSE indicating that the soon to be published figures for 2023 will sadly reveal that more than 10,000 abortions took place during the year, representing a massive increase from the 2,879 abortions that happened in 2018, the year of the abortion referendum.
Senator Sharon Keogan has called on the Government to shelve any plans to change the law to give effect to the sweeping recommendations contained in the report of the Three-Year Review.
During the Order of Business in the Seanad, She referenced the fact that in the recently published report from the Oireachtas Health Committee there’s an important acknowledgement that among other things the Review chairperson who recommended scrapping the three-day wait never bothered interviewing any of the many women who went for their first abortion appointment but decided to keep their baby after the three-day wait.
Community Connect is a registered charity, dedicated to providing practical support to pregnant mothers and vulnerable families with small babies, who are struggling to provide for their children. They are running their national donation day on March 9th & 10th, asking people to 'Support a Mother in need for Mother’s Day'. They are appealing for donations of baby hygiene items and packs of new baby clothing and blankets, to be given to pregnant mothers and families with newborns across the country.
Community Connect currently operates from five hubs across the country, in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Kilkenny & Athlone. The charity partners with maternity hospitals, homeless agencies, domestic violence services, direct provision centres and health professionals around Ireland, to provide support to pregnant women and new mothers in need with gifts of essential items like buggies, moses baskets, baby clothes and mother and baby packs filled with items such as nappies, maternity items and baby clothing. The charity relies on the generosity of volunteers and donors around Ireland to continue its work.
Welcoming a baby should be a very special time in any family’s life, however it can also be a stressful and challenging time for parents who are struggling to access basic necessities. This is the reality that many pregnant and new mothers in Ireland face every day. Community Connect is leading the way in pioneering a national ‘Baby Bank’ in Ireland, while providing Irish parents with a sustainable and trustworthy way to donate their pre-loved baby items to a family who will really benefit.
It couldn't be easier to get involved in Drive & Drop!
Donors just need to follow three simple steps:
Visit their website www.communityconnect.ie and click on ‘Drive & Drop’ to check if your area is listed
Browse the list of items requested and decide what you would like to donate
Then drop the items to one of the local drop-off locations on Saturday 9th or Sunday 10th March.
All the items donated will be delivered to pregnant women and new mothers in need in the coming weeks and months.
Thank you so much to all the volunteers and supporters of the work of Community Connect!
The Local and European elections are scheduled to take place in early June. A General Election will also likely happen before the end of 2024.
Before polling day for each election, the Pro Life Campaign will provide a comprehensive Voter Guide with a list of candidates and parties and where they stand on abortion and other right to life issues.
We've already started work on compiling the list, which involves a huge time commitment. It's vital work though in order to guarantee that the information presented to voters is both thorough and reliable.
But for today, we'd be most grateful if you'd set aside some time to send us ANY information you have regarding the stances of candidates in your local area on the right to life issue. Don’t assume we have it already! The more information we have the more comprehensive our Voter Guide will be. We take special care in gathering as much verifiable data as possible to accurately reflect where candidates stand and to ensure we have the most up to date information to share with voters.
Please send any information you have to [email protected] today or make a note to do so before Monday 11th March. Many thanks for all your help!!
Explore the world of human rights with our internship programme! This is your chance to network, learn advocacy skills, and gain experience in campaign management and project planning.
This one-week internship is available starting every Monday from 15th January. It is suitable for TY and older, third-level students, and anyone interested in gaining experience in non-profit work!
It’s a really important time 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 now.
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.
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.
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.
Vital Signs is the e-newsletter of the Pro Life Campaign. 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]
