Welcome to Vital Signs, 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]
Deputy Carol Nolan questions Minister Harris on telemedicine abortions
Yesterday in the Dáil, Carol Nolan TD challenged the Minister for Health Simon Harris on his decision to permit ‘home abortions’ for the duration of the Covid-19 crisis, where women seeking an abortion will undergo a remote online consultation with a doctor before the abortion happens, without any prior face to face consultation or routine examination.
Deputy Nolan said the changes were made without any consultation with other Oireachtas members who might have opposed the move.
She said: “Instead the Minister chose to proceed with a ‘Revised Model of Care’ which stands in total contradiction to the assurances he provided to an Oireachtas Health Committee in 2018.”
Directly questioning the Minister in the Dáil, Deputy Nolan asked for clear and specific information on who or what organisation was going to oversee this radical change and what medical advice the Minister sought before pressing ahead with the change. Deputy Nolan described the Minister’s response as inadequate. She did however force him to concede on the record that the new measures introduced will lapse “once the public health emergency is declared over.”
In addition to the lives of unborn babies that will be lost as a result of the home abortions that take place, Deputy Nolan raised the potential for devastating health outcomes that remote consultation generates for women self-administering abortion drugs. Deputy Nolan called on the Minister to provide a greater level of detail and commitment on the roadmap to reverse remote consultations.
You can read Deputy Nolan's question to the Minister and reply in Dáil Éireann yesterday here
While it's an uncertain time for the country and many normal work and social activities are on hold, we have been working together on some exciting projects in recent weeks. Thanks to all of you who have been involved in these projects. Your participation and support is appreciated.
Read more below and why not get involved in whatever project appeals to you and if you can, please complete our volunteer survey below. Thank you!
With the help of our INCREDIBLE volunteers, we have connected with over 1000 people so far during these days of lockdown. We truly are #inthistogether.
If you or someone you know is feeling isolated and alone at this time and would appreciate a call from our team, let us know by reply.
We are still looking for volunteers to assist with this telephone project. If you have a few hours to spare to assist, please let us know instantly here
Following two successful courses in Dublin and Galway, the third Future Leaders Programme is currently being delivered online. It is an intensive two-month training initiative that equips young people with the competence, arguments and motivation to promote the pro-life vision in the public square.
The course is a dynamic opportunity to engage with national and international pro-life leaders, and imparts crucial skills that enable participants to become proactive, organised and more effective as leaders, communicators and activists in the cause of protecting life.
Overall, the course enables each participant to:
Understand the legal and medical realities surrounding the protection of life in Ireland and the EU
Be capable of developing logically sound and emotionally compelling arguments aimed at promoting the right to life
Appreciate the challenges faced by parents with an unplanned pregnancy and be aware of the supports available to them
Utilise traditional and social media to promote the pro-life message efficiently and effectively
Understand the Irish and EU political systems and ways that individuals and groups can influence them
Enjoy the experience and curate friendships with those who share the same respect for the right to life
We're delighted to announce that there will be a fourth course (online) later this
Summer, commencing on Monday 4th August for 8 weeks. The programme content will be delivered by Irish and international experts.
If you wish to apply to participate, please complete this application form by Friday 24th July, and we will get back to you.
There are 15 sponsored places available for suitable participants. This is an exciting opportunity designed specifically for young people, aged 18-30, who are committed to the pro-life cause. Please encourage anyone you think suitable to apply.
The PLC Network has been established in response to the views of pro-life volunteers all over the country and we hope that it will encourage and empower pro-life volunteerism in the coming months and years.
We saw how the pro-life networks worked so efficiently before the election to engage and canvass and encourage voters to support pro-life candidates. The PLC Network will built on this success by encouraging educational engagement in every county in Ireland.
Naturally the Covid-19 crisis has impacted massively on the ability to physically meet with local pro-life groups and activists. However more and more of us are using online conference platforms to interact, share ideas and progress local awareness and cooperation.
Thank you to all those who attended the last PLC Network Webinar ( held on the 6th May). Over 250 attended the event which was addressed by guest speaker Lord David Alton.
The next PLC Network will take place on 6th June. The theme of the Webinar is 'Striving for Clarity' and we will be joined by Deputy Carol Nolan and others.
The event is free and you can register instantlyhere
Community Connect, the new national initiative to assist pregnant women and new mothers in a practical and tangible way is going from strength to strength.
With six hubs nationwide, Community Connect helps mothers in need with material support, so that they feel more secure and supported in bringing their baby into the world.
Operating as a practical support hub where parents in need can access necessities like nappies and wipes, as well as pre-loved items, Community Connect has assisted women in recent weeks through liasing with GiannaCare and homelessness agencies and directly with hostels for women and babies.
We would love to have more volunteers sign up to help us with this work. Even a few hours per week could make a huge difference in the lives of a mother and her baby! If you would like to help, you can sign up instantly here and your local hub co-ordinator will be in touch!
We are also always in need of donations of pre-loved (lightly used) baby clothes and equipment, so please spread the word! We can accept a variety of items, and more information is available on our website here
Lastly, our fabulous team of knitters are working tirelessly to make hats, bootees, cardigans and blankets that we will put into each new baby gift we give out. You can sign up to knit one item or many, and we can provide patterns for those who are beginners. If you or someone you know would like to knit for us, please sign up here.The Community Connect team are very grateful to all the knitting volunteers already involved. If you can take a moment to email us a selfie of you with your knitting to [email protected], we would be delighted. Thank you!
Are you a secondary school (TY or older) or third level student? Would you like to experience working with a pro-active Human Rights organisation and develop skills in advocacy, campaign management and project planning? We are seeking ‘virtual’ interns to work part-time from home at this time. Internships run for one week periods from Monday, 18th May.
THe next PLC Network Webinar will take place on June 6th 2020 from 11am to 12noon. Register FREE instantly here
The fourth Future Leaders Programme is recruiting. It is due to start as an online programme on 4th August 2020. Apply instantlyhere
The PLC National Conference is scheduled for late October 2020 in the RDS Concert hall. However given the current situation, we will be reviewing the event and will let you know in plenty of time when registrations open.
Similarly the Annual Dinner for Pro-Life Education was scheduled for June of this year and has been postponed. We will let you know as soon as a date is confirmed for that event
Thank you to all of those who completed our Volunteer Survey sent out on email yesterday. If you haven't already, we would be grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete ithere.
There can be a tendency by some to present pro-life supporters as only caring about unborn babies and not being actively involved in other voluntary work and charitable pursuits. From our experience nothing could be further from the truth.
The survey is set out in the form of a questionnaire but there is also space to add your thoughts and suggestions about things you would like to see happening as part of the pro-life effort in the months ahead.
The survey is also designed to gather information about the wide and interesting variety of people that make up the pro-life movement. This optional element involves sharing a little about yourself, what inspires you and what other issues and areas you are involved in. Thank you.
