Pro-life supporters have reacted with shock and deep sadness to the disclosures in a new study laying bare the truly horrifying impact of the new abortion law in Ireland.
The study, published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, is based on interviews with 10 doctors involved in performing abortions in Ireland. It quotes the doctors talking about the “brutal”, “awful” reality of what they do, with one doctor describing “stabbing the baby in the heart”, while another medic talks about getting physically sick in the corridor after performing an abortion. It also quotes doctors talking about what they do in situations when a baby is born alive after a failed abortion.
The lies, duplicity and indifference of our elected representatives has brought our country to this sorry and unspeakable point. They presented an utterly dishonest and sanitised picture to voters of what an abortion regime would look like, far removed from the dreadful reality that’s now happening on the ground.
Even though what we’re witnessing is heart-rending and very distressing, our response should never be one of despair. We must keep the fight going on multiple fronts to change hearts and minds and rebuild a culture of life in Ireland. And we should never overlook all the wonderful efforts that continue to happen to bring about the change that is needed. Â
Some people have been asking what they can do to help in a practical way after this week’s news. For a start, we should not overlook all the wonderful and worthwhile efforts that continue to be made by so many volunteers to keep the movement alive and functioning. These ongoing efforts remain pivotal to ensuring progress in the future.
If perhaps you have not been involved in pro-life activism in recent times and wish to do something concrete in response to this week’s news, how about contacting one of the amazing pro-life TDs in the Dáil to offer your help as a volunteer to ensure their re-election? Or consider signing-up to help with one of the many projects of the Pro Life Campaign?
Every time we encounter the darkness of abortion, we should commit to do doing something positive that will help bring about change. Regardless of how small these changes might seem initially they still represent a step in the right direction.
You can read our press statement on the report issued earlier this week here.Â
With all the attention on the recent US presidential election, there was a very positive pro-life development that got little attention. In the US state of Louisiana, voters passed an amendment to the state constitution. The amendment prohibits the state or its courts from finding a right to abortion, when Roe v Wade is ultimately overturned.Â
The Love Life referendum was passed by Louisiana voters with a huge 62% in favour. The pro-life effort was sponsored by trailblazing pro-life Senator, Katrina Jackson. This is not the first time that Jackson, an African American member of the Democratic Party, has bravely bucked her party's pro-abortion trend.
In June of this year, the Supreme Court invalidated her law which protected women from dangerous abortion doctors who didn't have admitting privileges to hospitals. This let abortion doctors to operate at a lower standard than ordinary healthcare professionals. But undeterred from this setback, Senator Jackson was the co-lead author of this recent referendum, and it resulted in resounding victory.Â
Now that the referendum has passed, the Love Life Amendment campaign has said that its success will result in protecting "current pro-life laws on the books and in effect, such as informed consent, ultrasound requirements, prohibitions on the taxpayer funding of abortion, protections for babies in the 5th month of pregnancy, and more."
This brilliant victory for the mothers and unborn children of Louisiana reminds of our of our pro-life amendment passed in 1983 which protected the right to life of all unborn children for 35 years. Our commitment to restore that legal protection here in Ireland will not falter.
The abortion chain Marie Stopes International has announced that it is changing its name, in what is a clear attempt to distance itself from its founder’s racist and eugenic beliefs.
Marie Stopes which operates 600 abortion facilities in more than 30 countries has also failed countless health and safety inspections in recent times, both in England and in other parts of the world.
In addition to all the babies whose lives have been ended, women undergoing abortions at its facilities have also died during the procedure, including a woman from Ireland in 2012.
From this week forward, Marie Stopes will be renamed as MSI Reproductive Choices. As well as continuing to use Marie Stopes’ initials, the new venture will not erase the legacy of destruction and killing that the organisation has perpetrated on the world for generations.
Stopes, much like Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger, was well known for her discriminatory eugenic beliefs against vulnerable populations. Both women believed that certain groups of people, including the poor and people with disabilities, should be sterilised because they were “unfit” to have children.
It is the responsibility of pro-life groups and individuals to never allow groups like Marie Stopes International to gloss over what they have done in the past and continue to do in the present.
You can read a piece from Lord David Alton on the name change here
Christmas is a time to think about those in need.Â
This Christmas why not give your family and friends the gift of giving?  What better gift than to Sponsor a Community Connect BabyBox or MamaBag on their behalf?
The beautiful and practical BabyBox can be sponsored for €55 and the thoughtful MamaBag for €20.
You can also sponsor a package of both for €70, which will be given together to a mother in need and her baby.
On ordering your gift, you will receive a gift card that you can forward to your friend or family member to let them know about the special gift you are giving in their honour.
Click hereto order today and for more information on the work of Community Connect
The Christmas season is fast approaching, and you may have already started planning. This year, more than ever, we all want to stay connected and keep in contact with our loved ones.
The Pro Life Campaign's Christmas cards are a great way to keep in touch and at the same time support the work that we do. Why not take the opportunity to check in with friends and family that you haven’t been able to spend time with during 2020?
For the first time, we are selling Christmas cards, the sale proceeds of which will help us continue our work seeking human rights for unborn babies and supporting their mothers.
We have two beautiful Christmas card designs to choose from below. A pack of 10 cards costs €15 (which includes delivery within Ireland)Â
Click here to order your cards today, in time to send to friends and family this Christmas!
Want to learn how to explain the pro-life position (or advance your knowledge) and skillfully answer challenging questions?Â
This Communications Workshop will cater for all levels and will take place online on on Wednesday 25th November from 8.30-9.30pm.  The event is free but pre-registration is essential and numbers are limited.
If you missed the Pro Life Campaign National Conference which was streamed online on 31st October (or you didn't get to see it all), you can watch the full event back at your leisure on YouTube orFacebook
Below are a selection of the interviews from the event which included panel sessions with policitians, grassroots activists and faithleaders as well as interviews with changemakers in the pro-life movement.
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Must see interview!! Ryan Bomberger shares his phenomenal personal story with Wendy Grace for the Pro Life Campaign National Conference 2020 and talks about the origins of Planned Parenthood, an organisation and industry he describes as the “very definition of systemic racism” in the United States. He cites the horrifying statistic that 79% of abortion clinics in the US are located in predominantly black neighbourhoods and how in New York City more black babies aborted than born alive. To inform yourself and to be inspired, don’t miss this this really amazing interview!!  Watch back Ryan's interview above
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Carla Lockhart MP, the new DUP member of parliament from Northern Ireland has already shown herself to be a strong, committed and highly articulate voice for the right to life in the House of Commons. In this interview with Wendy Grace for the Pro Life Campaign National Conference 2020, she talks about what motivates her to speak up for life and her hopes for the future of the pro-life movement. Watch back Carla's interview above
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Rachel MacKenzie shares her personal story with Wendy Grace about the two abortions she had and what motivates her today to assist the pro-life movement. She also talks about the closure earlier this year of Calthorpe clinic in Birmingham (England’s oldest abortion clinic) and how the prayers and efforts of peaceful pro-life activists brought this day about. She encourages pro-life supporters to never give up hope and to remain fully active and committed. Watch back Rachel's interview above
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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]
