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30th April 2021
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In this issue:

READ: (#s3) TD attempts to silence Peadar Tóibín as he challenges Taoiseach on Holles Street abortion scandal (#s3)

READ: Westminster has “no legal or moral basis” for imposing abortion on Northern Ireland – Miriam Cates MP (#s1)

READ: Abortion survivor’s powerful new book about healing and forgiveness (#s2)

REGISTER NOW: PLC Network Webinar with special guests Lynn Coles and Bernadette Goulding of Women Hurt on Saturday the 8th of May (#webb)

REGISTER NOW: PLC Network Workshop Series on Effective engagement with Public Reprensentatives taking place on the 5th of May (#webb)

APPLY NOW: Job opportunity with Community Connect (#flp)

ACTION ALERT: The Pro Life Campaign needs YOU! - Please take our Change Begins With You! Survey (#cby)

APPLY NOW: Virtual Internship with the PLC (#7)

TD attempts to silence Peadar Tóibín as he challenges Taoiseach on Holles Street abortion scandal ()
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Deputy Peadar Tóibín ()
In the Dáil on Wednesday, Solidarity–People Before Profit TD, Bríd Smith, interrupted proceedings to try and stop Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín from speaking as he attempted to question the Taoiseach over the Holles Street abortion scandal and the more than two years delay in providing answers to the parents of baby Christopher who was aborted in the National Maternity Hospital following a misdiagnosis that indicated he had a life-limiting condition.
For the most part, the media and senior politicians run a mile from this story as it doesn’t fit in with their fixed narrative on the abortion issue that covers for legal abortion at all costs.

But it’s a story that’s not going away as baby Christopher and his parents are entitled to justice and answers over what exactly transpired.

One wonders if Deputy Bríd Smith would have acted with such haste in calling on the Leas-Cheann Comhairle in the Dáil to shut down the debate if it had been one of her colleagues raising an item that touched on the abortion issue from different angle.

Before he was silenced, Deputy Tóibín challenged the Taoiseach over the appalling treatment by the State of baby Christopher’s parents and said: “Twenty-five months ago, baby Christopher's life was ended by individuals within the National Maternity Hospital in an alleged illegal abortion. Christopher was a fully healthy boy and his parents are heartbroken. A large number of elements of the law were broken, not least that a senior practitioner signed off on the abortion but never met or examined the mother. The family has met two Ministers for Health and the Chief Medical Officer. I know the Taoiseach is aware of the case because he has spoken to the family directly. However, 25 months later, the family still has not had justice for what happened to Christopher.

Deputy Tóibín continued: “Peter McKenna has written a detailed report on the family's case. That report lies on the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly's, desk and has lain there for weeks without the information being given to the family. The family cannot get access to that report at the moment. The Minister once told the family that they could trust him but yet, his office has told the family that if they want to get access to the report, they can ask for it under the freedom of information, FOI, legislation. That is a phenomenally disgraceful response to parents who have had the life of their son ended in a hospital illegally in this country. Will the Taoiseach say today he will put an end to the difficulties this family is experiencing and they will have justice?”

In reply to Deputy Tóibín, the Taoiseach gave an undertaking to check on the latest position with regard to the report on what happened in baby Christopher’s case.
Deputy Bríd Smith ()
Westminster has “no legal or moral basis” for imposing abortion on Northern Ireland – Miriam Cates MP ()
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Miriam Cates MP ()

On Tuesday, MPs in Westminster voted to give Northern Ireland secretary, Brandon Lewis, sweeping new powers to impose the rollout of abortion access on Northern Ireland.

The new powers enable the Secretary of State to force the Stormont Executive to introduce abortion provision across Northern Ireland and to supervise it happening.

Several members of parliament challenged the move and pointed out before the vote that the people of Northern Ireland vehemently oppose the imposition of abortion from Westminster.

In her contribution to the debate, Miriam Cates, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge said that “abortion is a devolved issue, and the only legal or moral basis for the 2019 intervention by the UK Government was that there was no sitting Northern Ireland Assembly at that time.”

She continued: “As we are all aware, that is no longer the case, and the Assembly has shown itself to be perfectly competent in developing its own legislation. There is no longer any justification for the UK Government to enforce the regulations. Pressing ahead, as we are doing today, is a breach of the Belfast agreement and weakens the trust and respect upon which devolution is founded…. [T]he Northern Ireland Assembly opposes the regulations. When the people of Northern Ireland were consulted on the regulations last year, 80% rejected them”.

Carla Lockhart, the MP from Upper Bann said: “The regulations are not just based on the false premise that they are a requirement of international law… [T]he case for the vote on 9 July 2019 was greatly strengthened by a claim that it is now clear was not true”.

Read more of the story on our website here ([link removed])
Abortion survivor’s powerful new book about healing and forgiveness ()
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Claire Culwell ()

Abortion survivor Claire Culwell shares her remarkable personal story of healing and forgiveness in her new book Survivor, which was published earlier this week.

Raised in a loving adoptive home, Claire, at the age of twenty-one, decided to meet her birth mother–and got the shock of her life. Claire’s birth mother, Tonya, confessed that when she was pregnant with Claire, she’d gone to a clinic for an abortion. Yet, after the abortion, the pregnancy continued to progress. What Tonya’s doctor had overlooked was that she’d been pregnant with twins. The abortion that terminated the life of Claire’s twin had miraculously spared Claire.

Claire says: “When I learned I had survived the abortion procedure that had been intended to dismember my body to death like it did to my twin, I thought I was the only one.” As result of going public with her own story she has “personally connected with dozens of abortion survivors who are eager to find community and to be valued for who they are as survivors.”

Claire is a member of the Abortion Survivors Network, founded by fellow abortion survivor Melissa Ohden. In recent years, the group has connected with over 300 survivors of abortion. In 2018, Claire visited Ireland as a guest of the Pro Life Campaign and shared her story with audiences throughout the country.

In advance of her recent book launch, she appealed again to pro-life volunteers never to give up the fight for life, saying: “Do not be afraid to stand for truth and for things that matter. Be a part of the change in creating a culture that values life so that nobody who has been impacted by abortion, who has survived an abortion, or who is currently facing an unplanned pregnancy has to walk alone. We can change our culture together, right now.”

Claire’s new book Survivor: An Abortion Survivor’s Surprising Story of Choosing Forgiveness and Finding Redemption can be purchased from her website: www.claireculwell.com ([link removed])
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Register now for our PLC Network Webinar with special guests Lynn Coles and Bernadette Goulding of Women Hurt on Saturday the 8th of May ()
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Join Our PLC Network Webinar with special guests Lynn Coles and Bernadette Goulding of Women Hurt who will share how post-abortion recovery and healng is possible from 11AM to 12NOON. Saturday, 8th May 2021.

The webinar will also include a grassroots activists panel discussion!

Participation is free but pre-registration is essential.

Register now here ([link removed])
Register Now for PLC Network Workshop Series on Effective engagement with Public Reprensentatives taking place on the 5th of May ()
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Register Now for PLC Network Workshop Series

The Topic is Effective engagement with Public Reprensentatives – Wednedsday 5th May, 7.30PM – 8.30PM.

Our workshop series invites volunteers to share their knowledge, develop skills and receive futher education and training on right to life issues.

The event is free but participation is limited to 20 people.

Register here ([link removed])
Job opportunity with Community Connect ()
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Community Connect has an exciting new job opportunity at our Dublin hub!

We are seeking an organised, pro-active person to join our team and co-ordinate the activities of our Dublin operation.

You would:
* Work 20 hours per week
* Have your own transport
* Be available to work from our Tallaght hub 1-2 days per week
* Have good communication skills
* Have basic email and spreadsheet skills
* Be pro-active in co-ordinating and mobilising our volunteer activities in Dublin
* Have good leadership skills and be able to motivate a team
* Be available for an initial 6 month timeframe

If you want to find out more, drop Elaine an email at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

We look forward to hearing from you!
The Pro Life Campaign Needs YOU! - Please take our Change Begins With You! Survey ()
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The Pro Life Campaign needs you! Your skills, knowledge and commitment can help us to work towards a brighter future.

Please take a moment to fill in our survey
and remember - Change Begins With YOU!

Survey Link Here ([link removed])

The aim of this campaign is to encourage people to get involved with the PLC. We really need your help with this.

We are looking for some motivational videos and pictures. If you could take a few minutes today or tomorrow to do any of the following this would really help make a difference

- TAKE A SHORT VIDEO of yourself (20 Seconds max) telling people why you are pro-life or your favourite pro-life quote and encouraging other people to get involved - finish with the words "Change begins with you"

and/or

- TAKE A SELFIE of yourself holding up a homemade sign with the words "Change begins with You!"

Please text or whatsapp 0868246507, or send by email to
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
APPLY NOW - Virtual Internship with the PLC ()

Would you like to experience working with a pro-active Human Rights organisation?

If you would like, APPLY HERE ([link removed]) to our exciting virtual intern programme for students!
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Participants on the programme will have an opportunity to network with other young people and develop skills in advocacy, campaign management and project planning.

Internships run for one-week periods and are suitable for second level (Transition year or older) and third level students.

Each intern will do 4 hours supervised work each day and will be working on areas such as social media, contact with members of the movement nationwide, project planning and contributing to support work for women and their babies.

Internships are not paid, however expenses will be covered.

If you or a family member is interested, please complete the below form and we will be in touch with you presently. Placements are subject to availability.

Thank you!

Apply Now by filling in the application form ([link removed])
Follow us on social media!
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mailto:[email protected]
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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]

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