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25th June 2021
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In this issue:

READ: Two complaints against Newstalk upheld by BAI over biased coverage on abortion READ: Minister for Health must answer this question – how many other unborn babies like baby Christopher have lost their lives under Ireland’s new abortion law following a misdiagnosis? (#ste)

READ: Defeat for Pro-Life side in Gibraltar Referendum (#gib)

READ: European Parliament declares abortion a “human right” and sides with radical pro-abortion agenda (#eu)

ACTION ALERT: Take a stand against RTÉ bias (#bias) - Order Leaflets Today! (#bias)

APPLY NOW: Can you help Community Connect reach the families who need our help? (#cc)

REGISTER NOW (#lb) : Loveboth Summer 5k Your Way to raise funds and support Mums and babies this summer. (#cby)

REGISTER NOW: Community Connect Workshop Wednedsday 7th July (#cceve)

APPLY NOW: Virtual Internship with the PLC (#7)
Two complaints against Newstalk upheld by BAI over biased coverage on abortion ()
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Ciara Kelly, Newstalk Presenter ()

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland this week partially upheld two complaints against Newstalk for their ongoing biased coverage of the abortion issue.

The BAI decision relates to two separate interviews conducted on the same day (10th December 2020) on Newstalk’s Breakfast presented by Ciara Kelly and the Hard Shoulder presented by Mark Cagney.

Newstalk was forced to read out on air apologies yesterday morning and afternoon referencing the BAI rulings and the fact that both presenters expressed partisan views on abortion.

During her interview with Eilís Mulroy of the Pro Life Campaign last December, Ciara Kelly expressed her delight that the Eighth Amendment had been repealed and that Ireland was now “more tolerant and compassionate towards women in crisis pregnancies.” When talking about Ireland’s abortion law later the same day on The Hard Shoulder, Mark Cagney said “there is still a lot more work to be done” and “the job isn’t done yet, folks”, referring to his wish for wider access to abortion in Ireland.

It’s a positive development that the BAI at least partially upheld the two complaints, but it is disappointing that they were not fully upheld as the two programmes were way more biased than the BAI concluded. It raises questions about the relevance of the BAI as currently established since current affairs presenters on radio and TV know they can get away with almost anything provided they hold back on stating their own personal opinions.

Ciara Kelly’s interview with Eilís Mulroy is a case in point. The presenter kept interrupting her guest and selectively using statistics, presenting them as facts even though they were nothing more than campaigning points. The BAI did not find against her on these points even though the bias was utterly blatant.

Even though the BAI is far from perfect and needs to be reformed, it is still worthwhile lodging complaints whenever programmes step out of line when covering right to life issues.

Congratulations to the pro-life volunteers who took the initiative to submit complaints against the two Newstalk programmes that were forced to apologise this week. Your efforts were not in vain and will hopefully encourage others to do likewise whenever the opportunity presents.
Minister for Health must answer this question – how many other unborn babies like baby Christopher have lost their lives under Ireland’s new abortion law following a misdiagnosis? ()
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Caoimhe Haughey, solicitor for the couple at the centre of this week's High Court settlement ()

A couple whose baby boy was aborted after they were wrongly advised he had a life-limiting condition are seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister for Health after settling their High Court action against Merrion Fetal Health and the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street.

The parents, who named their unborn baby Christopher, said in a statement afterwards that nothing will ever take away the “interminable sadness and grief” they live with every day.

In court documents, Christopher’s mother said she had experienced an all-consuming physical and mental trauma ever since the abortion and every aspect of her life had been adversely affected by the horror of having unnecessarily terminated her son’s life. She said she had been left with a devastating sense of loss, which could not be filled.

She also claimed the management of her pregnancy was grossly substandard and displayed utter genetic illiteracy culminating in the tragic ending of her son’s life. Christopher’s father said he will carry the painful loss of his son with him throughout his life.

Following this week’s settlement, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD called for a public inquiry into the case. He said he had spoken to Christopher’s parents on many occasions and that changes needed to happen to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.

The appalling case which led to baby Christopher’s death raises another very serious question – how many other babies have lost their lives under Ireland’s new abortion law as a result of parents being given a misdiagnosis regarding the health of their baby? What assurances can the Minister for Health give to women and parents that the baby Christopher case was an isolated case since the law took effect in 2019. The Minister for Health cannot hide from his responsibility to answer this and other related questions.

When parents came forward prior to the abortion referendum with horrifying stories involving misdiagnoses, they were ignored by politicians and large sections of the media out of fear these testimonies might influence the abortion debate in a way they didn’t want to see happen. This type of closed thinking and refusal to entertain other perspectives contributed in no small way to tragedies like the one before the High Court this week.

Compelling peer reviewed research by Anette Kersting, Kristin Kroker and others showing the negative psychological impact of abortion on women in cases of foetal anomaly was also brushed aside by politicians and journalists who didn’t want to disturb their carefully choreographed narrative in favour of abortion.

Every day new stories emerge highlighting the unspeakable betrayal of these politicians and journalists in pushing abortion. As pro-life activists and volunteers, we have a responsibility to inform and educate the public about what’s going on, using every means at our disposal.

This week’s proceedings in the High Court was against five consultants, Peter McParland, Fionnuala McAuliffe, Rhona Mahony, Shane Higgins and Stephen Carroll, operating under a business partnership called Merrion Fetal Health; the National Maternity Hospital and a laboratory, the Greater Glasgow Health Board. Liability was admitted by the defendants in the case, leading to the settlement that occurred.
Defeat for Pro-Life side in Gibraltar Referendum ()
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Last night’s result in Gibraltar’s abortion referendum was disappointing but not entirely surprising. The result was Yes: 62.03% and No: 36.62%. It means that abortion on demand will now be introduced in Gibraltar, like the law introduced in Ireland in 2019.

Until yesterday, the law in Gibraltar prohibited abortion but fully protected the lives of pregnant women and guaranteed that they received all necessary medical interventions throughout the nine months of pregnancy.

The push to introduce wide-ranging abortion came mainly from members of Gibraltar’s parliament, culminating in this week’s referendum.

One interesting feature of the campaign was how fair the media coverage was compared to say Ireland’s abortion referendum in 2018.
But just like happened in Ireland and elsewhere, the drip-drip impact of the “pro-choice” message that has permeated Western culture for several decades finally took its toll in Thursday’s vote in Gibraltar.

The pro-life movement in Gibraltar put in a tremendous effort in recent months and were much more active on the ground than their opponents. In the only official opinion poll on the referendum carried out in 2020, the Yes side were above 70%, meaning that the efforts of the No campaign cut the lead of the side that won yesterday by ten percentage points or thereabouts.

The members of the Gibraltar Pro Life Movement will of course be devastated by yesterday’s defeat but they are a phenomenal bunch of people who did the pro-life cause proud by the determination they showed and the professional way they ran their campaign. These are difficult times for the pro-life movement everywhere, but we are truly blessed to have so many committed volunteers in Ireland, Gibraltar and elsewhere who are prepared to overcome any setbacks and stay the course for as long as it takes to rebuild a culture that cherishes, protects and sees value and beauty in every human life, born and unborn.
European Parliament declares abortion a “human right” and sides with radical pro-abortion agenda ()
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The European Parliament voted yesterday in favour of an extreme report which recognises abortion as a “human right” and redefines conscientious objection as a “denial of medical care.”

The report which was introduced by Croatian MEP Predrag Fred Matić in May passed yesterday evening with 378 MEPs voting in favour, 255 against and 42 abstentions.

The report which calls on all European Union member states to permit wide-ranging access to abortion is one of the most extreme proposals to ever come before the parliament and completely undermines freedom of conscience protections for healthcare workers from having to facilitate in abortions.

Officially declaring abortion as “healthcare” and a “human right” abandons evidence-based medicine and authentic human rights and imposes in its place the unethical and unscientific ideological diktats of extreme pro-abortion politicians.

Pro-life groups throughout the European Union have expressed alarm at the report, which they say violates the established principle that abortion laws fall within the competence of member states, rather than EU institutions.

While this latest resolution of the European Parliament is non-binding, it is a clear attempt to introduce a new norm to help pave the way for justifying binding acts on abortion at some point in the future.
Take a stand against RTÉ bias - Order Leaflets Today! (#1)
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Take a stand against RTÉ bias - sign the instant e-card here ([link removed])
As you may already be aware, the Pro Life Campaign are running a campaign to make sure that we hold our national broadcaster RTÉ to account for its glaringly one-sided coverage of the abortion issue.

We are asking like minded people to send an E-card to RTÉ, asking them to "Stop The Media Bias".

Thousands of cards have been sent already, but we need much much more to make a real impact.

Please help us spread the word by ordering your leaflets today. These can be given to friends, family and community, informing them of the campaign and encouraging them to send a card also.
Order Leaflets Today! ([link removed])
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Can you help Community Connect reach the families who need our help? ()
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Community Connect is busier than ever, and there is a great and ongoing need for our help in the Dublin area.

So we have an exciting new job opportunity at our Dublin hub!

We are seeking a van driver to assist in making deliveries to families in need throughout the wider Dublin area. This is necessary in order for us to reach all of the mothers and babies who need our help.You would:
* Have a full clean driving licence
* Be comfortable driving a van (transit or similar size – note this is covered by a regular car driving licence, so no special licence required)
* Be available to work one day per fortnight (likely to be Wednesday)
* Be physically able to lift and move items such as cots and buggies
* Come to the hub in Tallaght one day per fortnight to load up the van, and then deliver to families in need in and around County Dublin (including city centre), dependent on where the need is that particular week
* Collect some donations when required, and return these items to the Tallaght hub


NB: Access to your own van is not a requirement, as a vehicle can be provided if necessary.

Fuel costs will be fully covered, and training in the policies and procedures of Community Connect will be provided.

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

We look forward to hearing from you!

Loveboth Summer 5k Your Way to raise funds and support Mums and babies this summer. ()
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Raise funds and support Mums and babies this summer.

Taking part is easy and fun. Run, cycle or swim, you decide. How and where you do the 5k is your choice. You may decide to do it with a group of friends or solo, it’s up to you!

Just remember to tell your family and friends about your plans and ask them to sponsor you.

Register today and receive your free LoveBoth T-Shirt and sponsorship pack
Register Here ([link removed])
Register Now for Community Connect Workshop Wednedsday 7th July ()
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Register Now for Community Connect Workshop

The Topic is Supporting Mothers and Babies - Wednedsday 7th July, 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])
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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