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24th September 2021
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In this issue:

READ: Heidi Crowter says "the fight is not over" as she vows to appeal High Court judgement (#1)

READ: Pro-Life pregnancy support centres in Texas experience 30% increase in calls since passage of Heartbeat Act (#2)

READ: Abortion Rights Campaign clamours for more abortion as part of the Three Year Review (#3)

READ: U.S. Supreme Court sets date to hear potential challenge to Roe v. Wade, while Pelosi abortion bill is set to stall in the Senate (#4)

WATCH: Interview with Dr Calum Miller at PLC Network Webinar (#dr)

SUPPORT: (#FLP) Community Connect Drive & Drop donation day for mothers and babies in need TOMORROW! (#FLP)

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

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

APPLY NOW: Virtual Internship with the PLC (#7)
Heidi Crowter says "the fight is not over" as she vows to appeal High Court judgement ()
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Heidi Crowter and Máire Lea-Wilson outside the High Court in London yesterday. Heidi's husband James is holding the microphone ()

Heidi Crowder and Máire Lea-Wilson are to appeal yesterday’s High Court judgment in London which dismissed their case against the UK government’s discriminatory abortion law that allows abortion up to birth where an unborn baby has a disability, including Down’s syndrome.

The two high court judges held that the particular section of the Abortion Act was not unlawful, and that it aimed to strike a balance between the rights of the unborn child and of women.

After the decision, Heidi Crowder and Máire Lea-Wilson reiterated their view that the law clearly discriminates against people with disability and they vowed to appeal the decision, with Ms Crowter saying, “the fight is not over”.

Ms Crowter, who has Down’s syndrome, together with Máire Lea-Wilson, whose two-year-old son Aidan has Down’s syndrome, brought the case against the UK government in July, leading to yesterday’s ruling.

After her 34-week scan that revealed her son Aidan had Down’s syndrome, Ms Lea-Wilson was placed under intense pressure to have an abortion. In an interview prior to yesterday’s decision, she said: “I have two sons that I love and value equally, but the law does not value them equally. This is wrong and so we want to try and change that…We proclaim that we live in a society that values those with disabilities, that everyone deserves a fair and equal chance at life, regardless of their ability status. This law undermines that narrative, does it really have a place in 2021?”

Speaking recently as someone with Down’s syndrome, Ms Crowter said: “People like me are considered to be ‘seriously handicapped’, but I think using that phrase for a clause in abortion law is so out of date…People shouldn’t be treated differently because of their disabilities, it’s downright discrimination”.

Currently in England, Wales and Scotland, there is a general 24-week time limit for abortion, but if the baby has a disability, including Down’s syndrome, abortion is legal right up to birth.

Heidi Crowter and Máire Lea-Wilson showed remarkable courage and strength in taking the case to the High Court. Courts make decisions that are not always rooted in natural justice or in defending the weakest.

Then there’s the court of public opinion. Heidi Crowter and Máire Lea-Wilson’s dignified but defiant reaction to yesterday’s judgement have succeeded in winning many new allies and supporters to their cause.

It should be noted that even the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has repeatedly criticised countries that allow abortion based on disability.

The path to victory is perseverance. On this point, it’s really encouraging to see Heidi and Máire so focussed and dedicated to keeping the fight for justice going.
Pro-Life pregnancy support centres in Texas experience 30% increase in calls since passage of Heartbeat Act ()
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Members of Care Net Pregnancy Support in Central Texas ()

Pro-life counselling centres in Texas have witnessed a 30% increase in calls since the Heartbeat Act came into effect on 1st September.

Care Net which has 82 centres across Texas say their waiting rooms have been “filled to overflowing” in recent weeks. They claim pro-abortion campaigners are doing everything possible to create fear and panic about the new pro-life law that prohibits abortion after a foetal heartbeat can be detected, but these pro-life counsellors point out that the evidence on the ground shows that when women are presented with positive alternatives to abortion a high percentage of them express relief that they don’t have to go through with an abortion. This is the opposite of how abortion campaigners portray the situation.

Care Net say that women who come to their centres are sometimes abortion minded but often ambivalent. A community that works to reduce the fear and increase the supports in the area of unplanned pregnancy can achieve wonderful things, according to Care Net’s president Roland Warren.
Abortion Rights Campaign clamours for more abortion as part of the Three Year Review ()
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Dr Mary Favier who attended the launch of the Abortion Rights Campaign report ()

On Wednesday, the Abortion Rights Campaign (ARC) launched a report seeking wider access to abortion and calling for a taxpayer funded information campaign to be rolled out to publicise the availability of abortion, in addition to the HSE backed publicity campaigns that have been running to date.

Since 2019, the HSE has spent more than €20 million of taxpayers’ money on abortion provision and advertising it. The one area, however, where women have been completely denied information is on positive alternatives to abortion. The ARC report never mentions this or the fact that there has been a more than 70% increase in abortions since the new law came into effect. Instead of clamouring for more abortion, we need to step back and take an honest look at what the new abortion regime has unleashed.

Not surprisingly, the ARC report refers to abortion as “abortion care” throughout, ignoring the fact that abortion involves the direct and intentional ending of the life of a defenceless unborn baby and leads to many women suffering devastating mental health consequences after their abortion.

The report is also littered with references to abortion as “healthcare” and pushes for the temporary system permitting telemedicine (home abortions) not to be suspended as promised with the lifting of Covid restrictions. This proposal in itself is reckless and puts the lives of women in danger.

Telemedicine (home abortions) bypass face to face consultations between the woman and her doctor and involves the self administering of abortion pills at home without proper medical supervision. This system has already resulted in the deaths of women in England in the past year and should be immediately discontinued here.

The ARC report concedes that many women who access abortion are unaware of the potential physical after effects of the procedure or how to manage the effects of the medication they are given. The report also draws attention to the very high percentage of women predisposed to mental illness who opt for abortion. The report identifies these issues but offers little in the line of solutions other than continuing to promote abortion. If the abortion movement’s primary concern was women’s health, they would acknowledge the peer reviewed research that clearly shows the adverse effects of abortion, particularly on women who have a predisposition to mental illness.

The way the ARC report attacks doctors who don’t wish to be involved in facilitating abortions is purely ideological and has nothing whatsoever to do with evidence based medicine. Their renewed efforts to coerce doctors to go against their conscience and back something they wholeheartedly believe to be the antithesis of healthcare is unconscionable and must be resisted every step of the way. The protection of freedom of conscience is the defining civil rights issue of today and the latest attempt by ARC to impose State medicine by diktat over evidence based medicine should concern everyone who cherishes the basic freedoms that are integral to any functioning democracy.
U.S. Supreme Court sets date to hear potential challenge to Roe v. Wade, while Pelosi abortion bill is set to stall in the Senate ()
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who is attempting to push the extreme abortion bill through Congress ()
The U.S. Supreme Court has confirmed in recent days that in early December it will hear the abortion case submitted by the Mississippi Attorney General. The case is being described as the most significant challenge to Roe v. Wade since the 1973 decision introduced wide-ranging abortion across the US. The Dobbs -v- Jackson case was filed in June 2020.

In her submission to the court, Attorney General Lynn Fitch wrote: “Under the Constitution, may a State prohibit elective abortions before viability? Yes. Why? Because nothing in constitutional text, structure, history, or tradition supports a right to abortion.”

The case refers back to 2018 when the Mississippi legislature passed the Gestational Age Act, which limited abortion after 15 weeks to very limited grounds. The state’s only abortion clinic took a case against the new law and won in federal district court. When Mississippi lost its appeal at the 5th Circuit, Attorney General Fitch decided to bring the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Previous attempts to ban or limit abortion in the US have been thrown out by the Supreme Court on technicalities but Attorney General Fitch argues her case doesn’t rest on a technicality but raises the issue of the constitutionality of abortion itself.

Speaking publicly about the case, Attorney General Fitch said: “A lot has changed in the five decades since Roe, yet it shackles states to an outdated view of facts and prevents them from protecting legitimate interests in the context of current science and culture. In my brief, I ask the Court to set things right and return abortion policy to the political branches where debate can flourish and the will of the people can be discerned at the ballot box.”

All eyes will be on the Supreme Court to see what they decide. It is significant of course that they have agreed to hear the case, particularly as the court is believed to have a pro-life majority since Justice Amy Coney Barrett was appointed in 2020.

Meanwhile, the US Congress is set to pass one of the most extreme abortion bills ever in an attempt to codify the ‘right’ to abortion in the US.

The bill introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-California) effectively allows for abortion on demand up to birth and would force Americans to fund abortions at home and abroad with their tax dollars.

President Biden and House Speaker Pelosi fully endorse the bill and are determined to get it passed in an effort to halt all the pro-life gains currently taking place in the US.

However, the bill is set to be halted in the Senate (at least for now), as Democrats do not have sufficient votes to override the Senate filibuster which requires 60 of its 100 members to ensure the bill’s passage.
WATCH interview with Dr Calum Miller at PLC Network Webinar ()
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Dr Calum Miller, a medical doctor, ethicist, philosopher and effective and eloquent voice for the pro-life cause was the guest speaker at the PLC Network Webinar on Saturday 11th. You can watch his interview with Eilís Mulroy here ([link removed])

To register for future events see here ([link removed])
Please Support Community Connect Drive & Drop donation day for mothers and babies in need TOMORROW! ()
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Community Connect’s Drive & Drop donation day is TOMORROW! They have an ongoing demand every single week for essential items for the families they help, and they need your support.

Can you pick up a few extra items in your weekly shop? Then simply drop them to one of their collection locations TOMORROW. Every pack of nappies or babygros counts, and is a great gift for someone in need!

The items they can accept are:

✔ Packs of Nappies – sizes 1 to 7
✔ Packs of Sleepsuits (Babygros) & Vests (Bodysuits)
✔ Baby Hooded Towels
✔ Baby Blankets – cellular blankets preferred
✔ Packs of Baby Bibs
✔ Baby Wipes - sensitive preferred
✔ Nappy Sacks
✔ Baby Wash / Baby Shampoo
✔ Nappy Cream
✔ Baby Sponges / Washcloths / Baby Cotton Wool
✔ Maternity Items for bringing into Hospital: e.g. dark towels, maternity nightdresses, slippers, toilet bags, sanitary towels, breast pads, nipple cream, new packs of dark underwear, shampoo, conditioner and body wash, toothbrushes & toothpaste, deodorant
✔ Unopened Gift Items for Mothers: e.g. hand cream, lip balm, body lotion, body wash, fluffy socks/slippers

Click HERE ([link removed]) to see if they are collecting near you!

If you are not near to any of the areas where donations can be made, or you won't be able to get to the shops in time, you can sponsor a gift instead HERE ([link removed]) and Community Connect volunteers will buy and prepare the items on your behalf. All items donated this way will go directly to struggling families, and make a difference where it is most needed!

THEY REALLY NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE IT A SUCCESS -
THEY DEPEND TOTALLY ON DONATIONS TO ALLOW THEM TO DO THE WORK THEY DO, AND HELP SO MANY FAMILIES IN NEED.

Many thanks as always for your support.
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!
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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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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