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19th November 2021
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In this issue:

READ: Minister for Health doesn’t deny that babies have survived abortion and been left to die (#4)

READ: Labour Party backs abortion on request up-to-birth as party leader calls for “a fairer, kinder Ireland” (#1)

SHOP (#cc) : (#cc) Stay in touch this Christmas. Order Christmas cards today! (#cc)

READ: Curtis is Guinness World Records 'Most Premature Baby'! (#2)

READ: (#3) Censorship Zone legislation postponed in the North. Meanwhile, Stephen Donnelly makes revealing intervention in Seanad debate on the same issue (#3)

READ: A big THANK YOU to all those who supported Ceiliúradh Cois Life, our annual fundraising auction (#WS)

ACTION (#ccvol) ALERT: Feel like a breath of fresh air? (#ccvol)

APPLY NOW : Virtual Internship with the PLC (#VS)
Minister for Health doesn’t deny that babies have survived abortion and been left to die ()
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Minister for Health fails to deny babies have survived abortion and been left to die in Irish hospitals.

In its response this week on behalf of the Minister for Health, the HSE did not deny that babies have survived the abortion procedure and been left to die unaided under Ireland’s abortion law.

The suggestion that babies have survived the abortion procedure and subsequently had medical attention withheld from them was contained in a UCC report in 2020 that interviewed 10 doctors who perform abortions under the new law.

This week’s carefully worded reply from the HSE to the latest parliamentary question from Seán Canney TD states that the HSE are currently not collating data nationally on the provision of abortion but it goes on to acknowledge that specific steps are being taken to address issues like those mentioned in the UCC report regarding the treatment of babies that survive abortion.

It’s entirely unacceptable that the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly is only providing snippets of information to the public on this issue while refusing to come clean on what happens to the babies in these ghastly situations. He cannot continue to shroud the issue in secrecy. The public are entitled to know how many babies have survived the abortion procedure since the law changed and how they were cared for by the State, if at all.

Any steps the Government proposes taking on foot of what has come to light should be openly debated and not hidden from public view. The present government has shown zero regard for the lives and welfare of unborn babies and are in no position to be deciding behind closed doors how to deal with the issue of babies that survive abortion.

It’s thanks to TDs like Seán Canney that any attention at all is being drawn to this issue. Pressure needs to be kept on the Government to stop running away from this and other issues related to the abortion law. We have to demand that at the very least they show a modicum of compassion for these babies who are being treated in such a disgraceful and inhumane way by those who control the levers of power in 2021.
Labour Party backs abortion on request up-to-birth as party leader calls for “a fairer, kinder Ireland” ()
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Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly ()
At its national conference in the Mansion House in Dublin last weekend, the Labour Party adopted a policy in favour of abortion on demand beyond the present 12 week limit.

For any remaining doubters that the pro-abortion movement in Ireland was this radical, the Labour Party has surely put these lingering doubts to rest.

The new Labour Party position would in effect permit abortion on request up to birth. It proves one thing for certain - that the push for legal abortion was never about healthcare and always about stripping unborn babies of all protection under the law.

What the Labour Party has voted for is both chilling and grotesque. They voted for the motion in the full knowledge that information has come to light in the past year that babies have survived the abortion procedure under the new law and been left to die alone and unaided. Rather than seek to address this horrific reality, Labour Party members voted to fully endorse it.

The same Labour Party conference also voted to strip healthcare workers of all freedom of conscience protections, in effect forcing all healthcare workers to be involved in abortions regardless of whether it violates their conscience or forces them to ignore the medical evidence before them. It confirms that the Labour Party supports State medicine over evidence based medicine and by doing so demonstrates contempt for basic freedoms that are the hallmark of any functioning democracy.

In his first address to a national conference of the Labour Party as leader, Alan Kelly talked about making Ireland “a fairer, kinder, better place" through the adoption of Labour Party policies. It’s hard to find the words to describe how deluded some of our politicians have become when you try to reconcile what Alan Kelly said in his leadership address with what his party voted to adopt as party policy, in the same room, at the same conference.
Stay in touch this Christmas. Order Christmas cards today! (#1)
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This Christmas, why not take the opportunity to check in with friends and family that you haven’t been able to spend time with during 2021?

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.

See the card designs and place your order instantly here ([link removed])
Curtis is Guinness World Records 'Most Premature Baby'! ()
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Baby Curtis Zy-Keith Means ()
Curtis Zy-Keith Means, born at 21 weeks, one day, weighing less than a pound at birth, was recently named ‘most premature baby ever to survive’ by the Guinness Book of World Records.

In July 2020, Michelle “Chelly” Butler was expecting twins and thought her pregnancy was going according to plan. On 4th July everything changed and she went into premature labour. C’asya sadly died after just one day. But Curtis somehow managed to survive.

Neonatologist Dr. Brian Sims, who cared for Curtis said: “He was giving us a lot of positive feedback that… he wanted to survive. I’ve been doing this almost 20 years… but I’ve never seen a baby this young be as strong as he was… There was something special about Curtis.”

Curtis celebrated his first birthday on 5th July 2021, although 11th November 2021 should have been around the date that marked his first birthday!

He’s no longer receiving specialised care and is doing just great. Mum Michelle says: “I’m very proud of him because where he came from and where he’s at now, I can tell the difference. Having this record is a blessing that he has accomplished and I’m thankful that [Guinness World Records] accepted him.”

Meet Curtis and hear his mum tell their story here ([link removed])
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Censorship Zone legislation postponed in the North. Meanwhile, Stephen Donnelly makes revealing intervention in Seanad debate on the same issue ()
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Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly ()
The Northern Ireland Assembly bill to impose censorship zones close to abortion facilities has been unexpectedly postponed until 2022.

It is understood that the assembly received thousands of pro-life submissions on the issue, although the Assembly still has to officially confirm the number received. One of the submissions sent to the assembly was from the Pro Life Campaign.

While some Assembly members remain determined to press ahead with introducing censorship zones, there’s reason to hope that the volume of submissions received and the serious legal, human rights and civil libertarian arguments contained therein may have swayed some members to rethink the draconian measure that was on the verge of becoming law.

Meanwhile, the remarks last week in the Seanad by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly are very revealing with regard to the proposed legislation for censorship zones planned in the Republic.

In taking issue with the Sinn Féin sponsored bill to introduce censorship zones, Stephen Donnelly unwittingly made one of the best arguments for why so-called ‘safe access zones’ would be unworkable in practice, in addition to curtailing basic freedoms and the right to assemble peacefully.

Minister Donnelly pointed out in the Seanad that the Sinn Féin bill (which proposes to create 100m censorship zones outside abortion facilities) would mean “that a person could argue that as the State has not confirmed which sites provide such services, that person cannot reasonably be on notice of how he, or she, may be breaching the law, which is a key requirement of criminal law.”

The minister is of course correct on this point as there is no clarity on which facilities perform abortions as the Government doesn’t publish such a list at the request of those carrying out abortions. Just as the pertinent point the minister made applies to the Sinn Féin bill, it also applies to any bill on the issue that the Government plans to bring forward.
A big THANK YOU to all those who supported Ceiliúradh Cois Life, our annual fundraising auction (#1)
A big THANK YOU to all those who supported Ceiliúradh Cois Life, our annual fundraising auction.

We want to pay tribute to all those who donated items, especially all the beautiful art, those who sponsored the event and of course all those who registered and bid on the items.

The Auction raised €45,000 euros which will be of great assistance to us in our work especially at this important time of the Three Year Review of the abortion legislation.

Thank you for your continued support!
Feel like a breath of fresh air? (#1)
Join our walk for life from Bray on Saturday, 27th November at 12noon.

Led by Ray, this walk is an opportunity for a fun occasion for pro-life advocates to chat and socialise.

It will take about 2 hours and cover 6km.

Tea/Coffee available at Bray promenade or you can bring a picnic! Let us know if you expect to join us. See you there!
APPLY NOW - Virtual Internship with the PLC (#1)

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])
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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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