|
New Year Appeal -Â Day 8
Dear Pro-life Friend,
|
|
10,040,561 lives had been lost to abortion by the end of 2022, according to our estimates.
15,849 more lives have been lost in 2023.
Already this year enough babies have been killed to fill the House of Commons 24 TIMES. And we aren’t even at the end of January yet.
Here at SPUC, we are not only CAMPAIGNING for political change, and offering CARING assistance to women and families affected by abortion.
We are also leading the pro-life fight on the important field of CULTURE.
They say that “politics is downstream from culture” – and that political change is only brought about by prior cultural change.
The emissaries of the Abortion Empire know this – which is why they began their long march through the institutions many decades ago. We must do the same.
That is why we work with universities, schools, drama and film – to bring about cultural change, and make abortion unthinkable.
One of our most important means of doing this is through SPUC’s youth work – including our annual Youth Conference and our ground-breaking Project Truth.
But this year, these efforts are at risk, and our cultural work hangs in the balance.
Before I tell you how, let me tell you why they are so important.
|
|
The conference – the largest of its kind in the UK – is set to return this February, after last year’s hugely successful event.
It continues to grow in popularity with students and young people from around the United Kingdom and farther afield. Last year saw a record attendance of over 200 young delegates.
SPUC’s vitally important Youth Conference aims to educate, inspire and empower young people and equip them with the tools they need to spread the pro-life message.
Â
- Educate – Informative talks about the history of abortion in the UK; exploring where we are now, and re-imagining the future where abortion is unthinkable.
- Inspire – Moving and inspirational testimonies from abortion survivors, academics, MPs and pro-life leaders.
- Empower – Workshops empowering young people to be confident, articulate and active in the pro-life movement and their own circles of influence.
As well as being a fantastically informative weekend, SPUC’S Youth Conference is also great fun, allowing young pro-lifers to network and build the unstoppable force needed to make abortion unthinkable.
It’s vital that we foster friendship, camaraderie and collective purpose in 2023 – considering the tyrannical machine that we are up against.
Supporting each other in the face of increasing campus hostility
Pro-lifers around the world are subject to increasing hostility. Young people in particular are subjected to abuse and intimidation, especially at universities.
In October 2022, a SPUC member of staff, invited to speak by pro-life students at Edinburgh University, had her speech cancelled by a vocal minority of anti-free speech, pro-abortion students.
“Stop this talk right now”, one pro-abortion student screamed. “We are disrupting this talk… Stop this right now. We are claiming this space… We are not allowing this to happen on our campus.”
|
|
Not only was pro-life free speech cancelled that day, but the rights of other students to hear what our SPUC speaker had to say were also violated.
Sadly, the abolition of free speech at Edinburgh University is not an isolated incident.
Young pro-life students and campus groups have had to deal with abuse and even death threats, as happened recently at Exeter University.
It is vital, then, that we provide young pro-life students – our future warriors – with the safe space currently denied to them on campuses – a safe space where there are free to discuss vital pro-life issues without fear of recrimination.
What a tragedy it would be if the pro-abortion fanatics get their way…
Project Truth
|
|
These are the future warriors, who are already showing themselves willing to take the pro-life message to the streets.
SPUC’s Project Truth is an annual roadshow focuses on conversations with the public on the issue of abortion, life in the womb, and where women can get support.
Young pro-lifers from around the UK set up street stalls, and engage with members of the public about the facts regarding the development of unborn children.
This initiative continues to serve as an inspiring and vital programme of training and recruitment for young pro-life activists, and is set to expand from Scotland to the rest of the UK.
Equipping young pro-lifers for victory
Louise Grant, the project’s director, said:
“Getting the opportunity to discuss the pro-life message with the public is invaluable.
“Young pro-lifers taking part in the roadshow gain vital experience, which leaves them more confident and better equipped to discuss the topic of abortion and promote the message of life, and with new lifelong friends.”
Monica, a first-time participant, in a recent roadshow. said:
“Being able to connect with people in such a personal way – and in such a confiding approach, for them to be able to share their stories and journey – is an experience I’ll treasure.”
But, as I said, all these efforts are at risk and face a greatly uncertain future.
In October, our opponents hijacked the Public Order Bill and turned it to a purpose for which it was never intended.
A draconian amendment was added to the Bill which would see “censorship” zones installed around abortion facilities across England and Wales.
Â
- Pro-lifers breaching the zones could face up to 2 years in prison.
Already, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, a pro-life leader, has been charged with four counts of “breaching the exclusion zone” imposed by a local council near an abortion clinic. She will be appearing at the Magistrates’ Court on 2 February.
And Adam Smith-Connor – an Army veteran – has been fined for the same "crime". He was praying silently for his son who was aborted over twenty years ago.
The modus operandi is clear.
THEY WANT TO SILENCE PRO-LIFE VOICES.
First US… then YOU.
|
|
How will we be able to make abortion unthinkable if we’re not allowed to even talk about it?
And will we be “permitted” to fight against something that is recognised as a human right – the idea being aggressively pursued by some politicians?
In 2022, two venues cancelled on us at the last minute, caving to pressure from radical Abortion Empire thugs. We need to make our operations triple-locked and bullet-proof, so that the pro-life cause cannot be silenced, cancelled and suppressed.
Many venues are more afraid of the thugs than they are of us – but the law is on our side, for now. SPUC will not be intimidated – we will fight fire with fire and push back twice as hard each time they try.
But we cannot do this without your help.
Will you help SPUC invest in our pro-life future?
Â
|
|
Young people are the future of the pro-life movement in the UK.
Your gift could help SPUC support them through conferences, outreach and other game-changing initiatives like Project Truth. More than ever before, young people need our support.
An investment in youth could mean:
- Instilling young people with the confidence to speak out on pro-life issues
- Empowering young people with knowledge and shared purpose
- Help our best young people to become even better
- Foster a new generation of leaders with pro-life values.
Will you consider donating £10, £25 or £50 today to fund SPUC’s support of young pro-lifers and help us build a better future for the unborn?
Â
|
|
|
Our young pro-lifers need your help to build a better future for the unborn and their mothers. They have the enthusiasm and potential to be the best generation of pro-life activists and warriors ever.
|
|
We only need to equip them with the knowledge, means and confidence to communicate our life-affirming message. Your donation could make all the difference.
So, please will you help us support them?
Â
|
|
John Deighan
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
PS: Since becoming SPUC chief executive, I have been hugely struck by the generosity and loyalty of the Society’s donors.
A recent analysis of our fundraising showed that the average donation of a SPUC supporter is double that of other UK charity/non-profit postal appeal donors.
It’s always easier to defend a secure position than it is to win it back.
The measures we are taking now to defend ourselves will surely be a much better investment than fighting to keep our heads above the water once pro-life speech has been outlawed.
What we can do with ÂŁ10 today, may cost ÂŁ20, ÂŁ50 or even ÂŁ100 tomorrow. I urge you please, do not to stop giving.
Whether ÂŁ10 or ÂŁ10,000, I promise that your personal contribution to babies this month matters and will help defend precious lives in the challenging days ahead.
Â
|
|
|
|
