In reply to a Parliamentary Question (PQ) submitted by Offaly TD Carol Nolan, the HSE has confirmed that in the past four years close to €1 million of taxpayers’ money has been spent advertising the My Options hotline - the pro-abortion government established agency that links women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy with abortion providing GPs. Since 2019, in excess of €20 million of taxpayers’ money has been used to fund abortions and the roll-out of abortion provision in Ireland.
In answer to a separate PQ submitted by Labour Leader Ivana Bacik, the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly divulged that in addition to spending taxpayers’ money to advertise the My Options hotline, the HSE also have a management strategy and budget to ensure My Options outbids and stays ahead (in online search engine results) of groups that provide positive alternatives to abortion.
In his reply to Deputy Bacik’s question, Minister Donnelly referred to the challenges posed by “rogue” agencies and “disingenuous messaging” in the area of unplanned pregnancy. “Rogue Agency” is a code word in Minister Donnelly’s world for any pro-life group that offers help and support to women facing an unplanned pregnancy, regardless of how exemplary and beyond reproach the group or groups happen to be.
If Stephen Donnelly was genuinely bothered about “disingenuous messaging” and shoddy practices in unplanned pregnancy counselling, he would not have kept his silence for over a year now on the evidence that came to light in 2022 about the disturbing pattern involving My Options counsellors advising women to book their first appointment with an abortion-providing doctor, even in situations where the women made it clear they were unsure if they wanted to have an abortion at all. Minister Donnelly is in no position to be pointing the finger at others when he won’t even acknowledge, not to mention address, the appalling practices happening at the State run hotline.
Senator Sharon Keogan and others have been pressing Minister Donnelly for well over a year to make a public statement about the evidence brought to light by Students for Life (complete with transcripts) highlighting the pro-abortion outlook of My Options counsellors and why an immediate and thorough overhaul of the government backed agency is needed.
Think of the women who are genuinely conflicted about whether to go through with an abortion — who end up contacting the My Options hotline. My Options have shown that they are not equipped to meet the needs of these women and have nothing to offer other than abortion. It is an intolerable situation and we must keep the pressure on to bring about the changes that are needed. We must demand better from the government than automatically labelling any group who disagrees with them on abortion as “rogue”, while they turn a blind eye to the abuses and substandard practices happening at the State funded My Options hotline.
The annual Pro-Life Student Summit organised by Students for Life took place last weekend in Glencomeragh Co Tipperary. The weekend residential event was attended by third level students from across Ireland and featured lots of workshops and talks on effective ways to communicate the pro-life message, delivered by guest speakers from home and abroad.
Among the guest contributors at this year’s summit were Cork based medic Dr Brendan Crowley and Jill Callanan from Community Connect. Amrita Kaur from England also addressed the students and told her story about taking the abortion pill in 2021 and how she immediately regretted the decision. She sought help from the abortion provider to reverse the effect of the pill but they did nothing to help her situation. She then went online to look for a solution and found out about Abortion Pill Reversal treatment. She was put in touch with Irish born Dr Dermot Kearney who assisted her and today she’s overjoyed to have her beautiful one year old daughter Ahri-Storm in her life.
The main aim of the summit is to equip students with facts on the pro-life issue and the skills to speak to their peers about this human rights issue. As well as the talks and intensive training features of the gathering, there was also plenty of time over the weekend for fun activities, including a hike in nearby Kilsheelan Woods.
Local TD Mattie McGrath also paid a visit to the weekend summit where he addressed attendees and encouraged them to become more actively involved in politics and to consider running for election to increase the representation of pro-life voices in public life and to effect positive changes in a pro-life direction.
Katie Fenton, one of the main organisers of the summit, said the weekend was a terrific success and a great opportunity for pro-life students from across the country to get to know one another and plan future pro-life initiatives together.
A teen mum, who became pregnant at 13 and was repeatedly pressured by online trolls to have an abortion, ignored the advice, kept her baby and did not become the "leech" on her parents that her accusers said she would.
In fact, Maddie Lambert from Texas, USA, who recently turned 18 has proven her detractors wrong at every level.
Today, she is a proud mum, is attending college and owns her own home. She runs a popular YouTube channel where she shares her story and discusses the milestones that she and her daughter are reaching.
In the recent video post, she said: “I honestly at this point of my social media career think hate comments are hilarious. It’s really funny to me to see the negative things people have to say about me because a lot of the time it’s so far-fetched and far from true.”
‘I’m now in my first home raising my daughter who’s about to go to preschool.’
She took issue with one viewer’s remark that her story was “depressing to listen to”, saying:
“It’s not something that people should say is depressing to listen to when the story is literally, okay, I got pregnant at 13, everybody said it was the end of the world but it wasn’t the end of the world for me and I made this ‘horrible, horrible’ situation into something great.”
“And I’m now in my first home raising my daughter who’s about to go to preschool. I don’t know how that’s depressing.”
“I overcame all the odds and other teen mums can overcome all the odds too. A lot of teen parents get that drive from being a teen parent and realise they have to work harder to be successful because the odds are pitted against them.”
Earlier this year, Maddie started college classes in US history, Philosophy, Anatomy and Psychology.
Southwestern Women’s Surgery Center, an abortion business in Dallas, Texas, has announced it is permanently closing. The abortion facility was first opened in 1973 by ‘all ages’ abortionist Curtis Boyd, who admitted to aborting 10,000 babies illegally prior to Roe v. Wade.
Southwestern Women’s Surgery Center is still owned by Boyd, who once said during a deposition, “There’s no set period” with regard to gestational age that he would end the life of an unborn baby.
The business has announced on its website: “We, at Southwestern Women’s Surgery Center, are heartbroken to inform you that we are permanently ceasing operations. Our last day of patient care is March 2, 2023. … It has been a great honor and privilege to serve the pregnant people of Texas and we will continue to care for those patients at our sister clinics—Southwestern Women’s Options in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Presidential Women’s Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Following the Supreme Court ruling in June 2022 in Dobbs v. Jackson, which overturned Roe v. Wade, the facility ceased carrying out abortions but remained open. Since then it has reportedly been managing miscarriages as well as advising women on out-of-state abortions.
Interestingly, in managing miscarriages post-Roe, the facility is essentially admitting that abortion advocates who attempt to conflate miscarriage treatment and abortion are being dishonest at best. Miscarriage treatment is not an induced abortion, the latter of which intentionally ends the life of an innocent human being.
The Future Leaders Programme is a 6 week course that will equip you with the skills, arguments and motivation to promote the pro-life vision in the public square.
It will impart skills that will encourage participants to become proactive, organised and to enhance their personal effectiveness as political activists and communicators in the cause of protecting life.
Course content will be delivered by Irish and international experts. Previous topics include Pro-Life Philosophy, Pro-Life Apologetics, Clinical & Medical Issues relating to Abortion & Women’s Health in Pregnancy, Domestic and European Irish legal challenges and opportunities, Practical supports for unplanned pregnancies etc
The next course starts Tuesday, 14th March for 6 weeks, from 7pm – 9pm. There will be a combination of online and in person events. A day long studio programme in Dublin and a trip to Leinster House will be included.
If you wish to apply to attend the course, please click the link below and we will get back to you. There are 15 sponsored places available for suitable participants. This is an exciting opportunity designed specifically for young people, aged 18-30, who are committed to the pro-life cause. Please encourage anyone you think suitable to apply!
Join us for a fun day out on Sunday 12th March in Waterford on the Greenway where we will be going for a social walk together and gathering afterwards for Refreshments at the Coach House on Waterford Greenway (near Kilmachthomas).
Where: Waterford on the Greenway – Meeting at the Coach House Car Park X42 VY33
When: Sunday 12th March @ 1.15pm
Families and friends are very welcome to join us!
Goodie Bags will be provided for children. This is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with fellow pro-life supporters!
Over 2,500 people have signed the petition in the past weeks calling for the defunding of the National Women’s Council, the taxpayer funded body leading an aggressive push at present for late-term abortion on request to be legalised.
By signing the petition below, you will be adding your voice to the call to defund the NWCI and start over with something better in its place.
It’s disgraceful the way the NWCI claims to represent ALL women, while completely brushing aside the concerns of women who regret their abortions and the majority of women who want to see alternatives to abortion promoted.
The changes we want to see happen won’t occur overnight but that shouldn’t dissuade us from getting started. Together, we must shine a light on the unfairness of what’s happening in order to bring about change.
The DEFUND petition is off to a great start. Let’s spread the word and keep the momentum going!
When you’ve signed the petition, please share the link with family and friends and encourage them to be part of the effort as well. Thanks for all your help!
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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