News and Events - 2009

Silent Witness - April 2009

41 years of legal abortion - 7 million lives lost to a social solution.

The Abortion Act of 1967 requires a number of conditions to be met, before an abortion is allowed to go ahead.  Today the vast majority of abortions are performed for social rather than medical reasons, with doubtful lip service being paid to the terms of this permissive legislation.

Many people consider there can be exceptional reasons to take a life.  Say in times of war where force might be the only way to defend the innocent against an aggressor.  But who would say it is right to deliberately target the life of someone entirely innocent of any crime, someone who's only action in life, had been to start out on the great adventure of life itself.  People don't come into existence by an act of their own will, a choice to be convenient or inconvenient to others.  No, each one of us has been brought into existence by others.

If we conceive a new life, should we be free to choose how that other person will live?  Who they will serve, when they will die?

"Every child a wanted child" is a slogan used to argue that children who are not wanted, should be eliminated.  Are children a commodity to be stacked, served and disposed of as others find convenient? 

A better slogan would be "Every child deserves to be wanted".  Wanted by their parents, certainly, but what about society?  Why shouldn't society help out when parents find it difficult to cope?  Well you might point to cost?  Time?  Self sacrifice?  All these points matter, but then there is the flip-side of the equation.  If children are helped to grow up well in a supported and loving home, they are more likely to become productive, tax-paying, helpful members of tomorrow's families and of society.  They might even become carers of older people who gave life a chance!

That's why members and supporters of SPUC stood on Nottingham's Trent Bridge last Saturday.  "People probably think we're nutters" one woman said as she held a banner up to the passing traffic.  "But we have to do something.." she continued.  Something about what you may ask?  How does it help to stand on a windy bridge? 

Well it plants a seed, a thought, which can grow, to change our society from the self oriented "I can't" and "I want" that prevails in what we pro-lifer's call the "culture of death", to build a "culture of Life".  What does that mean?  Well simply it means: "Every child is wanted for his or her own sake".

You know it's right, so join us, and help form tomorrow's "culture of life".

Oh, and by the way, is it just women who build the culture?  Or is there a place for men.  A role?  A need?  The next time you hear someone say "it's a woman's right to choose", just remember, that the choice may be about a tiny pre-born girl, who deserves a dad to provide for her too.  Likewise, do you want a society where only the women care?  It takes "two to tango", and the worst thing a man can do when a woman confides she is pregnant, is to say "I respect your choice if you want to abort".  That really says, "yeah, you're on your own".  Don't think so?  Then just compare that to a woman who hears her man say:  "I'm gonna be a dad!"  If she hears that she knows he'll be there for the baby, so he'll be there for her too.  And if not her man, then who'll support them, her dad, her brother, her community, society at large?  It's a lot to ask, but all we can do is make a start, and plant a seed of a thought or idea.

Conference

Check out this year's international student pro-life conference.  In the past we've helped students linked to Nottingham with conference costs - we can't promise to always help out, but if you want to go except for some or even all of the cost - tell us!

2008

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill

We've been campaigning on and off throughout the year as the Bill went through its various stages.  Sadly the Bill was passed with a huge majority on 22nd October 2008.  It marks a large stride in the advancement of the "culture of death", but things don't have to stay that way, and SPUC-Nottingham will continue to carry the message that Human life has inherent dignity in all its stages, from conception to natural death.

National Conference

This year's conference was held close by in Derbyshire so it was handy to attend.  Highlights included:

• Prof. Jeronima Teixeira on the mounting evidence that unborn children can feel pain from as young as 6 weeks, in a context that offers greater protection for unborn animals than humans in the UK.
• Exciting progress from youth workers in SPUC Scotland.
• Jakob Cornides - Independent Human Rights Expert - on Conscientious Objection to Abortion.
• Dr James Sherley - presented a very clear scientific analysis of the lack of logic in the pro-killing approach to life, emphasising how the human state is a continuum from conception through gestation, childhood, adulthood and old age.

40 Years of Mistakes and Regret

On Saturday 26th April 2008 we marked the 40th anniversary of the implementation of the Abortion Act in our land. Legalised abortion has now seen the loss of around seven million lives in Britain over these years.

The event mirrored others across the land, from Worthing on the south coast to Newcastle in the North, over 50 pro-life chains were held this day.  Ordinary people stood by the side of an ordinary road, because abortion affects ordinary lives: mothers and children alike.

We now know that abortion hurts more than the child whose life is taken.  So our banners not only call out to avoid the evil of abortion, but reach out to help those who suffer living with a decision that can't now be reversed.  Whether through lack of information, or difficult circumstances, or lack of support, the pain of having killed one's own unborn child can be much the same.

We're not about 'turning the clock back', but rather about working towards a time when women are supported, and men understand the consequences of their actions, where the law doesn't just offer cynical cheap quick fixes that harm the fabric of society.  For how can a society that kills its own children in their most innocent and needy state in the womb - how can such a society remain decent?

The event went smoothly, and we're grateful to those who came and those who could not - but supported us in other ways on the day.  Cars drove by with occupants displaying a variety of reactions.  Some were thoughtful, others refused to look, a few made rude gestures, but many showed interest, concern and even support.  One or two drove by shouting their pro-choice slogans.  Because ours was a silent witness, we mostly stood by in silence, but one wonders: isn't it better to help women to make a good choice.  How can killing your own innocent child be the answer to anything?  It may seem that way at first, but ultimately it just creates more problems.

If you weren't with us today, please ask yourself if it's OK to miss such events in the future.  We all lead busy lives, but spare a moment to think about how we live in a democracy.  Decision makers listen to what people think, and if people who know right from wrong remain unseen and don't register their views, then how are things to change for the better?

Street Stands

These have been held in a couple of Nottingham's suburban centres.  Typically people show positive interest, particularly in the foetal models - there is good conversation, and we've gained some support with the campaign against the HFE Bill.  Of course not everyone agrees with us, but without an exchange of ideas what would free speech mean!

Challenge Team

The Challenge Team visited the area at our Chair's instigation.  Some members joined them at a couple of schools and reported that this is a worthwhile witness and education for children, encouraging a positive culture less likely to foster the attitudes that make abortion so rife.

Teen Pregnancy Figures

Members heard an overview of the latest available figures (for the end of February 2006).  Apparently the numbers for under 18s were slightly down and those for under 16s were very slightly down, but the percentages of teen pregnancies ending in abortion were higher.  Nottingham conception rates were up over the last few years, in spite of initiatives to provide more clinics / school clinics etc.  This supports our concern that wider availability of contraception and abortion just leads to riskier behaviour.

January

January saw our annual general meeting and social gathering: good company, good food, and good conversation!  If you'd like to joins us see the contacts page.

 

More past news and events.