Scottish Catholic Observer

The 40 Days for Life initiative comes to a close this weekend. It has been six weeks of dedicated witness to the value of human life undertaken by people from all over Scotland. We are used to giving public witness in Scotland to many areas where important values are at stake. People routinely gather at Faslane to express their concern for the potential loss of life from nuclear weapons; public gatherings have been held in the face of welfare cuts, wars, fox-hunting and an array of other issues; and every now and then we are reminded of the value of every human life when people gather outside a US prison to pray for the life about to be ended by death penalty and to protest against that sanction still existing.

It would be unusual therefore if the issue of abortion, which accounts for the real loss of many thousands of lives each year, did not motivate people to gather publicly to pray and give witness to their objection. It is understandable that some people would have reservations about such an undertaking. The media have not helped in presenting the reality of what such a vigil entails and the vested interests of the abortion industry are eager to keep this issue hidden from the public eye. They can dream up a thousand excuses why we should continue to keep the killings out of mind.

For those who have participated or observed the vigil at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow, their experiences will bear out that it is a very positive and dignified event. There is an air of peace and tranquillity around those who stand with their placards and they are routinely given supportive toots from passing cars and thumbs-up signs. The negative responses are by far in the minority and it must be with some degree of perplexity that motorists observe a group of people willing to stand day-in and day-out in the bleakest of Scottish weather. An early lent this year has meant that temperatures are often freezing when the vigil commences at 8am and likewise in the dark hours at the end of the day. But the participants seem to have a warmth from within that makes their time of witness not only bearable but enjoyable. Many return each day because the experience is so uplifting and those who travel from even the other side of the country are motivated to make the effort to return on a weekly basis.

The numbers on the vigil for a particular hour regularly go in to the twenties. That’s a lot of people 12 hours a day for 40 days and the spirits have remained resolutely strong. There is a particular buzz of excitement on the special occasions when for instance a priest comes to join the group, as several have done regularly, or when a group of young people come along. Families with young children have been a common feature and they all are glad to be part of the whole venture. There are also many stories of encouragement such as the bus driver stopping with his passengers to congratulate the vigil team, or the father bringing his two sons who had been born at 24 weeks of pregnancy to say hello, or the doctors coming from the hospital to shake hands with everyone to thank them for their efforts.

There are values which society very much needs more of, such as hope, kindness, friendship, compassion and joy; these can all be experienced on the 40 Days for Life vigil. If you’ve not had the chance to get involved you can come along to the closing rally at George Square on Palm Sunday at 3pm or find out about getting involved next year. There are related events and initiatives throughout the year run by SPUC. You will feel the better for getting involved and it will be how we build a culture of life.

Youth Conference

Last weekend a group of 24 young, pro-life warriors left from Scotland to attend the SPUC Youth Conference at the High Leigh Conference Centre in Hoddesdon, just North of London. There they joined by almost 150 more young people from all over the UK and some from further afield—all raring to hear a host of speakers give the participants the most up-to-date information on a variety of issues.

After arriving at the conference centre, not much time was wasted before we were dished our first slice of life affirming information. The first talk was by Obianuju Ekeocha, a speaker who I have heard before, but who always strikes me due to how passionately she speaks. It is very thought-provoking how she so eloquently links the slavery of black people to the slavery of abortion today. This talk really made us think about how society has completely made ‘freedom’ spin in a crazy direction. Terrible things used to happen legally to slaves and eventually they won their freedom from persecution. Our society then fought for a further freedom, ‘women’s freedom,’ which introduced abortion to allow women to make their own choices about pregnancy. We are, however, just back where we started. These babies are not free, these women are not free and society would have you believe that this is totally acceptable, just as slavery was once totally acceptable. This link reminded me of a particular song by Scottish musician Eric Bogle called Singing the Spirit Home, written about a black prisoner in South Africa who was to be executed. The chorus in particular could be linked to abortion:

Chains, chains, chains, how many souls have died in

freedom’s name?

To some it is a way of life, to others just a word

To some it is a snow white dove, to some a bloody sword

Until the last chain falls, freedom will make slaves of us all

The last line is very profound. The freedom of abortion is most definitely making slaves of many, many people.

As well as many other highlights we had the privilege of hearing a beautiful testimony from Catherine MacMillan. Tragically Catherine’s daughter, Sara passed away in January, but there is no doubt that little Sara’s legacy will live on within the pro-life movement and beyond. Not only was Sara one of the most beautiful, inspirational and loving little girls that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting but her contagious smiles and loving persona was a massive witness to how someone with severe disabilities can have a happy and good quality of life. Catherine’s words showed that in every situation, the gift of life is precious. Despite all the challenges that Catherine and her family came up against they are a fantastic witness to the love and joy that Sara brought and what it truly means to be pro-life. It was an incredibly moving part of the weekend to hear that testimony. It was a special mother’s tribute to a special. It brought the audience to its feet for a standing ovation and then people sat in silence for many minutes afterwards attempting to compose themselves as some openly sobbed and not a dry eye remained in the hall.

This was my fifth time attending the conference, but it was my first time as development officer for SPUC Scotland.’ This year, with the aid of some young people (above right) sharing their experience, I had the privilege of running a workshop on Project Truth to help promote this wonderful Scottish initiative. What began as groups of young people running monthly outreach stalls throughout Scottish towns and cities quickly built the foundations for the Project Truth Summer Roadshow. On the roadshow the team will visit between five and ten different locations each day throughout the week and bring the pro-life message to the public in a fun way. We concentrate on the first ten weeks of pregnancy as this is when most abortions take place in Scotland. We look at the development of the baby during this time and aim to show people the humanity of the child in the womb. It’s also a fantastic way to get involved in pro-life activism, to meet other young people with the same pro-life convictions, to make great friends and help each other to build a culture of life in our country.

The network of young people in Scotland who are committed to defending life at every stage continues to grow. Especially with the recent proposal to devolve abortion laws to Scotland we need strong pro-life spirits to bear witness to the pro-life cause. It is encouraging to see more and more young people wanting to actively get involved as they are the next generation of pro-lifers, they are our future. In places of study where pro-life groups have been forbidden we are now seeing groups of students rising up to challenge the restrictive laws on campus. In big numbers they have been supporting Glasgow’s first 40 Days for Life event and they are becoming excited about this year’s Project Truth Roadshow.

Planning is now underway for the 2016 Roadshow which will take place from August 8-12. We need witnesses, we need strong, courageous pro-life warriors to join our team. If you would like to be part of it or support the event then please contact myself at: [email protected] or like our Project Truth Facebook page to keep up to date with what’s happening. Get in touch, get involved.

Pro-life story touches hearts

The debut of Motherwell Express, SPUC Scotland’s new play, delighted, moved and inspired audiences at St Mungo’s Townhead performing under the umbrella of AGAP’s Lentfest 2016. The play gives a bird’s eye view of the many factors that are perpetuating abortion culture, especially the silence that surrounds it. Rose, a high-flying management consultant at Motherwell hospital sees Breda every day on the commute, yet they know little about each other. Monica, 19, and desperate boards the train. She is in a crisis pregnancy hoping someone can help her. Breda, the chatty ‘trolley dolly’ on the Motherwell Express will not be silent about the help Monica needs. Nor will Breda let Rose, the personification of feminist pro-choice, continue to hide behind her icy monosyllabic cynicism. Breda knows Rose has contacts at Motherwell hospital, where she works, that could save Monica’s pregnancy. As the audience wonders will Rose acknowledge Monica’s suffering and help her, the big picture, the 30 abortions in Scotland per day, is laid bare. Will society itself wake up and resist the death culture which encroaches on us. Motherwell Express is a poignant black comedy, both humorous and moving. Ultimately it tells it as it is through the grounded Breda, the pro-life fertility counsellor and the train’s trolley-dolly. This is a pro-life play with a sensitive insight into the trauma abortion causes women, men and our communities.

“There were elements of the play which were harrowing, not knowing if the young girl Monica would get the help she needed to choose life and I’ve heard there were tears in the audience!” Rachel McKenzie, Write to Life co-ordinator at SPUC Scotland, said. “But there was lots of laughs too and hope. Hope is the most important thing. Audiences must be allowed to imagine a future that is pro-life once more. One where an unplanned pregnancy ends up being the best thing in a woman’s life and not, as it is relentlessly portrayed in all media outlets, as the worst thing.”

This play is the debut for SPUC Scotland’s new creative initiative Write to Life. Monica is played by Rachel Beth, an accomplished young actress who previously performed with Ten Ten Theatre. Rachel currently works as a youth worker for the Dunkeld Diocese bringing together her theatrical expertise and moral passions.

Angela Deighan, a last minute understudy for Breda, drew on her own lifetime of prolife work, and made Breda brightly shine as the show’s heroine. Rose, played by Rachel McKenzie, Communications Officer at SPUC Scotland, serves to remind us all of the harsh economic facts out there that can be used, wrongly, against the pro-life movement. The question and answer session after both performances was very energetic and lively making for an excellent pro-life event.

Professor David Paton of economics at Nottingham University and John Deighan, CEO SPUC Scotland shared the platform on the first night. Professor David Paton is Head of the Industrial Economics and Finance Division at Nottingham University Business School. David’s research covers a range of topics including the economics of gambling, sport, assisted suicide and teenage pregnancy and abortion. He has published over 50 papers in academic journals. His research on teenage pregnancy has been featured extensively in the media including in The Herald, BBC Newsnight, the Today Programme, Women’s Hour and Voice of Russia. In 2014, David was invited to give evidence to the House of Commons Select Committee inquiry into sex education. Professor Paton then went to Dundee to speak at their afternoon for Life.

After the matinee Margaret Cuthill and Sr Andrea sat on the panel. Through her personal healing and restoration experience, she developed a greater understanding of the negative impact abortion has on women and on society. As a founder of British Victims of Abortion, now ARCH, Margaret has since 1988 spoken on a variety of platforms identifying the impact of post-abortion trauma. She has also attended various international symposiums discussing the impact of abortion and looked at how best to challenge the abortion providers’ claim that there are no long term psychological, emotional after effects from abortion.

Sister Andrea from the Cardinal Winning Initiative, the biggest pro-life organisation helping women in crisis pregnancy in the UK, spoke movingly on the need to listen to women in crisis pregnancy. Sr Andrea also spoke on the transformative work of Rachel’s Vineyard to heal women and families following an abortion.

Write to Life will be developing Motherwell Express further for SPUC Scotland to reach many audiences. There are other creative projects so please e-mail Rachel at: rmckenzie @spucscotland.org if you would like to get involved.

SPUC Stall at Political Conferences

The devolution of abortion to Scotland, means it is critically important for us to dialogue with MSPs to build a culture of life in Scotland. SPUC Scotland will have a stall at the SNP Conference at the SECC, Glasgow on March 12 and 13 and also at the Labour Conference at Glasgow Science Centre on March 19.

Please do call by our SPUC Scotland stall if you are attending. We are delighted that many of our SPUC Scotland Project Truth team will be helping at the Labour Conference. These young people are students at Scottish universities and have steadfastly given witness for the unborn on many occasions. Though abortion has been legal for their entire lifetime in the UK, they are the young pro-life generation that politicians must listen to and reverse the culture of death so imbued in many public ‘health’ policies and ideologies. By attending the political conferences they are dispelling the myth that abortion is routine and okay. It will be a great opportunity too for pro-life MSPs to know they are supported in the brave stances which they take and that they are not alone at these events—events which claim neutrality and diversity, but which are almost by definition pro-choice.

It is a great strength knowing that the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil will be praying in Glasgow at the same time. This shows the wonderful interconnectedness of standing for life and how much we can achieve step by step together.

_ www.spucscotland.org