Scottish Catholic Observer

LAST week marked a milestone event for the pro-life cause in Scotland as the Cardinal Winning Pro-Life Initiative marked its 20th anniversary.

The day, March 9, provided an opportunity to offer prayer and thanks to God for Cardinal Winning, the work of the Initiative, its supporters and the pro-life cause.

Two decades ago, Cardinal Winning—pictured right, with hands full—announced his support for pregnant women and those who have dealt with abortion, a mission that the Sisters of the Gospel of Life continue, with the Cardinal Winning Pro-Life Initiative being their primary apostolate.

The anniversary coincides with the 50th anniversary year of the Abortion Act in the UK, with the Cardinal Winning Pro-life Initiative having a number of events planned to promote the pro-life cause, also reflected by other pro-life groups across Scotland and the rest of the UK.

This included a Mass praying for the pro-life cause that was held on March 15 in Blessed John Duns Scotus Church in the Gorbals, Glasgow, celebrated by Fr Paul Brady.

The Mass, which is held every third Wednesday of the month, was preceded by Eucharistic adoration from 6-7pm and the praying of the Rosary at 7pm, with the 7.30pm Mass followed by refreshments.

Cardinal Winning offered his help 20 years ago, saying: “Whatever worries or cares you may have, we will help you. If you need pregnancy testing or counseling, we will help you.

“If you want help to cope with raising the baby on your own, we will help you. If you want to discuss adoption of your unborn child, we will help you.

“If you need financial assistance, or help with equipment for your baby and feel financial pressures will force you to have an abortion, we will help you.

“This invitation, I repeat, is open to all. Irrespective of age, creed or colour.”

Since the start of the Cardinal Winning Pro-Life Initiative, the group estimate that they have saved 100-150 children’s lives.

Sr Roseann Reddy from the organisation spoke of the power of one person speaking to another, with many of their referrals coming from women speaking to other women about the help they received from the service.

“The thing we’ve achieved is our presence in society, that there is an alternative to abortion there available,” Sr Reddy said.

In an attempt to combat the ‘culture of death’ in society, the Cardinal Winning Pro-Life Initiative is taking a number of steps to raise awareness of the pro-life cause in 2017, namely through prayer and action.

Sr Reddy has penned an SCO series, ‘50 questions for 50 years,’ in response to some of the questions people have surrounding abortion, and has introduced new pro-life prayer cards. The cards feature a prayer from the Gospel of Life inside, and people are encouraged to place a baby scan picture of a child they may know, to not only pray for an end to abortion and for the women and men in need of help, but to acknowledge the child’s humanity.

For more info, contact: [email protected], [email protected] or 0141 433 2680.