What is it to you?
I've been praying over this blogpost for weeks - and now it's time to share with you what I have learned about abortion.
I knew very little about abortion until just over a month ago. I cannot describe to you my shock and surprise at how much this issue impacts EVERYBODY. Everything to do with abortion is immoral - and I pray you finish reading this blogpost knowing that you've learned something, and feel encouraged to do something about it. I'll give you a 'lil low down on everything I've learned about abortion in the UK.
Tiny History
The Dark Ages
Abortion has been around for many centuries. Women used all sorts of methods to abort (aka abortifacients) fetuses in their wombs - from sitting over steaming pots, to drinking herbal teas, and even forcing consumption of toxic chemicals. Between the 2nd and 19th century, not only did the majority of attempted abortions lead to death (meaning women could have knowingly been risking their own lives), but science had not yet shown people what the physical state of human life was at any point in embryonic development - and so people (including saints!) made different judgements on when life (and ensoulment) actually begins, and when the fetus is a human being.
Abortion's strong historic links to Reproductive Racism and Eugenic Ideology
Most of today's abortion providers such as Marie Stopes and Brook Advisory Centres were advocates of abortion for reasons borne out of evil: eugenics and racism. If you don't know what these are, then you seriously need to read up about it - because they're both unjustifiable reasons of hurting and killing other human beings whether in the womb or out of it. Eugenics is the process of improving the human race by controlling reproduction in order to make a "more pure" human race, altogether promoting "good breeding". Racism is the simple belief that a fellow human being is less of a human being because of their social, ethnic or religious background, and wickedly acting upon this belief for the purpose of racial superiority. This could ring bells for you. You could very well have studied texts for English Literature at GCSE on prejudice and injustice (for me it was Taylor's Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry)... it was my first exposure to racism in my life. Maybe you have a friend who is affected by racism, and you understand from real experience how wrong it is. You may have very strong feelings regarding WWII - particularly if you are disabled or have Polish blood running through your veins. Adolf Hitler was one of these characters steeped in eugenic and racist ideology. And guess what? Marie Stopes wrote letters and poems of adoration to him at the same time as setting up her clinics in the poorest towns, targetting the wave of West Indian immigrants coming over for work, whilst encouraging child labour exploitation in the factories of the manufacturing industries.
We no longer live in those dark ages, people. We are all intelligent enough to recognise that eugenics and racism are both disgusting and morally wrong. I'm not saying that people who carry out abortions are racists, but unfortunately, eugenics and sophisticated racism is still happening largely under the guise of the "safe sex" movement - which people fail to recognise as manifestated in contraception and abortion for the minorities (Source: iCare magazine). We know what a fetus looks like at every point of its development now, thanks to science, and the gift of right judgement that we are sealed with at Confirmation encourages us to seek the truth, and actively live it in the choices we make. I'm here to help you see that truth - and you'll hear it from my perspective.
Oh... by the way... it was estimated that Adolf Hitler ordered the killing of between 15 and 20 million people. We can all agree the Holocaust was morally wrong - so why are we as a whole society rapidly approaching that number by accepting the killing of unborn children? Here's what's happening at the mo...
Facts on UK Abortion today
- Since 1967, abortion has been legal in the UK, and 7 million pre-born babies have been killed due to abortions since it was legalized. Source: Dept. of Health, Abortion Statistics for 2009.
- 200,000 abortions take place in England and Wales a year. That equates to around 540 deaths of unborn babies a day. Source: The Good Counsel Network.
- 60% of abortions take place because of contraception failure - which abortion clinics fail to make aware publicly. Source: The Good Counsel Network
- Abortions can take place on the grounds that two doctors agree the pregnancy would damage the woman's physical or mental health up to 26 weeks gestation, but there is no time limit to abortion if two doctors agree the woman’s health or life is gravely threatened by continuing with the pregnancy or that the fetus is likely to be born with severe physical or mental abnormalities. Source: Education for Choice
- Pay taxes? 94% of abortions are funded by the NHS with 60% taking place in the independent sector under NHS contract. Source: Dept. of Health, Abortion Statistics for 2009.
- 5% of women consider abortion because they have serious practical problems they do not have a solution for. The other 95% of women choose to have an abortion because they're in a casual relationship and 'don't want to be tied to the guy for the rest of her life', and simply don't want to be pregnant. Source: The Good Counsel Network.
- 70% of women who have an abortion had their decisions made for them by their mothers and partners (for the majority of cases). Source: The Good Counsel Network.
- 1 in 30 women aged 19-21 had an abortion last year. Source: Dept. of Health, Abortion Statistics for 2009.
- Pregnant women who abort have a six times higher rate of suicide than those who carry their babies to term. Source: European J. Public Health. 2005.
- Women who abort are 65% more lkely to be at rish of long-term clinical depression than women who gave birth. Source: Medical Science Monitor. 2003.
- Women who abort are 144% more likely to abuse their children. Source: Acta Paediatrica. 2005.
Abortion Methods include...
- The morning after pill - ellaOne - Ulipristal Acetate (UPA)
- RU-486 - Mifeprex (The Abortion Pill) - Vacuum Aspiration
- Dilation and Suction Curettage (D&C) - Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)
- Induction or Prostaglandin Abortion - Partial Abortion or Dilation and Extraction (D&X)
There's a lot of information available on this, particular in a magazine called iCare - which is where most of the statistics above have come from. Do email me if you want copies of this magazine sent to you! For the meanwhile, here's an illustrated video of how abortionists enforce the D&X method on a fetus of 24 weeks gestation. It might disturb you for life, but I wish for you to watch it with three questions in mind: 1) Is this natural and safe? 2) Is this moral? 3) Do you think this is God's Will for us here on earth to sit by and idly watch this happening up to 540 times a day?
What do you think? How did you answer those questions? Perhaps with more questions? Questions like...
Women's reasons for abortion
... 'but taking away abortion means taking away the woman's right to choose?' or 'why is abortion wrong in the cases of rape?'. In Catholic teaching, all killing is a mortal sin. Our belief is that from the moment of conception, which is when the sperm has fertilised the egg, a man and a woman has naturally created another human being, as is willed by God. We all belong to Him, and it is not just ourselves that we should consider in important life decisions such as whether another human being should die or live. If you wish not to have to make this decision, then the only solution is to postpone your sexual activity with a partner until marriage. I know it's not something you want to hear, but trust... it is the reality of how God created us, and no contraception will prevent life from forming 100%.
In answer to rape: should a child have to pay the punishment of death because the man wasn't the woman's intended partner? If you are the pregnant woman, is that child's life worth less than yours? Rape is such an unfortunate and sad occurence, and those women who have been raped will be very much in need of comfort and support. But believe it or not, women who have been raped, and have borne a 'child conceived in rape', abhor the fact that people use them for their own political and social views. According to The Good Counsel Network (http://www.goodcounselnet.co.uk/) a number of such women have spoken out saying things like "I was raped, and everytime you've used my circumstances to justify abortion, I'm being abused again by you". An important fact regarding this is that, most women who are raped and get pregnant don't want an abortion. Most are pressurised into it (according to The Good Counsel Network).
There are also many answers to the 'women's right to choose' argument - with many books available on it, and many online resources. One such online resource specifically aimed at young people is this one: deathroe.
Can you believe that only 5% of women considering abortion actually have a practical problem that they can't see a solution to? The other 95% of women choose to have an abortion because they don't want to be pregnant; 70% of whom are coerced into abortion because their mothers and/or partners will it of them. For women who do not have strong faith, they might feel it is important for them to act upon the will of their elders, and those who would support them - so if those closest to her are coercing her to have an abortion, she may well disregard God, and the growing baby inside of her (Source of figures just mentioned: The Good Counsel Network). Few young people would consider God in their moral decisions, and even fewer would consider the Church teachings when making their decisions. Yet the Church is, in my opinion, the biggest advocate of natural life there is. For example, the Church condemns abortion, except for the one instance of the Principle of Double Effect, which is described better in question 6 of this Priests for Life Q&A.
Abortion affects everybody - including you
Too many people are unaware of how much abortion affects everybody, and society today is largely ill-informed of what abortion involves - most especially young people. As mentioned above, if you're a tax payer, it affects you. If you're a doctor, it affects you. If your Mum once had an abortion, you'd understand that you could have been living with another brother or sister right now if the abortion hadn't gone ahead. If you're in a classroom of 30 people or more, there is every chance that one of the girls in your class could have an abortion by the time she hits 21 years of age.
Abortion has affected my conscience directly, by means of a charity run I completed recently. My Grandaddy died of cancer in February this year, and although I walked El Camino for a plenary indulgence for his soul, I still felt I could do more to celebrate his life and help in some way ease the suffering of those with his condition. So I decided to partake with Mum's work the 10k run. The UK is a leading world location for stem-cell research and research done on aborted fetuses - but it isn't so clear on whether the charity Cancer Research UK are involved in this kind of research. When I contacted them about it, they never replied back to me. Until I discover whether they do support research on aborted fetuses or not, I genuinely can't say whether I have blindly been running and raising funds for research that supports abortion or not. And this, scares me.
What can we do to help those considering Abortion?
It might seem light-years away before a complete end to abortion, but we have to start somewhere - just like a tiny child starts somewhere :) We might not be able to stop 540 abortions that happen everyday, but we can stop one. In other words, we might not be able to help 540 women, but we can help one. People have been fairly active in this field for many years already with various organisations coming to existence - it's just that young people aren't so aware of them. Here I'll talk about two organisations that are there to help the women that are considering abortions, and those who have already gone through abortions. People of many different religions and backgrounds get together with a general banner name of 'pro-life' and actively try to raise awareness of abortion, and peacefully make their presence known outside abortion clinics. For many Catholics over the past 32 days, we have been doing that with prayer and fasting, through this wonderful initiative...
40 days for Life
40 days for Life has very recently crossed the pond over from the US, and today will be the 32nd day people will be praying and fasting outside an abortion clinic in central London. It is all peaceful, we do not impose our prayer onto anybody, but we are public with it. I've met some really wonderful people there, and we have had some success stories as a result of our prayer. One such person was Clare, who also writes a blog and brings her children as witness to our beliefs. Do read the link I've just given you, there's a fantastic part in there about 'opening up the abortion debate', where a Baptist Pastor questions Marie Stopes on 20 things he wanted answers to. To give you an idea of what happens at 40 days for Life, here is one such video I've taken during one of the quieter periods mid-afternoon:
The biggest gift of help we can give these women going through abortion, and their unborn children who are about to die, is prayer. Prayer is unbelievably powerful. We pray for the abortionists - that they may be converted (meaning they may see and accept that they are killing human life, and change for the better). We pray for the women going into the clinics, that they may also be converted and change their minds. And we pray for their unborn child, who may have one day become a doctor, or a bus driver, or a celebrity singer. I'm even guessing that through prayer in some way, this woman was converted from pro-choice to pro-life.
Up to day 20, successes of the 40 days for Life campaign include:
- 6 lives saved (God only knows the real figure could be closer to 10-15 or higher)
- Many women received positive, tangible help in time of crisis.
- Over 240 hours of street prayerful, peaceful and legal vigil.
- Around 5,000-10,000 passers by every day notice vigil proclaiming the humanity of the unborn child.
- 1 abortion worker quit their job
- 1 abortion clinic closed during weekday, no Saturday openings during campaign despite website stating they are open on Saturdays.
- 10,000 Human Life Alliance magazines in process of distribution
- 1 Film Premiere organised
- Hundreds of first time pro lifers activated
- 1 Friendly letter from Pope Benedict's office
- 15 presentations on 40 days for life around London
- At least 500-600+ participate in campaign
- Friendly gestures and participation from Muslims, Hindus and others
- 30 positive news stories
- Enquiries from Spain, France, Zambia, Ghana, Germany and Colombia towards conducting their own 40 days for life campaign.
- 10 Friendly parishes offering help on a larger scale
- Hundreds of homes and businesses visited during door to door outreach.
- 5 further events organised!
There is a week left of 40 days for Life. So one act of service for the Church you could take on, is actually going to pray outside the clinic for an hour or two. Today, there's a massive prayer vigil and procession that's being led by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, and ran by the Helpers of God's Precious Infants, at Twickenham Parish at 9am. This procession is police escorted, is mainly a Catholic event although I would think everyone's welcome, and it happens I believe once a month. Today will be the first time I go. Other upcoming events include:
- Film Premiere of Blood Money on Wednesday 27th October (see 40 days website) - do come and watch the vital messages shared by this movie.
- Prayer procession & Vigil from St. Charles Borromeo @ Ogle Street, 09:15 and ending early afternoon on 30th October.
- Prayer procession from Westminster Cathedral to Westminster Abbey on Saturday 13 November - organised by EuroProLife and is an ecumenical initiative.
The Good Counsel Network
The Good Counsel Network are a charity that provide practical help and advice to women who are worried about pregnancy. They offer counselling to those who have gone through abortion. There isn't a practical problem that they haven't yet been able to solve. If your pregnancy problems are immigration related, they can help. If you can't feed your baby, they will help you buy food for the baby. If you have family members you know will kill you should they find out your pregnant, they will find you a solution. With 14 years of experience, these guys really do know what they're doing. They believe that there is no reason one needs to have an abortion.
One way in which The Good Counsel Network are asking young people to help (other than being outside abortion clinics), is by praying. They have an adoration rota, and also a rosary rota, where people can dedicate a time to pray a rosary once a month. They've received a rise in numbers or people visiting their clinics as a result of the 40 days for Life campaign, and so they both work together outside the abortion clinics by ensuring the prayer vigil happens across the road, but keeping one of the counsellors with blue leaflets on the same side of the road as the clinic. These blue leaflets give people a phone number to call in case they are in a crisis pregnancy, know of anybody in a crisis pregnancy or are simply worried. As mentioned, prayer is extremely powerful. Everyday they try to celebrate Mass in their little chapel - so if you are a priest reading this, and you're in London any time soon, then please do consider popping by and celebrating Mass with them. They have a fundraising ball taking place on Saturday 30th October to raise money for their work. All those details are on their website!
What about the men?
Men have such a vital part to play in helping those considering abortion - particularly if the woman considering the abortion is about to kill your child, because you're the Father. Yes, the woman carries the baby in her womb, it is being fed by her body so that it may grow. But it was your sperm that helped create the life in her womb. Without you, she wouldn't be considering abortion. Guys, believe it or not, it's time to man-up! This is what The Good Counsel Network had to say to such instances as this, '"Do not say, I will support you whatever you do", because it could lead to her going off in the already emotional and worried state she is in, and having the abortion because you didn't say you'd actually support her and the baby. From a bloke's point of view, don't sleep with her until you're married anyway. BUT... if you find yourself in that situation because you've made a mistake, then you need to take responsibility for it.'
One of my mates actually said to me once when we were standing outside the clinic in the pouring rain "women shouldn't be doing this... it's us men that should!" He must have experienced some sort of flack worse than I have - 'cos he ain't usually that macho! I didn't agree with him though, because if a woman needed someone to talk to, then they're likely to speak freely to another woman than a man - and so argued that we're both needed. But seriously, some men are deeply affected by abortion, and in America some men in the pro-life movement carry banners which say that they regret their lost Fatherhood, or that they're mourning their lost child. And just because it's the women that make the ultimate decision what is done to their bodies, men could be shut out of this equation, and feel powerless to do anything about it. So generally, it would be good if a man could approach a partner who is considering abortion, and tell her compassionately that he will do everything in his power to protect and raise that child together with her, and that everything may turn out better than she was expecting.
Get yourselves educated further on abortion
Because abortion affects everybody, everybody should educate themselves on what the world of abortion is really like. Channel 4 televised a very interesting documentary on abortion (contains shocking and disturbing images - so age restricted to people under 18) and looks for quite some time on the point that a baby can feel pain as early as 20 weeks - which means the UK abortion law is supporting the physical suffering of pre-born babies at gestational stages when some women experiencing premature birth have proved delivery of a baby that can survive in intensive care. How utterly crazy is that? That in one ward, a 24 week old baby is being torn to pieces and killed, whereas in another ward, a premature week baby of 24 weeks old is fighting for his/her life in intensive care? It's madness!!!
I'll leave you now with this beautiful video by IgniterMedia of a couple that treasured every single moment they had with their baby after birth, knowing that he might not survive for long. Guys, abortion is such a big deal. Don't just sit there and do nothing about it. Because after all, abortion is a matter of life and death.
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