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SPUC  Conferences 2019

Throughout history, doctors have taken the Hippocratic Oath, which is the promise to act for the benefit of the sick, to do no harm. This sees the doctor assisting nature in order to restore the health of the patient. This reflects wisdom on the treatment of human beings by applying knowledge and skill for the benefit of the sick. Dr McCarthy highlighted the change in society to promote a practice of physician assisted suicide which masquerades as healthcare, while violating human health and life. Essentially, society is trying to make the physician into a killer. The deepest problem in our society is a false notion of freedom. The idea that extra options, gives people more choice, more control and therefore more freedom. However, the very option of ending a life actually leads to pressures of needing to justify one’s own life and existence. There is a concerning trend of doctors and the health professionals who are increasingly making decisions on life based on previous ‘fly away’ comments made by patients. Creating a situation where family observations have a serious impact on whether a patient lives or dies. The fundamental issue is that human suffering is seen as a greater evil than killing the innocent. Liberty detached from the value of human beings, results in liberty defined by people’s wishes. We need to remember that the intrinsic value of human life is separate to people’s views or opinions.

John Smeaton concluded the SPUC 2019 conference with reflections on the current state and a look to the future. One key area of concern is the compulsory relationships and sex education in primary and secondary schools; giving information on contraception, abortion and LGBT to children. There is also a concern of Catholic leaders promoting this and reinforcing the LGBT agenda in schools. SPUC is resisting this by providing ‘Safe at School’ campaign, providing resource to teachers to help counter act this destructive ideology. Another fight for life is in the opposition to Decriminalisation of Abortion in Northern Ireland. If this is passed by government, it will be the most tragic and inhumane development since 1967 Abortion Act. In spite of this fight, John Smeaton is full of hope for the future, as SPUC never stops campaigning and battling to protect lives. He outlined the campaigns at local and national level which have mobilised resistance to Government Law attacking life. Abortion Recovery Care Helpline (ARCH) has significantly extended its outreach to help women. There have been major new initiatives in schools to get prolife message across and community initiatives such as the Tiny Feet Club, coffee mornings to raise funds. It was clearly reinforced that SPUC is a strong, tightly-knit, grass roots organisation, seeking to change the minds of individuals at a local level, which will inevitably spread and reach to national level. The key point is that nothing can ever justify the deliberate killing of an innocent unborn child.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson spoke to us on the current topic of ‘Battling to defend unborn children in Northern Ireland. Protecting the dignity of life from conception to the grave is what Sir Jeffery and the Northern Irish people are campaigning for and believe in. We were told a stark statistic which really hit home. 100,000 fellow citizens are alive today because Northern Ireland resisted the 1967 Abortion Act. In the UK, the economic problems we have today are a direct result of the decisions made in the past. An extra 3 million people are needed to sustain the economy. Over 9 million babies have been aborted over the last 50 years. There is clearly a gap in the population. This is an act of self-harm to our own country. If a devolved government is not restored in Northern Ireland by 21st Oct 2019, abortion will be decriminalised. This will have catastrophic consequences for unborn children in their mother’s womb, as this Law would permit abortion for any reason up to 28 weeks and would no longer be classed as a criminal act. Sir Jeffery reinforced that the DUP is still passionately pro-life and anti-abortion. Opponents are hijacking the narrative of reasonable discussion and debate. The right response is to push back on the abortion narrative. We need to start winning the pro-life narrative in the public square!

Worldwide there are Nations, Organisations and Foundations who are very powerful donors. They control and manipulate the African governments by donating money ‘conditionally’. The conditions of receiving funding are based on the African countries accepting the harmful ideology of contraception and abortion. Obianuju highlighted the false claim that Africa is overpopulated. In fact the numbers show that Europe has twice the population density per km2 compared to African nations. There is a conflict in ideology and culture between the African Continent and the Euro-centric politicians and elites. A conflict seen as the ‘Donors Will vs Recipients Way’. Donors have an agenda that they are pushing on African countries. The Recipients are the African people who are naturally pro-life. The women don’t want Abortion. They just want their voices to be heard. African Nations have clear Pro Life Constitutions which are being ignored by western donors. The strong will of the African people has helped them to stand up in protest against some of the proposed legislation to introduce abortion. Laws which aim to kill Africa’s unborn children. Obianuju’s advice to us was to speak up, and do not stop what you are doing to help the life of the unborn; as abortion is the most horrific human rights abuse of our time.

John Deighan presented ‘A Battle in the War’ looking at the attack of pro-abortion individuals and lobby groups on the pro-life cause. He described it as the ‘Intensification of the Vilification’ whereby lies of misconduct are made against peaceful prayerful witnesses outside abortion facilities. 1861 Offences Against the Person Act is under attack by pro-abortion lobby, as this Act prevents them from claiming that abortion is a human right. Key campaigners include associations which would have traditionally and naturally been for the protection of women and babies. The Royal College of Midwives, British Medical Association, and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Abortion has an inevitable consequence for the women, their families and wider society. It is the self-destruction of society. We are facing a real fight for survival for our civilisation. Abortion is used as a weapon. John commented on the worrying trend that peoples’ views are being radicalised and reason in debate is not working. We need to change the narrative of pro-abortion as women’s rights, and learn to tell a compelling story of women’s right to bring life into the world. A story to promote the beauty and dignity of maternity. Antonia Tully spoke on the issue of the push to legalise Assisted Suicide in the UK. Opponents are taking highly emotionally charged stories of individuals to put forward their argument in the media and public sphere. The prolife response to this current monopoly on the debate is to include a personal story that will really ‘cut ice’ with the politicians. Antonia presented videos as part of the ‘Lives Worth Living’ SPUC Campaign, showing the power of telling an individual’s story and the emotional response.

Professor de Mattei stated that Catholics today live in one of the worst times of crisis in the Church. Briefly commenting on the definition of schism, heresy and apostasy, he stated that there are two religions present inside the Church. The first is to believe the Gospel is unchangeable, to welcome the teaching of the saints, to embrace teaching as it has been expressed for 2,000 years. In the case of any doubts, refer to Tradition. The second is the ‘religion’ which does not believe that the Devil exists, or that Original Sin and Hell is real. Essentially the relativistic view, which is based on the individual perception and preference. Professor de Mattei gave a commentary on the Pope’s discourse being based on political concerns, with no mention of God. Described as holding an ideology routed in Global Egalitarianism.

Stephanie Gray wowed the Catholic world when she gave a pro-life presentation on abortion at Google headquarters in 2017, a talk that went viral on Google’s own Youtube channel, making it part of their most popular “Talks at Google” presentations. No stranger to “the lion’s den,” Stephanie has spent two decades formally debating the topic of abortion on college campuses across North America, going head to head with abortion doctors and philosophy professors while demonstrating wisdom and grace. She not only gives pro-life talks but also tells her personal story of finding joy after a broken engagement. Here Stephanie at SPUC highlights the truth about Assisted Suicide.

Father De Malleray delivers his homily based on the Gospel of the Transfiguration of Jesus. We must imitate the light of Jesus Christ in this spiritual battle for the unborn. We must become Saints first in order to enter into the fight. Father De Malleray also mentions a number of steps to gain personal holiness.

Dr. Calum Miller is an Oxford University-educated academic, ethicist and pro-life advocate. He is currently a visiting research scholar at the University of Oxford’s Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, where he is working on research related to the metaphysics of abortion. Here Dr. Miller gives us some very interesting facts about the nature of Abortion.

Colin Hart talked to us about ‘The Fight to Defend Marriage in the UK’. Colin presented an impressive promotional video explaining the issue of Divorce Laws in UK. The aim of proposed changes to Divorce Law is to make ‘no fault divorce easier.’ This points to a serious attack on the dignity of marriage, and takes away much needed support and time for couples to reconcile. Colin answered the question, ‘What is marriage?’ Giving a clear view of the union between a man and a woman, as it has been known and defined throughout history.

Deputy Chief Executor Officer John Deighan speaks as an Introduction to the SPUC Youth Conference March 2019. The Pro-Life Lobby is under great attack but we must stand firm in this Worldy Campaign now that seeks to distinguish our rights to speak the "Truth" because it may offend someone.  

Obianuju Ekeocha, founder and president of Culture of Life Africa, an initiative dedicated to the promotion and defense of the sanctity of life, marriage, motherhood and families. A lifelong Catholic, she was born and raised in Nigeria. She is a biomedical scientist in hematology and works at a hospital in the United Kingdom. She presents here her documentary to illustrate how Marie Stopes International with huge amounts of funding from different western countries, is targeting African women for Contraception and Abortion in their attempt to spread the culture of death.  

Michael Wee is the Education and Research Officer at the Anscombe Bioethics Centre. His academic background is in literature and philosophy, and he previously studied at Durham University and Oxford University. His research interests include virtue ethics, the ethics of assisted reproduction, and the role of empathy in moral philosophy. Here at the Youth Conference he provides a clear insight into the nature of Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide.  

Stephanie Gray wowed the Catholic world when she gave a pro-life presentation on abortion at Google headquarters in 2017, a talk that went viral on Google’s own Youtube channel, making it part of their most popular “Talks at Google” presentations. No stranger to “the lion’s den,” Stephanie has spent two decades formally debating the topic of abortion on college campuses across North America, going head to head with abortion doctors and philosophy professors while demonstrating wisdom and grace. She not only gives pro-life talks but also tells her personal story of finding joy after a broken engagement. Here Stephanie at SPUC highlights the truth about Assisted Suicide.