The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) is the oldest pro-life campaigning organisation in the world, founded to combat the Abortion Bill in 1967. I cleared some time in the diary today to go up and spend some time discussing various pro-life strategies with the wonderful team there.
I founded the Association of Priests for the Gospel of Life (APGL) to help priests to proclaim the Gospel of Life and we are just sending out our latest newsletter. I'll post it here tomorrow when it has gone out to members.
One of the important issues in the UK at the moment is to fight for the right of conscientious objection for doctors and other health professionals. In the UK right now, there is a real risk that pro-life doctors will be legally obliged to refer patients to other doctors who will arrange abortions. Of course, there will be some who will refuse and accept the consequences.
This is an important battle because there is no telling where this kind of "obligation" will reach. Will school nurses be "obliged" to refer children for the Morning After Pill? Will teachers who counsel young people be "obliged" to refer them to someone who will offer them the "choice" of abortion?
One good idea is that of an APGL blog to give news and ideas to priests for the promotion of the Gospel of Life. We need to give support and assistance to good priests who want to get this message across to their people.
2 comments:
Fr. Finigan, you might be interested in a website called "The Protection of Conscience Project." (www.consciencelaws.org) The Project is a non-denominational, non-profit initiative supported by an international project team and advisory board. They seek to advocate for protection of conscience legislation, facilitate communication and co-operation among protection of conscience advocates, provide legislative draftsmen with useful information, promote clarification and understanding of the issues involved to assist in reasoned public discussion and act as a clearing house for reports from people who have been discriminated against for reasons of conscience, directing them to legal assistance and other support when possible.
I'm very familiar with this project as the website is run by a close family friend. It has been a very useful resource for my dad as a NFP-only physician.
I can get you more information or put you in touch with the Administrator of the project if you like.
I agree, the protection of conscience is a huge issue. Many countries do not even have any laws regarding the protection of conscience.
Many thanks. I'll put a post up to publicise that site and will let SPUC know.
Post a Comment