National Vigil for Life, June 8th

The Vigil for Life is TOMORROW! If you haven't already booked your bus place, here are the details of the Galway buses.

Buses from Galway City:
1. Departing Clybaun Hotel, Galway City at 10.10am
2. Menlo Park Hotel, Galway City at 10.30am
3. Renmore, Galway City 10:45am
To book a seat *on the Galway City buses* text Mary on 086 0846667 OR Luke on 087 9044174

Buses from Tuam:
Departing Tuam Cathedral at 10:30am.
Suggested donation for bus €10.
To book a seat *on a Tuam bus* text Shane 085 849 6300.

See you all there!

Galway public representatives lead opposition to abortion bill.

Noel Grealish, TD for Galway West and Colm Keaveney, for Galway East are in the news today regarding the government's abortion bill. Grealish called for a free vote allowing politicians vote according to their conscience rather than being forced to vote as their parties demanded.
Meanwhile Keaveney, who also hapens to be chairman of the Labour Party, has voiced hos opposition to the bill and has indicated that he will vote against it. In particular he voiced his opposition to the fact that there is no time limit in the bill and that babies near the viable stage could be delivered leaving them vulnerable to a range of health problems due to premature delivery.
Their voices have been added to other local representatives such as Fine Gael's Brian Walsh and Fianna Fáil's Eamon Ó Cuív who have voiced their opposition and intend to vote against the government's bill.

National Vigil for Life. June 8th. Merrion Sq.

Thousands of people are working hard to oppose the Government’s destructive abortion proposal. Thank you for playing YOUR part.

We simply must keep the effort up to stop this appalling legislation. As things stand, two psychiatrists, with an obstetrician on the sidelines, will be able to sign away the life of a child of a healthy mother. This is a travesty of good medicine.

There can be no question of pessimism on our side or resignation that all this is going to happen. We must oppose this at every step – before, during and after events in the Dáil and Seanad – and propose a positive alternative. We must never give up on the cause of human dignity.

So we urge you to do all you can to make the National Vigil for Life on 8th June a big success. This Vigil comes at the key moment with the Government producing the actual legislation. 

We must demonstrate the massive number of pro-life people in Ireland. Early June is a critical time and we need you to do everything that you can – now.Please get involved by attending yourself and also bringing as many others as possible.

Bring a carload or a busload! 

To organise a bus from your area, please telephone Denise on (087) 266 8702, Theresa on (085) 871 1100 or Maria on (085) 883 4636

You can order leaflets instantly to spread among family and friends here

For information on updates like the National Vigil For Life Facebook page and follow @natvigil4life on Twitter

Vigil For Life 2012

Thousands of people from all over the country converged on the streets outside Leinster House in a hastily organized vigil to show politicians that there are many people in Ireland that want our laws that protect the equal right to life of mother and child to remain in place.
After the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar last October there was tremendous pressure to change Irish law to allow for abortion. The tragedy, which happened here in our own city, became the focus of international attention. The appropriate thing at this stage is to wait until the investigation is over before we can say with authority what happened but it is equally clear that before the story became known to the public that pro-abortion choice advocates were ready to use it to attack Ireland's laws that guarantee the equal right to life of mother and unborn baby. The "spontaneous" protests outside the Dáil that called for the liberalization of the law weren't spontaneous after all. 
The vigil for Life was organized with about a week's notice and brought at a minimum of 5,000 to the protest. Other estimates were given of up to twice that. The 5,000 figure was given by the Irish Times but considering the fact that the same paper gave in to pressure to revise upwards the numbers at a pro-abortion march several months back their figures must be taken with caution. No doubt several more thousands were there according to their own standards. 

 Galway flag outside the Dáil at the Vigil for Life

At least two buses from Galway went to the vigil which exceeded all expectations.  There was no trouble from pro-abortion activists despite some threats that were noted on social networking websites earlier in the week. The weather was very good, though earlier in the week it was cold and damp there was no rain on the day and the mood was good thorough. Some singing broke out in different pockets as the assembled crowd waited for the vigil to start. Many people held candles while others held placards calling on politicians to value mother and child equally and asking the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny to keep the promise he made before the general election last year that Fine Gael in government would not legislate for abortion. 

 A section of the crowd with candles and placards.

The festive spirit that could be felt was lifted by the speakers. Caroline Simons, legal consultant to the Pro-Life Campaign told the crowd that despite the impression that was given Ireland is under no obligation by the European Court of Human Rights to legislate for abortion:

All we are supposed to do is clarify our own position in relation to abortion here…We have one of the best maternal mortality rates in the world so abortion is never the answer. It is not going to save mothers lives and we don’t want to see it on our shores.

 Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute told the vigil that "we need to ensure that both our mothers and babies are best protected by banning abortion." She also called on Enda Kenny to keep the promise he made before the general election.
Dr Sean O’Domhnaill of the Life Institute was abother speaker as was Cliona Johnson who told her moving story of her John Paul, her son, who was born with anencephaly and died shortly after birth. 
The vigil lasted only about an hour but people were in good spirits and made sure their voices were heard, they shouted in the direction of the Dáil that they did not want abortion, that Ireland without abortion treats pregnant women and that it is a safe country for them. 
The vigil was a great success, bringing people from all corners of the country on a dark December evening, keeping their spirits up and delivering the message that there are many who will continue to speak up for those who have no voice of their own.   

Pro Life Campaign says Red C abortion Poll ‘highly contradictory’ but welcomes support for constitutional amendment limiting X case

News Release

1st December 2012

Pro Life Campaign says Red C abortion Poll ‘highly contradictory’ but welcomes support for constitutional amendment limiting X case

Responding to the Red C poll on abortion to be published in tomorrow’s Sunday Business Post, the Pro Life Campaign said the answers to the different questions are highly contradictory, and show the very high level of public confusion on the issue mainly to do with the distinction between necessary medical interventions in pregnancy and abortion. The poll reveals that 85% support legislation for the X case, while 63% support a Constitutional amendment limiting the X ruling.

Dr Ruth Cullen of the Pro Life Campaign said:

“We welcome the high level of support for a Constitutional amendment to limit the X case. It is very apparent, however, from the findings overall, that there is huge confusion about the distinction between necessary medical treatments in pregnancy and abortion.

“The Minister for Health and other senior figures in Government bear much of the responsibility for this confusion. For example, they have abjectly failed to highlight the fact that abortion has never been shown to benefit women with mental health problems, indeed on the contrary, peer-reviewed studies show it places some women at greater risk. Given the misunderstandings that have been allowed to fester, it is not at all surprising that the findings appear so contradictory.

“In the coming weeks, as the debate continues, we are confident it will become clear that legislation for the X case would not in fact be restrictive but would involve wide-ranging abortion.”

See this and more on Pro Life Campaign website www.prolifecampaign.ie

Get yourself to the Unite For Life Pro-Life vigil on Tuesday!

Unite for Life pro-life Vigil – 4th December 2012

None of us needs to be reminded about the critical times we are in.

A Unite for Life pro-life Vigil will be held on Tuesday 4th December at 4.30pm outside Dáil Éireann.

We are asking everyone who considers themselves pro-life to come together to stand up for the lives of mothers and babies. 

Please make every effort to attend.

It will most likely be the only opportunity we get to send a united message to the Government before abortion legislation is debated in the Dáil

The vigil will have a positive, clear message about safeguarding the lives of mothers and babies in pregnancy.

Posters will be provided on the day.

Please spread the word to family, friends and anyone you know.

For more details and bus information contact: Claire 0872668702 or Katie 0877020255.

See you @ 4.30pm sharp on Tues 4th!

There are two things every pro-lifer needs to do today

(i) Sign an e-card that reaches YOUR politicians instantly and registers your opposition to abortion in Ireland

(ii) Register for our National Seminar 2012 to get clear information on the current real and imminent threat of abortion in Irish hospitals.

The Pro Life Campaign is not in the habit of sending alarmist emails but we cannot stress to our supporters how critical a time we are at right now and how near we are to abortion being carried out in Irish hospitals.  

This is despite the fact that;

(i) The majority of Irish people are opposed to abortion and in favour of mothers receiving all necessary medical treatments in pregnancy.

(ii) The European Court decision in ABC -v- Ireland does not oblige Ireland to legislate for abortion

(iii) Ireland, without abortion, is the safest place in the world for pregnant women and women receive all necessary treatments in pregnancy even if the unborn child's life is lost as a result.

(iv) Fine Gael made a clear pro-life pledge before the last election that they would uphold the right to life of unborn children

If you haven't already, please take five minutes to do the following this morning;

• Register instantly for our Seminar next Saturday here
• Send an instant e-card to your politicians here

Please encourage family and friends to do likewise. Thank you!