You were asking?

by Winifride Prestwich

How can we help pro-life people who feel discouraged when their efforts seem useless?

This question often arises. Go to any big pro-life conference and you will find hundreds of pro-life workers who have been discouraged (some to the point of burnout), but there they are, still working hard. Why? Because they cannot stand by, doing nothing, while babies in the womb are being destroyed, and others such as the handicapped and the elderly are being killed. There is no neutral position on issues such as abortion, embryo experimentation, and euthanasia; we either fight for life, or we join the enemy.

In the pro-life cause, every man, woman and child has a part to play; every part is important. In times of personal discouragement, and feelings of uselessness, I have my prayers and a wide variety of quotations. The following is by Edwart Everitt Hale (I do not know the book): "I am only one, but I am one; I cannot do everything, but I can do something, and what I can do, that I ought to do; and what I ought to do, by the Grace of God I will do."

I think this sums up the belief of every true pro-lifer in his or her efforts to save life.

I have two questions about a new British publication, Safe Sex Hoax. Is the writer, Dr. Margaret White, the same brilliant and witty speaker we heard a few years back at the Ottawa conference? Where can we get the book?

It is, indeed, the same Dr. M. White (once heard, never forgotten). For those not fortunate to have heard her, Dr. Margaret is a long-time physician in Croydon on the southern outskirts of London, an Anglican, and an internationally renowned pro-life worker and speaker. She writes from first-hand experience of the physical, mental, and emotional damage and the tragedies resulting from so-called "safe sex."

The booklet was introduced at a meeting in the House of Lords, chaired by Lord Alton, who was one of the leading pro-lifers when he was in the House of Commons some years ago. Safe Sex Hoax is a physician's attempt to prevent the damage caused by sexually transmitted diseases, the contraceptive pill, and abortion. It warns of mental and emotional problems following broken relationships and abortion.

The booklet is to be sold in schools in Britain. It would be invaluable to parents, teachers, ministers of religion, as well as to pro-life groups. Check with your pro-life group to see if they have copies. Failing that, it may be obtained from: Mrs. Joanna Bogle, Safe Sex Hoax OCU, 58 Hanover Gardens, London S.E., II Stn., England. The price including package and postage is $8 (US funds).

Is there ever any good news from the pro-life front?

This question, in one way or another, is constantly being asked. And, yes, we do have our victories, sometimes in the face of defeat:

The U.S. In June 1997, the Supreme Court struck down two lower court decisions that would have legalized a basic Constitutional right to euthanasia. The court ruled that there is no right to euthanasia in the U.S. Constitution.

Spain. Although abortions, with exceptions, are legal in Spain, they are still rare. Spanish doctors, nurses, and hospitals are refusing to have anything to do with abortions, and refusing to work with abortionists. There are, however, two free-standing abortuaries.

Ireland. The European Parliament condemned Ireland for banning pro-abortion information. The EU Committee on Civil Liberties and International Affairs says that all member states must provide this information, but Ireland maintains that this is a matter for the member state to decide.

Portugal. In 1997, the Socialist government in Portugal introduced a bill to permit unrestricted abortion. It was defeated very narrowly by a vote of 112-111. A later bill, which expanded periods for abortions for rape (from 12 to 14 weeks) and for fetal handicaps (from 16 to 24 weeks) passed easily. The prime minister, who is strongly pro-life, the pro-life movement (aided by international right-to-life groups) and the Catholic Church, refused to play dead on the issue, however, and were able to force a referendum which was to either uphold the bill, or defeat it. The referendum was to be the final decision. The voter turnout was low, but pro-lifers were the victors. The pro- abortion side has quibbled about the size of the vote, but the government has so far accepted the fact that its bill was defeated.

The UN. Pro-life and pro-family groups in the UN, working against enormous odds, have managed to stave off the UN's attempts to get abortion on demand accepted as a universal "right" worldwide. That needs to be told.