JOHN SMEATON, DIRECTOR OF SPUC

A blog launched on the 41st anniversary of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), the first pro-life organisation in the world, established on 11 January 1967. SPUC has been a leader in the educational and political battle against abortion, human embryo experimentation and euthanasia since then. I write this blog in my role as SPUC's chief executive, commenting on pro-life news, reflecting on pro-life issues and promoting SPUC's work.

Monday, 12 May 2014

TV presenter couple have suicide pact

Richard and Judy have suicide pact

Top stories:
TV presenter couple have suicide pact [Telegraph, 12 May]

Respond to inquiry into compulsory sex ed

The Education Select Committee of the House of Commons has launched an inquiry into personal, social and health education (PSHE) in schools. Sex and relationship education (SRE) is also covered in this topic. It is absolutely vital that there is an overwhelming response from parents, grandparents, teachers, clergy and all concerned citizens saying "no" to compulsory sex education. Please download SPUC's briefing to help you respond to this inquiry.

Brainwashing children about gay marriage condemned by SPUC Safe at School
SPUC Safe at School has condemned calls from Scottish health boards for parents to hand over their children's moral education to the state. See Telegraph 9 May: "NHS chiefs tell ministers: Change sex education lessons to make all pupils learn about gay marriage". Antonia Tully, national coordinator of Safe at School, said: "The NHS is demanding that parents hand over their children to state indoctrination. I believe that Scottish parents will be quick to see that this is about using innocent children as pawns to promote same-sex marriage. We will be organising meetings in Scotland to empower parents to protect their own children." [SPUC, 9 May]

Related story: Scottish Catholic leaders and others defend parents' rights [John Smeaton, 10 May]

Welcome for decision not to fund abortion of Northern Ireland babies
Pro-life campaigners in Northern Ireland have welcomed the decision by the High Court in London to reject claims that women from the Province should be entitled to "free" NHS abortions in Britain. Liam Gibson, the development officer for the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children in Northern Ireland said: "While this result is what we would have expected had it gone the other way it would not only have led to more children being killed but it would had serious implications for the rule of law and the value of Northern Ireland's devolved institutions. [SPUC, 8 May]

Other stories:

Abortion

Doctors escaping abortion charges on ‘utterly preposterous’ pretext, says MP [Telegraph, 12 May]
TV star who committed suicide had said her abortion was destructive force [Mail, 11 May]
Leona Lewis: Abortion of Down Syndrome babies "hurts my heart" [CNSnews.com, 9 May]

Euthanasia

Widow sues NHS hospital after alleging husband was starved to death [Mail, 12 May]
Euthanasia proposals invariably discriminate against chronically ill people like me [Age, 9 May]
Papal nuncio to Britain warns of "horrible consequences" of Lord Falconer’s Assisted Dying Bill [Telegraph, 8 May]

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Saturday, 10 May 2014

Scottish Catholic leaders and others defend parents' rights

Yesterday I reported that the leaders of Scotland's largest NHS boards want every Scottish child to be brainwashed into accepting same-sex marriage, and to be given the power overrule their parents' objection to such "sex education".

I am in Scotland and was greeted by this news when I picked up my morning newspaper yesterday morning.

How encouraging, then, to pick up my morning paper this morning and to read another story. The Telegraph reports that Catholic Church leaders in Scotland and leaders of the Kirk are fighting back, accusing NHS boards of making an "inappropriate" and "highly political" intervention and of actively undermining "the rights and consciences of parents".

Whilst I've been in Scotland these past few days I have met a number of church leaders and I am not surprised to note the strength of their immediate defence of parental rights.

I am not surprised, but I'm also mightily relieved that Catholic Church leaders and others in Scotland and others have spoken out. Let's just reflect again on what The Telegraph reported yesterday: in a letter from Scotland's largest health boards to Scottish government ministers, NHS leaders have protested against new draft sex education guidance. The Telegraph report states:

"Allowing children to withdraw from sex education lessons on the grounds of conscience risks them coming under pressure from parents opposed to gay marriage, the health boards warned.

"Instead they argued that the guidance should include greater protections against parents mounting campaigns against the content of the lessons. Children should be given the power to overrule their mothers and fathers, it was suggested."

As I said in my speech at the Legatus Convention in Orlando:

" ... we cannot defeat the culture of death which threatens constantly to overwhelm us on our own. Pro-life organizations and the wider community must be fortified by unequivocal, unyielding voices of Catholic Church officials and bishops throughout the world"

... as well as other church leaders.

As the threat in England grows (as I reported yesterday), I pray that we will see similar robust leadership from church leaders in our country too.

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Friday, 9 May 2014

Respond to inquiry into compulsory sex ed

The Education Select Committee of the House of Commons has launched an inquiry into personal, social and health education (PSHE) in schools. PSHE covers a number of topics such as drug education, healthy eating and so on. Sex and relationship education (SRE) is also covered in this topic.

We are very concerned that this inquiry will be used to make sex education a compulsory schools subject. This would mean that children as young as five years old would have to learn about sexual matters. Parents would be unable to protect their children from inappropriate teaching.

It is absolutely vital that there is an overwhelming response from parents, grandparents, teachers, clergy and all concerned citizens saying "no" to compulsory sex education. Compulsory sex education will sever parents from the moral upbringing of their children. And the innocence of children will be wiped out by ever more sexual content in the classroom.

Every school will be affected by this. Every child deserves to be protected.

Please download SPUC's briefing to help you respond to this inquiry. Please circulate the briefing as widely as possible asking others to respond to the inquiry. The deadline for responses is the first week of June (see the briefing for further details).

P.S. You may have seen this frightening report today by The Telegraph:
"NHS chiefs tell ministers: Change sex education lessons to make all pupils learn about gay marriage"

The NHS in Scotland wants:

all children to learn about gay marriage in sex education lessons
children to be given the power to overrule their parents
a stop to parents campaigning against the content of sex education lessons
training for teachers to help them overcome their objections to gay marriage.

Read SPUC Safe at School's reaction "Brainwashing children about gay marriage condemned by parents' rights group"

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Brainwashing children about gay marriage condemned by parents' rights group

SPUC Safe at School has condemned calls from Scottish health boards for parents to hand over their children's moral education to the state.

See today's Telegraph story, "NHS chiefs tell ministers: Change sex education lessons to make all pupils learn about gay marriage"

Safe at School said that Scotland's largest NHS boards want nothing less than to brainwash every Scottish child into accepting same-sex marriage, by setting up children to overrule their parents.

Antonia Tully, national coordinator of Safe at School, told the media earlier today:

"The NHS is demanding that parents hand over their children to state indoctrination. I believe that Scottish parents will be quick to see that this is about using innocent children as pawns to promote same-sex marriage. We will be organising meetings in Scotland to empower parents to protect their own children."

Thursday, 8 May 2014

Welcome for decision not to fund abortion of Northern Ireland babies

Pro-life campaigners in Northern Ireland have welcomed the decision by the High Court in London to reject claims that women from the Province should be entitled to "free" NHS abortions in Britain. The Court ruled that there is no legal obligation on health services in England and Wales to provide publicly funded abortions which would be unlawful within Northern Ireland.

Liam Gibson, the development officer for SPUC in Northern Ireland told the media earlier today:

"While this result is what we would have expected had it gone the other way it would not only have led to more children being killed but it would had serious implications for the rule of law and the value of Northern Ireland's devolved institutions. This case is merely the latest effort of abortion advocates in Britain to undermine our law. We have every right to defend our unborn children by law and the High Court recognised that.”

Liam said he believed that the real motivation behind the case was the potential increase in revenue for English abortion providers:

"Over the years it has been the strategy of abortion providers to make money from the tax-payer by billing the NHS for abortions. This case was about organisations like Marie Stopes International angling for more money from the NHS. Despite enormous pressure from the pro-abortion lobby the number of women seeking abortions in Britain has continued to decline. The figure for 2012 was down by about one third of what it was 10 years earlier.

More and more people, and not just in Northern Ireland, are appalled by the culture of abortion which has taken root in Britain where around 98 percent of abortions performed fail even to meet the legal criteria. Under the Abortion Act disabled children in Britain can be legally aborted right up to birth but the British Government has even been ambivalent about ending the scandal of sex-selective abortions where babies are targeted simply because they're girls. Nor has the health department taken action against doctors who break the law by pre-signing abortion forms. To see what liberal abortion laws can do to a society the people of Northern Ireland only need to look across the water to Britain. We are determined that that's not going to happen to our country," said Mr Gibson. “Women in crisis pregnancies don’t need free abortions, they need help and support so that they don’t feel they have no choice but to kill their babies.”

Tuesday, 6 May 2014

15-year-old supporter's heartfelt abortion plea

Allow me to share with you the feelings of Estelle Dawson, a 15-year-old supporter of SPUC, about abortion. Here's the message she sent to SPUC recently:

"Hello,

"I am writing to share with you a poem which I wrote in a campaign against abortion. I'm a 15 year old girl who wasn't able to attend your most recent conference [SPUC's youth and student conference] fortunately my eldest brother did and was able to share his experience with me.

"There was no great intention in my poem other than turning the way I felt into words in the hope of making people think about the legal murder that we accept as a 'normal' part of modern life.

"Thank you.

"Yours

"Estelle Dawson"

Mass Slaughter of Mankind.

If you were to find,
A new child of mankind,

Would you end its life?

I'm sure you wouldn't,
Or better yet, that you couldn't,

You would not end its life.

This living child,
Oh so gentle, oh so mild,

You would not end its life.

Its small feeble hands,
The way it can't stand,

You would not end its life.

It's beauty in existence,
Gods creation and consistence,

Could you end its life?

If you agree,
Then why be an adoptee,

To malicious inhumanity,
For reasons such as vanity,

When you could be antiabortion,
And stop this human distortion,

To not think it's okay,
To murder and betray,

Someone so delicate and frail,
Just because you're a female.

So, would you still end their life?

Monday, 5 May 2014

Stolen Childhood conference tackles child sexualisation

An important conference on child sexualisation held in London last week was organized by the Combined Working Party of the Lords and Commons Child Protection Group. It covered sex education, the grooming and abuse of children through social media, and how to combat bullying and same-sex parenting. It featured Antonia Tully, of SPUC's Safe at School, amongst other leaders.

It's important that parents in particular thoroughly immerse themselves in these dangers to our children. There are already moves in this Parliament which are paving the way for the introduction of compulsory sex education in the next Parliament. Watch this space.

Parents cannot expect the overwhelming majority of church leaders of all denominations to help them in combatting these dangers. On the contrary. This is the tragic reality of the plight of children and of parents in the Church and in the society of the early 21st century.

Prepare for battle!

Email them to johnsmeaton@spuc.org.uk
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Friday, 2 May 2014

Walk in reparation for abortion in York

On this coming Sunday, 4th May, there's a walk for life in York.

It's a walk in reparation for the legalizing of abortion and praying for the healing of wounds caused by abortion.

The timetable is as follows:

1 - 1.25: Prayers in St. Wilfrid's Church, Petersgate, YO1 7EF
1.30: Procession starts from the West front precinct of York Minster
Process to Margaret Clitheroe Monument, Ousebridge, where 80 red and white flowers will be thrown into river, representing 8,000,000 aborted babies.
Process to Bar Convent grounds. Veneration of relic of St Margaret Clitheroe
Process to Knavesmire for prayers
Process to Church of English Martyrs, Dalton Terrace YO24 4DA for Holy Mass at approximately 5 p.m.

Further details regarding transport etc can be obtained from Pat Sammon on 0113 2582745 or 07747 698553.

The total distance of the walk is approximately 2 miles. Both St Wilfred’s Church, Petersgate, and English Martyrs Church,Dalton Terrace, are open for prayer all day.

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Wednesday, 30 April 2014

Undercover video exposes cruelty to elderly in care home

Photo from undercover video

Undercover video exposes cruelty to elderly in care home
Undercover filming by BBC's Panorama has revealed shocking cruelty against elderly residents of a care home in Essex, England. Residents at the Old Deaney, Braintree, were slapped, handled roughly, taunted, mocked, ignored and neglected. One member of staff has been sacked, while seven more have been suspended pending an investigation. [BBC, 30 April] Anthony Ozimic of SPUC commented: "This scandal is only one of many cases in which elderly and ill people in England have suffered appalling institutional abuse. Laws and policies which permit euthanasia will only add to the prejudice that many in society have against the elderly and the disabled.

Other stories:

Embryology

London woman is surrogate mother for sister [Mail, 27 April]

Sexual ethics

Northern Ireland Assembly votes against same-sex marriage for third time [Christian Institute, 29 April]
PM to reject opposite-sex civil partnerships [Christian Institute, 29 April]
Top family judge calls for no-fault divorce for all [Telegraph, 29 April]
Vatican lifts writing-ban on dissenter on sexual ethics [Universe, 29 April]

General

English Catholic bishop shuts down deacon's pro-life/pro-family blog [Protect the Pope, 29 April]

Saturday, 26 April 2014

My interview by Michael Voris

I had the pleasure of being interviewed recently by Michael Voris, the great American Catholic apologist, on his Mic'd Up! programme on ChurchMilitant.TV. You can watch the interview below or on YouTube. I spoke about:

the fine work of my colleagues at SPUC
the successes and expertise of the pro-life movement
the importance of Catholic Church leadership to winning the pro-life fight
the geo-political significance of pro-life battle in English-speaking world
the effect of international anti-life agencies on developing world
the scandal of Holy Communion for pro-abortion politicians
the importance of marriage and families for protecting unborn children
the need for Catholic Church leaders to speak out against contraception and abortifacient birth control
the scandalous appointment of dissenters as Catholic officials

Friday, 25 April 2014

Newcastle MP gives support to campaign to protect children from explicit sex education

Mary Glindon, Member of Parliament for North Tyneside, has given her support to a national parents' rights campaign which opposes making sex education a compulsory classroom subject.

Mrs Glindon attended a packed public meeting at Tyneside Irish Centre on Tuesday evening, addressed by Antonia Tully of SPUC's Safe at School campaign. Safe at School upholds the rights of parents to protect their children against unacceptable sex education.

Mary Glindon MP

Antonia told a shocked audience about the graphic nature of sex education which exposes children to damaging images and messages. She also told the meeting that claims by Ofsted that a lack of sex education makes children vulnerable to abuse are unfounded.

Antonia Tully

RCOG faculty bars pro-life medics

Top story:

RCOG faculty bars pro-life medics
A faculty of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology (RCOG) has barred pro-life medics. New guidelines by the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health (FSRH) bar doctors and nurses who have a conscientious objection to abortifacient birth control. Such medics will not be allowed to become faculty-members nor receive qualifications or training from the faculty. [Peter Saunders, 23 April]

Other stories:

Abortion

Oregon county puts stop to incinerating aborted babies for electricity [LifeSiteNews.com, 24 April]
Nearly 1,000 Texas women hospitalized every year after botched abortions [LifeNews.com, 22 April]

Euthanasia

Elderly care demand to 'outstrip' family supply [BBC, 24 April]
Right-to-die 'guidelines' not on cards [Irish Independent, 24 April]
Mother arrested on suspicion of murdering her three 'terminally ill' children [Telegraph, 23 April]

Population

Chilling unearthed video: Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger says, ‘No more babies’ [LifeSiteNews.com, 22 April]
Shocking photos show China’s one-child policy in action [LifeSiteNews.com, 22 April]

Sexual ethics

10-year-old boy raped male classmate after watching porn [LifeSiteNews.com, 23 April]
Three lesbians are 'married' in Massachusetts [Mail, 23 April]

General

Church will always proclaim life, Argentine archbishop says [CNA, 23 April]
Poll shows most nations around the world find abortion, homosexuality immoral [LifeSiteNews.com, 22 April]

Tuesday, 22 April 2014

Doctors who signed blank abortion forms are let off

Top stories:

Doctors who signed blank abortion forms are let off
Over 60 doctors who pre-signed blank abortion authorisation forms will not be disciplined, according to The Mail. The newspaper obtained the information through a Freedom of Information request. The General Medical Council (GMC) has taken the decision not to discipline the doctors, despite an investigation by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) which confirmed the unlawful practice. [Mail, 22 April]

Other stories:

Abortion

Alabama Supreme Court recognizes child in the womb has fundamental rights [Catholic Online, 22 April]
Sinn Féin's Paul Maskey says sorry to Bishop John McAreavey over abortion letter [BBC, 17 April]

Euthanasia

Brain-damaged man communicates with doctors after 10 years [news.com.au, 20 April]

Population

China’s hope for baby-boom likely to become policy bust [Washington Times, 20 April]

Sexual ethics

SPUC's Anthony Ozimic in superb debating form on same-sex marriage [John Smeaton, 22 April]
UK ministers drafting law to make online pornography sites ban children [Telegraph, 21 April]
Christian nursery worker 'sacked after refusing to read gay stories to children' [Telegraph, 19 April]

General

Inspirational father-son Team Hoyt race their last Boston marathon [LifeNews.com, 21 April]

SPUC's Anthony Ozimic in superb debating form on same-sex marriage

Anthony Ozimic, SPUC's communications manager, is in superb debating form in "The Big Debate" on same-sex marriage at the University of Westminster:

Visitors to my blog may recall Anthony's tour-de force back in January 2013 on ITV's This Morning programme on the subject of same-sex marriage and schools. Not only did Anthony hold his own against what was a three-against-one cross-examination, but the gap in the viewing public's opinions narrowed during the debate from 80%-20% to 60%-40%.

On this occasion, Anthony is debating against David Allison, a spokesperson for Outrage, a militant homosexual campaigning group.

I recommend everyone to watch how Anthony deals concisely, reasonably and convincingly with:

the history of marriage
the best interests of children
the structure of marriage, and
why same-sex marriage is a disordered lifestyle choice.

It's clearly essential that all those who seeking to uphold marriage as the permanent, exclusive union of one man and one woman, and as the fundamental goup unit of society, does so in a calm and measured way - as Anthony succeeds in doing in the brief debate recorded above.

Friday, 18 April 2014

New Premier of New South Wales supports pro-life, pro-family values

Mike Baird and family

Top stories:

New Premier of New South Wales supports pro-life, pro-family values
Mike Baird, the new Premier of New South Wales, Australia's largest state, supports pro-life and pro-family values. The Guardian reports that Mr Baird voted for a bill which could give personhood rights to some unborn children. He also voted against embryonic stem cell research and same-sex marriage. [Guardian, 17 April]

Brian Harradine

Brian Harradine, pro-life Australian politician, dies age 79
Brian Harradine, the pro-life Australian former politician, has died aged 79. [SBS, 14 April] John Smeaton, SPUC's chief executive, said: "Senator Brian Harradine was an inspirational figure for me, who almost single-handedly stopped the Australian government from funding the anti-life population control lobby. I fondly remember his visit to SPUC’s offices in Westminster in the late 1970s. When he walked into our office, shortly after we had moved in, he said 'Gee, this is a mess! The Holy Spirit must be here'. Certainly he demonstrated in his political life the power of the Holy Spirit in confounding our enemies. May he rest in peace."

Embryology

The rise of 'social' surrogacy [Mail, 16 April]
Scientists discover how sperm and egg bind [Telegraph, 16 April]

Population

Philippines population control law gets judicial green light [LifeSiteNews.com, 16 April]

Sexual ethics

Judge Sir Paul Coleridge retires and calls for end to family breakdown [Telegraph, 17 April]

General

Hospital let 22-week preemie die despite mother’s urgent pleas [LifeSiteNews.com, 16 April]

Thursday, 17 April 2014

Families: Beware the homosexual lobby's agenda

Ruth Hunt, the acting head of Stonewall, the UK's main homosexual lobby, wrote an article recently for "Pink News" entitled: "We must celebrate equal marriage whilst looking ahead to what is still to be done".

As I say in my forthcoming column in SPUC's Pro-Life Times: "This aggressive homosexual rights group wants to probe right into family homes – yours and mine – to dictate what parents should teach to their children. And they’ll be looking for legislation to enforce this".

Anthony Ozimic, SPUC's communications manager who has studied the homosexual lobby in Britain carefully, has written the following helpful reflections on Hunt's article:

After reflecting on the legal recognition of same-sex pseudo-marriage, she writes: "This is an important milestone. But we’re not done yet. We must use our skills and energy to make sure homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are eradicated from our schools, our streets, ours sports fields, our workplaces, our churches and our homes. And we must support our friends abroad."

Hunt deploys the term "homophobia" but, in her article, does not define it. Both the word and the concept of "homophobia" were invented by an American psychologist at the height of the 1960s' sexual revolution. Some soi-disant pro-family commentators have accepted this ideological neologism and use it imprudently to try to position themselves as more reasonable than their sounder colleagues. They accept the gay rights lobby's narrative that irrational negativity towards individuals homosexuals exists to a significant extent in society. The dangerous folly of this acceptance can be clearly seen when we consider what the narrative about "homophobia" will mean in reality.

Stonewall's official definition of homophobia is "the irrational hatred, intolerance, and fear of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people." This official definition, however, masks the reality of how "homophobia" is being deployed. Dr Evan Harris, the former Liberal Democrat MP and a vice-president of the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association, who has called for the Church of England to be disestablished because it is "homophobic" , claimed that "lots of religious texts are homophobic" and argued that "discrimination against having gay sex equals discrimination against gay people" Dr Harris has also called for faith schools to be stopped from sacking or rejecting a teacher based on their marital status, and for religious organisations not to withhold public services from users on "sexual grounds".

If we move away from the high ground of politico-moral discourse and descend the low ground of trash television, we see exactly the same dynamic at work. In January this year, Evander Holyfield, the retired boxer, appeared on Channel Four's "Celebrity Big Brother". In the course of a casual conversation, one of the other celebrities raised the subject of homosexuals in sport, to which Holyfield replied with brief remarks that homosexuality was unnatural, contrary to Biblical morality and a curable condition. The programme's production team disciplined Holyfield and warned him that "expressing these views will be extremely offensive to many people...Big Brother does not tolerate the use of offensive language..." Boy George, the homosexual pop singer, reacted to Holyfield's comments by tweeting: "At customs there should be a huge sign! Welcome to Britain, racism, sexism, homophobia and bad hair are not tolerated!"

The result of this dynamic is that "homophobia" can be deployed to devastating effect to relegate anyone who objects to any aspect of homosexuality to "an irrational hatred, intolerance, and fear of" homosexuals, akin to racism. So when Ruth Hunt calls for action "to make sure homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are eradicated from our schools, our streets, ours sports fields, our workplaces, our churches and our homes", this will mean the eradication of the freedom to uphold normative sexual morality. To achieve this, new laws would need to be passed, especially laws to disempower parents and to make pro-homosexuality sex education compulsory in schools. A very disturbing development in this area is the proposal by the Scottish Government to assign every child with a state guardian. This proposal is reminiscent of the surveillance of citizens by Communist regimes and of the control exercised by sects over their victims. Such power to interfere in family life will almost certainly be used to clamp down on any parents who dare to preserve their children from the influence of the sexual rights agenda - abortion, contraception, homosexuality. The sexual rights lobby have always known that the complete success of their agenda depends upon suppressing the right of parents to be primary educators of their children in moral matters.

All this is why SPUC has a Safe at School campaign - to help parents protect their children. Find our more today about SPUC's Safe at School campaign.

Friday, 11 April 2014

Sponsor Juan as he carries 8ft cross 60km for unborn children

Tomorrow Juan Rios Perez flys out from London to Spain, where he will start a 60km sponsored walk for SPUC across the island of Mallorca, carrying a cross almost eight foot in height (exact size 240cm x 132cm).

Juan's walk will start at Lloseta and finish at the Oratory of San Salvador, Felanitx. He writes:

"I was born in the south of Spain (Malaga) to a family of traditional Spanish Catholic farmers. In 1980, I met my wife (Deborah) from London, on the island of Mallorca. Two years later we wed in 1982.

My daughter Sophia was born 3 years later in 1985. By that time I had a business with my wife which stagnated during the late 1980s recession. By the end of 1988 we decided to sell our business as it had become difficult to keep running. We made the decision to move to London, my wife's home-city for good.

My son Jonathan was born upon my first year in the UK. At that time I was working as a professional photographer. I later changed my career, as I had very little quality-time to spend with my wife and children due to the work commitments of a professional photographer. In February 1991, I took a two-year catering course at Westminster College and qualified as a chef in July 1993.

Unfortunately, in June 2000, my wife was diagnosed with cancer. She was given all the treatment possible but passed away in August 2001. Her death changed my life, and since then I have dedicated myself to Jesus, to preaching His word and reading Sacred Scripture.

Today, I am an active member of the pro-life movement. It is my voluntary sacrifice to raise money for the protection of unborn children. As a devout Catholic, my priority is always to serve God and my family all the days of my life."

To sponsor Juan, visit https://www.spuc.org.uk/support/donations or telephone SPUC on 020 7091 7091.

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Thursday, 10 April 2014

The gloves are off in the fight over "sexual rights" here at the UN

This week I have been attending the 47th session of the Commission on Population and Development at the United Nations in New York. I have been working with SPUC's veteran lobbyists, Pat Buckley (pictured standing in the photo) and Peter Smith (sitting). We have been joined this week by the redoubtable Obianuju Ekeocha, pictured with us, representing Culture of Life Africa.

The ugly, anti-life agenda has been all too evident this week here at the United Nations. The gloves are off and war is being waged against the unborn, marriage, children and the family. The pro-abortion lobby - which is out here in force - is being led by the likes of Lynne Featherstone on behalf of the British government - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Development. I will say more about that another day.

Here's SPUC lobbyist Pat Buckley's bird's eye view of what's happening:

"This meeting has to be viewed through the lens the original Cairo Conference on Population and development (in 1994) during which an uneasy balance was reached between the radical western sexual rights agenda and the more generally accepted societal norms for life and family issues.

"Tragically, the Cairo agreement, twenty years ago, has never stopped the anti life lobby from endeavouring to implement their complete agenda of sexual and reproductive rights, which includes, amongst other things, abortion on demand, comprehensive sexuality education for children and adolescents and acceptance of every form of same sexual practice plus same sex marriage.

"It has become clear during the conference that the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has been targeting some of the small Caribbean and Pacific Island States in order to promote their radical sexual agenda. Many of these small Island nations from Kiribati, to Fiji, the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, and Papua New Guinea, suddenly began speaking up for the first time and became abortion and sexual rights activist countries overnight."

Pat tells me: "The population and 'sexual rights' lobby don’t care about the real needs of small Island Nations and developing countries. All they seem to care about is advancing their sexual rights agenda".

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Job opportunities at SPUC

10 April 2014
Support Development Officer
SPUC wishes to recruit a full-time Support Development Officer (37½ hours per week), whose role will be to inspire support for the pro-life cause through the organising and promotion of:

youth activities
clergy and religious group projects
SPUC branch and volunteer activities.

He or she will:

have an absolute commitment to the pro-life cause
be educated to university degree level or be able to demonstrate success at project management, as well as an ability to write and carry out basic research
enjoy working with people and possess good inter-personal skills
be willing to travel, and to work some weekends.

The position will be based in SPUC’s Kennington HQ and salary will be according to age and experience.

The deadline for applications is 12 May 2014.

To request an application pack, please contact:
Patrick Kingman, SPUC, Unit B, 3 Whitacre Mews, London, SE11 4AB. Email: patkingman@spuc.org.uk Telephone: 020 7820 3121

10 April 2014
Secretary to SPUC’s Chief Executive
SPUC wishes to recruit a part-time Secretary to SPUC’s Chief Executive (15-25 hours per week, negotiable).

Applicants must have:

an absolute commitment to the pro-life cause
a minimum of 3 years’ experience working at director/board level
be able to cope with a wide range of secretarial responsibilities.

Duties will include:

drafting letters
taking dictation
maintaining a filing system
assisting in making travel arrangements
photocopying and printing.

Advanced word-processing and shorthand skills essential. You must enjoy working under pressure and have excellent communication and organisational skills.

The position will be based in SPUC’s Kennington HQ and salary details are available on request.

The deadline for applications is 12 May 2014.

To request an application pack, please contact:
Patrick Kingman, SPUC, Unit B, 3 Whitacre Mews, London, SE11 4AB. Email: patkingman@spuc.org.uk Telephone: 020 7820 3121

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Friday, 4 April 2014

Concern grows regarding Cardinal Nichols's position on compulsory sex education

LifeSite News has published an important story on Cardinal Nichols's current position on compulsory sex education.

At the heart of the story is a statement made last January by Lord Knight (pictured right) during a debate in the House of Lords in which he referred to his past "very good conversations with Cardinal Nichols" on the subject of compulsory sex education. Lord Knight was a minister in the (former) Department for Children, Schools and Families.

In 2010 I wrote on this blog about how Archbishop Nichols painted the then (Labour) Government's intentions in an entirely positive light - at a time when the government was making it absolutely clear that their intention was to promote abortion, contraception, and homosexuality in all state schools, including in Catholic schools.

Antonia Tully of SPUC's Safe at School warns: "It is quite clear that an incoming Labour government would lose no time in making sex education compulsory" (my emphasis). In view of this political threat to our families, I trust that the Cardinal will lose no time in reviewing his position with a view to protecting the innocence and welfare of our children and grandchildren as well as the lives of unborn children.

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About Me

I became involved in SPUC after graduating, when I established a branch in south London in 1974. I have worked full-time for SPUC for 39 years. I became chief executive of SPUC in the UK in 1996, having been general secretary since 1978. I was elected vice-president of International Right to Life Federation in 2005. At UN conferences in Cairo, Copenhagen, Beijing, Istanbul and Rome, I helped coordinate more than 150 pro-life/pro-family groups resulting in pro-life victories in Cairo, Istanbul and Rome. I was educated at Salesian College, London, before going to Oxford where I graduated in English Language and Literature. I qualified as a teacher, becoming head of English at a secondary school. I am married to Josephine. We have a grown-up family and we live in north London.