My friend Carole Smith who co-ordinates the prayer vigils outside the Marie Stopes abortion provider in Maidstone Kent sent me these photographs of yesterday's (Friday) prayer vigil at which my brother Fr Stephen led prayers, after celebrating Mass in the local parish church. As mentioned elsewhere on this blog, I too led prayer vigils there as Maidstone was just 30 miles from my previous parish in South Ashford. Carole writes:
He was the main celebrant at the Mass and he gave us an honest and thorough homily on the spirituality of the Helpers. He must have touched a few hearts because a couple of the parishioners came and joined us in the rosary at the 'death camp'.
Ive copied this post to my own blog and the ACWB site, a wonderful witness, wish I could have done the same!
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful people. I know Carole well, as well as others in this excellent group. I sincerely hope others in England join their ranks to witness to life. Thank you for posting this.
ReplyDeleteFr. Boyle:
ReplyDeleteI am enheartened by the photos, but I have to wonder whether you overstate the case a bit in calling Britain the world's most secular nation?. Sure, MPs in all three major parties hold Christianity in contempt, and the C of E grows increasingly anemic; but is Britain really more secular than, say, "the church's oldest daughter," France?
Obviously it's a matter of opinion. I have lived there all of my life apart from the last year and a half and am not alone in this opinion. It is difficult to compare England and France. England claims to be a Christian nation but it is not really. France is avowedly secular but its true identity is caught up with the Catholic Church. France was not affected by the Reformation in the same way as England was, and the Reformation did profound damage to the English culture. IMHO. Also, a number of American communities have gone to England to attempt a re-evangelization and have been taken aback by just how hard it is.
DeleteI do not think that England is the most secular nation in the world. The Ordinariate experience is changing the landscape in several dioceses or areas, which is a sign of life. I would suggest a tour of Europe. I just came back from Malta, where the markets were allowed to be open on Christmas Day. Many so-called Catholic countries have been secularized.
ReplyDeleteDear Father John,
ReplyDeleteWe think it is great that some people in England do care for the unborn.We would all be out with Fr Stephen if we were in England.
We can only pray and save money for SPUC and we do that.We think ABORTION IS VILE! In fact we cant express what we feel in words.No one can deny that Englands' record on Abortion is atrocious!
Yes we will pray for England there are so many nice kind people there and we agree with you on everything you say.Thank God for you cos the truth comes out!
Thanks 9A. Great you are helping SPUC, a truly wonderful organization. Yes, abortion is terrible. Let us however have compassion for those mothers who go through with it. I was struck by a banner in Washington DC held by a a pro-choice/pro-abortion demonstrator. It read: "Good women have abortions." I believe this to be true, and I know from my experience as a priest that many good women have had abortions and have repented. Sometimes they do not see any way out, and often the father of the unborn child fails to act like A MAN! So, boys, grow up to be responsible young men. Treat women with respect. Wait till after you are married before expressing intimate love. Should you, however, act irresponsibly and end up being a father before time, go to confession and stand by the child and the mother! Don't forget: hate the sin, love the sinner. God bless you all and your wonderful teachers.
DeleteWhy should Catholics think they can parade their superior morality before benighted sinners when the abuse scandal has shown the Church to be morally bankrupt and up to its neck in its own s**t? What a sick joke.
ReplyDeleteOne of the prayers most frequently said at these vigils is the Hail Mary in which we say: "pray for us sinners." We do not consider ourselves superior. We love sinners like ourselves. We hope that women will find a better option than killing their children, and that MEN WILL ACT LIKE RESPONSIBLE MEN, STICKING BY THEIR WIFE/GIRLFRIEND/WHATEVER AND THEIR UNBORN SON OR DAUGHTER. This is as much about the men as the women.
DeleteA very hollow claim when you are demonstrating against others whom you consider to be sinners. Christ had something to say about those who lay heavy burdens on others and don't lift a finger to help them bear them - like celibate clergy and women who are not having children themselves. Getting alongside women who might be considering having an abortion, entering into their dilemmas, showing them Christlike compassion is what is needed. There is a small amount of such work going on, but it is what Catholics should be doing if they are really serious about abortion. But that of course is costly and demands real self-giving. Holding rallies and praying is easy and costs nothing. You probably are not aware of how heartily sick ordinary decent people are of the hypocrisy of Catholics banging on about abortion to the exclusion of other life issues, including the life of the victims of paedophile abuse about which the Church is still in denial.
ReplyDeleteThe Church is not in denial but deeply shamed about the abuse scandal. On the abortion issue, do you know how much work the Church does in pro-life pregnancy care centres? Do you not recall how much work the Church does in developing countries in service of the sick and in promoting health care? There are countless agencies seeking to assist women and men be mothers and fathers rather than doing away with their children. If we could "get alongside" those women and men at Marie Stopes, we would. The nearest we can get is by praying for them and offering assistance. We are not "demonstrating". How can you refer to "Christlike compassion" when you condemn those who are seeking to bring Christ close? And you obviously have not listened to my previous comment when I acknowledge that we are all sinners. We do not judge. As for rallies and prayer, I don't know what you mean about cost. Time? Enduring the cold? Abuse from others?
DeleteA number of anonymous comments have come in the last two days. They are angry. I cannot tell whether they are from the same or different persons. The language is such that I cannot publish all of them here.
ReplyDeleteBut here are some answers/replies to points raised/questions asked:
"Are you gonna give me the money to buy a new car, clothes, equipment for a baby, then further that to school uniform, school trips, equip etc, no thought not, stop hassling women outside these clinicsyou dont know of the circumstances "
Well, it is normally the parents' role to provide for all these things. This isn't something that a parent should resent. It's part of being a parent. Killing the child is not the parental thing to do.
But if offering to assist with the cost of raising your child would prevent you having your abortion, then the answer is an emphatic: "Yes we will." We will help you get all the things you need, if you really can't afford them, to keep your baby. Just ask one of the people who are praying outside that abortion centre for their help and advice. They will guide you accordingly.
"As you are a father I cannot believe u are so ignorant, do u believe a rape victim that falls pregnant and has an abortion a killer!? Or if the child was to be born with severe disabilities that its quality of life would be seriously impaired I feel it cruel to have a child knowing that b4 hand especially if its life was to be short anyhow, I think you people should think seriously about what u r doing outside in what u call your rallies."
Well, abortion is killing, isn't it? We are very sorry about the rape that occurred. I gather, however, that a very small proportion of abortions are due to rape. The majority are due to inconvenience or some other hardship. If you have experience of children with disabilities, you will know of the wonderful dignity they have in their own right and how that dignity can be enhanced by the love their parents, families, society, church show them. It's about finding love in your heart for a person who is not so fortunate as you. For sure, this will mean overcoming the selfishness we all are tempted towards and embracing the huge sacrifice that will be called for. But if we are a true society, then as a society we should be committed to supporting parents who find themselves called to make this sacrifice. This comment could be construed as displaying discrimination against people with disabilities. We start from the recognition that the baby in the womb is a human person. Once you admit that, abortion just isn't an option.
"Go away u ignorant ..." Too rude to quote and there's no point in replying to it.
Above reply continued:
ReplyDelete"If your **** about god Is true then he forgives us all our sins, I ask if a 12 yr is raped by a peadophile and wants a termination is that what u constitute murder, or u are gonna give birtg to a terminally ill child is that also murder, no it isnt and nor are anyone elses decisions to have terminations, its not like u all are gonna pay for the babies in question up keep, how dare you mindless ***** stand outside that centre and harass people with guilt tripping methods, I was harassed last week by your methods, I was shown a plastic fetus handed a leaflet, among u all singing prayers as I walked off from the guy but your group have been warned by police to stay across the rd from the centre in maidstone, abortion is legal u cannot change the world, if u wanna find something better to do there is a group on facebook called controversial humor dead baby jokes harass them instead, how dare u all interfere with womens minds who are possibly finding this the hardest thing they'll ever have to do, you dont have anything better to do."
Well, we are society and so we have the right to engage with one another. Yes, God forgives but we have to be repentant. And we cannot go around sinning just because God forgives. People often present the hard cases, but these do not account for many of the abortions that are carried out. And, yes, abortion is always murder. If the child is terminally ill, allow him/her to be born and to die a natural and dignified death, knowing the love of his/her family, seeing loving faces and smiles before he/she leaves this earth. And, as mentioned above: it is a normal part of parenting to pay for a child's expenses. But if someone is truly hard up, we will ensure that assistance is provided. The late Cardinal Winning of Glasgow famously appealed to women: if you are considering an abortion because of financial hardship, come and see us and we will help you. And now the Glasgow pro-life initiative is providing much practical assistance to parents. The slave trade was once legal, and the world did change. Abortion is legal, and we pray and hope the world will change once again. The people who pray abide by the law. They do not intend to harass you. But if seeing the truth about the person inside your womb upsets, there must be something wrong. If you are doing nothing wrong, you should not feel troubled. As you say, abortion must be the hardest thing a woman chooses to do. Why did you feel you had no other option? Where was the father of the child? We'd like promote a society in which every unborn child can be welcomed and where anyone under pressure to abort is supported so they do not feel this is the only option. We are not condemning anyone, just praying that their hearts might change.