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S U M M E R2 O O 5

TheProLifeCampaign is
lobby
a non-denominational
group, drawingitssupport
froma widecross-section
of lrishsociety.
TheCampaign promotes
pro'life and
education
defends humanlifeat all
stagesfromconception
to natural
death.
It alsocampaignsfor
--resources to support-
'ih
andassist pregnantwomen
andthosein needof
healing afterabortion.
GAHR report
disregards
human life
TheCommission on Assisted Human
Reproduction (CAHR), establishedby
the Ministerfor Healthin 2000,recently
published its longawaitedrepofi.Among
therecommendations areproposals
allowingfor destructive research on
humanembryos, whether'surplus',or
generated by'therapeutic cloning'.The
reportshowsscant regard for human
Dr Berry Kiely at a recent PLC Press Conference
6uswe-ll5Ho-tel,DUblin
rightsby proposinQ thafno legal
protection shouldbe affordedto unbornhumanlifeoutsidethe womb.The
Pro-Life Campaign willvehemently opposeany movesto givelegislative
backingto proposals undermining the protection of humanlifeon footof
theCommission's recommendations.
In a constitutional
democracy basedon equalitybeforethe law,some
values,somerightsare non-negotiable.Firstamongtheseis the right
to life.Everyonesharesthe samehopeof findingtreatments for infertility
andcuresfor diseases. we faceis to findsuchcures
Butthe challenge
withoutdoingharmto others.
Farfrombeingenlightened, the Commission squandereda unique
opportunity by failingto prioritise
adultstemcellresearch
and
by failingto vindicatethe rightsof the humanembryo.
Adultstemcellresearchis non-controversial, is ethicallyacceptable and
is alreadyshowingsignificantresults.lrelandshouldundertake to play
a pioneeringrolein thisarea,witha viewto becoming an internationally
acclaimed centreof excellencefor suchresearch. lf on the otherhand,
the Commission's recommendations wereimplemented, it wouldhave
profound andfar-reaching implicationsfor the respectwe placeon

7rr; ir,:ii:,, humanlifein thiscountry.

il i. iti t::i1 I {: i,i The reportnowpassesto the Oireachtas on HealthandChildren
Committee
where publichearingson itsfindingswillcommence at a laterdate.
 Maiority support for pro-life position
The Pro-LifeCampaignrecentlycommissioned MillwardBrown/lMS to conductresearchon a range
of lifeissues.lt wasthe firstcomprehensive
surueyundertakenby the Campaignsincethe abortion
referendum of 2OO2
The resultsareveryencouraging to protectthe
and indicatebroadpublicsupportfor a clearopportunity
unbornchild,whilesafeguarding lreland'srecordas a worldleaderin maternalcare.Theyalsoreveal
supportfor legislative
significant safeguards to protecthumanlifefromdestructiveembryonicresearch.
A referendumremainsnecessary followingthe 1992SupremeCourtdecisionin the X Case,which
abortionin potentially
legalised widecircum3tances, evenup to birth.Following
the defeatof the 2002
referendumthe situationremainsprecarious and unresolved.
It wouldbe imprudent, however, to seekanotherreferendum in advanceof a wide-ranging public
discussion on the matter.lt'salsoworthnotingthatthe recommendations of the Commission
on
AssistedHumanReproduction favouringdestructive
researchon humanembryosare in stark
contrastto the ethicalsenseof the generalpublicas reflectedin the pollfindings.
Question1: "lf the governmentwereto proposea constitutionalamendmentto prohibitabortion
but allow the continuationof the existingpracticeof interventionto save a mother'slife, in
accordancewith lrish medicalethics,would you support such an amendmentin a Referendum
or not?" 54%wouldsupportsuchan amendment,lso/o wouldopposeit,and30%wereundecided
or hadno opinion. 78'/"of thosewhoexpressed an opinionfavourtheamendment and22%opposeit.
Question2'."Curtently,experimentationinvolvingthe destructionof humanembryosdoes not
take placein lreland.Do you think the Diiil should enshrinethe protectionof the humanembryo
in faW or not?" The responseto thisquestionindicatesthal 48"/"wouldsupportlegalprotectionof the
humanembryo,14/" wereopposedto it, and 39%wereundecided or hadno opinion.Of thosewho
expressed an opinion,7B"ktavouredthe legislationand22o/o opposeit.

Polting was conducted by Mitlward Brown/tMs. tnterviewing took ptace from the 6thto the 22nd February 2005.

Heatherts iourney
from rape to restoration
HeatherGemmenfacedan agonizing choicewhenshe becamepregnant
afterbeingraped.ln Startling
Beautyshetellshowrelievedshe is that
she had herdaughter,Rachael,nowaged9. lt is a trulyremarkablestory
of traumaand uncertainty
overcome by loveand restoration.

33, was rapedby an intruderin herownbed nearlyten years

Heather,
agowhileher husband, Steve,wasout at an eveningmeeting.In what
musthavebeenexcruciatingly difficultcircumstances
sheadmitsthat,
"Somuchof my anguishwas in decidingwhatto do withthe pregnancy.
NowI knowthatgoingthroughwithit bringshealing.
Rachaelis the epitomeof joy". HeatherGemmenpictured
with daughterRachael.
Heather is an author and children'sbook editor and lives with her familv in Colorado. USA.
StartlingBeauty is published by Life Journey Press, USA.
 GPA needs root-and-branch reform
Thereis growingconcernwithinpro-lifecirclesaboutthe direction
andethosof the Crisis
Pregnancy Agency.In recentmonthsthe agencyproduced a numberof ideologically
motivated
surveysand reports,culminating
withthe CPAsChairperson, Ms OliveBraiden,callingfor
abortionlegislation.

Concerns werefurtherraisedby the CPAsPositiveOptionsleafletandthe determination

to standardise
counselling
servicesin a waywhichundermines the ethosof agencies
thatrespecthumanlife.

The CPAlistsreducing the aboftionrateas oneof its objectives. Yetit hasno specific
or targetedpoliciesto helpbringthisabout.Likewise, it is utterlynonsensicalto advertise
- -and-promoffiffiion-affi@tive option".

All state agenciesshouldbe obligedto abide by principlesthat respectthe dignityand

value of every human life. In this regardthe CPA urgentlyneedsroot and branchreform.
The Pro Life Campaignwill lobby hard in the comingmonthsto demandthe necessary
reformsare implemented.

"Unconditionalrespectfor the rightto life of every innocentperson,from conception

to naturaldeath, is one of the pillarson which every civil societystands"
- Pope John Paul ll, Evangelium Vitae, 1995

"A societylacks solid foundationswhen, on the one hand, it assertsvalues such

as the dignityof the person,justice and peace, but then, on the other hand,
radicallyacts to the contraryby allowingor toleratinga varietyof ways in which
human life is devaluedand violated,especiallywhere it is weak or marginalised"
- Pope John Paul ll, Evangelium Vitae, 1995

fury"t
Witnesstu tfw
r
of eve rumnnLTe
-fif
"Placeyour intelligence,your talents,your enthusiasm,your compassion
ry
Pope John Paul ll 1920-2005
and your fortitudeat the serviceof life"
- Pope John Paul ll at World Youth Day, Denver, 1993
 Honorary DesHanafin
President:
Chairperson:
DrJoel/coaroll
DeputyChairperson:
CoraSherlock
LegalAdviser:Professor
WilliamBinchy
Publishedbylhe ProLifeCampaign, Adviser:Dr BerryKiely
l\4edical
34 GardinerStreetUpper,Dublin1. LegalConsullant: Simons
Caroline
Tel:01-8748090 Fil: 01-8748094
Email:prolile@indigo.ie Secretaryi
JohnO'Reilly
Website:M.prolifemlnpaign.ie Education
Otficer: [,4artin
Geraldine SBN

SilentNo More
is a new group
organisedacross
WeRegretOurAbortions
the UnitedStates
by womenwho
regrettheir
abortionsand
wishto tell their
stories.The
billboardpictured
right is the latest
in a seriesof
nationwide
campaigns.

youarewilling
Perhaps someofyourfreetimeto finding
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messageto your
community? youarewilling
Perhaps to makea smallfinancial
commitment theimplementation
to secure oftheProLife
programme
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Perhaps have your you
ownideasonhow canbesthelpthe
of howyouwishto help,please
Regardless
campaign? takethetimeto callustodayandwewillsendyoumoredetails.

PlgaSg femgmbgf thg PLG in yOUf Will providinsroryourramirywlrberhemostimpo

partofyourWill.lf youarethenina position
toleave
something wehopeyouwillconsider
toa goodcause, theProLifeCampaign's
work
overthe years.Goodcausesrelyon bequestsas a sourceof income.Bigdonationsare marvellousbut the smallestgift makesa big difference.

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