"Don't Impose Buffer Zones" A Mother Who Was Helped Speaks: Day 13 of 40 Days Celebrating Mums Choosing Life

Tomorrow, Tuesday 7th March, MPs will vote for the last time on the Public Order Bill and on the national buffer zone they plan to bring in. The most important voices on this havenot been listened to - thevoices of Mother's who wanted the offer of help at the gate of the abortion centre which pro-life vigils provide.

Alina with her daughter

As MPs get ready to vote, please read this recent article by Alina, who cared so much that other women should have the chance to get the help that she did that she went to court to try to stop the Ealing buffer zone.

Day 12 Patricia's Experience of the Ealing Vigil Before the Buffer Zone: Celebrating 40 Days of Mums Choosing Life

 

I have personal and direct experience of meeting the pro-life people from the Good Counsel outside the Marie Stopes Clinic on Mattock Lane, Ealing one October when I attended the Clinic for a proposed abortion and absolutely refute the Council’s allegations that there is any harassment, name calling or signs of intimidation as women either enter or leave the clinic. On arriving just one man was standing outside the clinic boundary offering leaflets in a peaceful manner while two or three other people were sitting some distance away on a grassy area keeping vigil. There may have been a poster or placard that was designed to make those in two minds about their decision for abortion rethink but in no way was it accusing or condemning. 

 As it happened on arriving at the clinic & almost getting as far as the operating theatre I was unable to go through with having an abortion as I was just too confused and torn between wanting to keep the baby and practical circumstances making it seem overwhelmingly hard.  On leaving the clinic it was actually a great source of comfort to me to speak to the pro life man outside who outlined the type of help the Good Counsel could provide me,  that I wasn’t alone and how many other women that had benefitted from them. He was a mild mannered & softly spoken man and we stood and spoke for at least 40 mins in which time I was able to observe him approaching people while offering a leaflet. Most (but not all) of the women declined the leaflet and none of them had it thrust upon them or were subject to any form of intimating behaviour from him whatsoever. There was no invasion/ obstruction of the women’s personal space either & they were allowed to pass freely. 

Since then I have gone on to seek help from the Good Counsel who have been incredibly generous offering financial assistance enabling me to enlist extra support through the latter stages of a difficult pregnancy.  They have also given me access to a lot of baby clothes and accessories that have been an enormous help as our budget is very tight and I know provide support to others in a myriad of different ways eg. help with benefits, housing, work opportunities.  All my dealings with the organisation have been with people who have been very empathic and non-judgemental, just trying to help me get an all rounded perspective and also providing hope and positivity. My understanding of the Good Counsel is that they are there to help women who may not choose abortion otherwise but who feel they have no other option due to circumstances.  Even though most of their members I think are Catholic there was absolutely no attempt to impart any religious belief onto me and their help is open to people of all cultures and faiths.

I feel that by enforcing Buffer Zones around Clinics many women who might have been helped to see there was any alternative to abortion will be denied this route. If others, like me, are in great conflict and see no other way out but abortion, then the Good Counsel can provide an invaluable lifeline and should be allowed to carry on with their good work in the peaceful manner they have been doing all along.  

Day 11 Paulette Chose Life because of a leaflet at the gate: 40 Days Celebrating Mums Choosing Life

 

"Why can't you just offer your help somewhere else? Why do you need to be right at the door of the abortion centre?" This is what buffer zone campaigners keep saying.

They don't seem to realise that many women will never find us online, or get our leaflet, or see our ads. In fact those in the most vulnerable positions are the least likely to find help before their abortion. Those with no money, no broadband, poor English, under pressure, victims of domestic violence, those from the strictest backgrounds where an unplanned pregnancy is unacceptable - they are amongst the groups that have least access to unfettered use of the internet.

Ane even those who hear about our support may be doubtful about it until they meet a real in the flesh person who can tell them about it.

It is not OK that ONE woman goes through an abortion because she has not got the help and support she needs to keep her baby. That is why we continue to fight for the right to offer help outside abortion centres.

Paulette, an immigrant with no rights to support and 1 child already with her unsupportive husband. She did find us online, read about the help we offer anddecided it was too good to be true. On the day of her abortion she met one of our volunteers outside the abortion centre and at that desperate moment she chose to come in to see us and give our help and support a chance. Here is what she said:

Outside the clinic, I was handed a leaflet. When I found out I was pregnant, financially my position was not that good. I booked an appointment for my abortion. When I went there, I found Good Counsel outside. At first I couldn’t believe the help, I never thought somebody would help you like this, would support you. It’s like somebody is saying it, but are they going to do it or not? That was the first question that came in my mind. So then I talked to the lady who was outside there, she just hugged me and she assured me that “We will support you with whatever you need.” So she told me that if I would like, I could come and talk more about my pregnancy and what are the difficulties I am facing. If I want to have the baby, what best can they do for the baby. So I went with them to the Good Counsel office and there we had a long chat. So then I decided not to terminate.

I feel, the abortion was quite a big burden for me, the whole night before it I couldn’t sleep because I was doing something which I didn’t want, but when I spoke to Good Counsel, I felt really good, I feel very light. It was great talking to them and after that I spoke to a few mums who Good Counsel had helped. I couldn’t believe what they were saying, I spoke to a few mums, I called them. They called me as well. They said “We are getting support for so many years.” So then I believed “Yes, they are there for me.”

Praying Pro-lifers offering real alternatives

I have been supported for more than 5 years.

The first thing that came to mind, because we were living in just a single room, my daughter was with me, I came here on a student visa, my visa conditions didn’t allow me to work, so I couldn’t afford two rooms for the family. My landlord told me “Too many people can’t live in one room, so you have to move out”. So GCN provided me with a two bedroom house. They were paying all the rent and everything, and even they were paying for all the groceries as well and diapers and, you know, baby cots. My child got everything. I couldn’t even believe…I couldn’t afford those things and he got all the things from there. From birth to now. Whenever he needs like winter coat or anything.

And I just want to add one more thing, because of my little one, my elder daughter is having a better life as well. Whenever I need something for her she gets it from them as well. No, even if I need something or my daughter, whoever in the family. 

My pregnancy would be terminated definitely if I had not met Good Counsel. When I booked my appointment I didn’t want to terminate the pregnancy, but I kept on looking everywhere for the help, but I couldn’t find any help. I even found Good Counsel Network on the website, but I shut it down because I couldn’t believe it. And then again when I was entering the gate, they handed me the leaflet. Because of that leaflet, when I went inside, I was thinking about that while waiting for my scan, they could not do the abortion that day so when I went out, I spoke to the lady from GCN who was on the door and she told me everything, so I did not go back again. So the leaflet – I think it is the most important thing, it saved a life. I couldn’t believe the website.

I don’t understand why people feel offended because if GCN is standing by the gate they are just providing more choices for people like us. They are not harming anyone and there is nothing wrong in it.

Priest Arrested For Praying, You Could Be Next? 40 Days of Celebrating Mothers Choosing Life Day 10

 

Father Sean Gough of the Archdiocese of Birmingham was arrested for praying silently outside an abortion centre, while it was closed. The police produced no evidence at the trial and thus Father was found not guilty. But the story does not end there. On Tuesday the 7th of March MPs will vote on the Public Order Bill. This bill contains a clause introduced by Stella Creasy MP to introduce buffer zones around all abortion centres across England and Wales, those breaking the buffer zone rules would  face a fine of an unlimited amount.

 

Some Lords and MPs had expressed their concerns that banning and criminalising silent prayer was a step too far. Now, because Fr Gough was given a ‘not guilty’ verdict, MPs voting on Tuesday will be under the impression that voting to bring in a national buffer zone will not result in Priests and lay people being arrested for praying silently.

 

But the police had clear evidence that he was praying (the sign he was carrying said so) and they did not present it in court. If it had been presented, he may well have been found guilty just for praying silently. It is very possible that with the introduction of a national buffer zone silent prayer may still become illegal outside every abortion centre in the country – even when they are closed.

 

Please contact your MP today in writing to ask them to vote against a national buffer zone if possible and against the bill in its entirety if the clause bringing this in is not dropped.

 

If you don’t understand why we want to pray at abortion centres, please watch this one minute video testimony of Theresa, a mother we have been blessed to help.

 

Please join us in praying and fasting for the protection of those brave people who spend many, many hours in all sorts of weather praying outside abortion centres and offering women real hope, real alternatives and real support at the very last moment.

40 Days of Celebrating Mothers Choosing Life Day 9: A Little One About to be Born

 

I hadn't been counselling for very long when I met a young woman named Sandra. In the early stages of pregnancy Sandra was very depressed by her partner's lack of support and felt it would be better to end the pregnancy before it was too far along. I talked through her situation and the support we could offer, but what touched her most was when we looked at some pregnancy textbooks with pictures of the baby's developmental stages. Realising that even at 6 weeks her baby had a heartbeat, and seeing what her child looked like changed her mind forever. 

She left saying she would think about it. 

I didn't hear for her for months but at Christmas I received a card with a penguin family on it. Inside it said: "There is a little one about to be born. He is going to be very loved by his mum and dad. Love Sandra". 

About 6 months later I was at the bus stop and a lady came up to me and said "Do you work at the Good Counsel Women's Centre? " I said yes. She swung open her coat and showed me her beautiful little boy, strapped on her in a sling.

We pray for Sandra and Mothers like her. We give thanks for her boyfriend accepting their child and we pray that all father's will accept the grace to do likewise.

Help us reach out to Mothers with prayer, help and support by attending the 40 Days for Life Vigil near you. We are running one in Brixton, please contact Gabriella for details on 07745711064. Or find your nearest 40 Days for Life campaign here Donate to help us support Mothers in need here 

40 Days of Celebrating Mums Choosing Life Day 8: What Will Become of Our Children?

 

People often say to pro-life pregnancy centre staff, "It's all very well you encouraging women to keep their babies, but just giving them a few packs of nappies won't be much help. Are you going to support them for 18 years and are you going to solve all the social problems they have?"

Firstly, I have never, ever assisted a mum who wanted (or needed) 18 years support from us or any other organisation in raising their children. However the help we do have is a brilliant combination of generous, pro-life supporters donating, women-to women friendship, think-outside-the-box solutions, years of experience and really listening to women. Our support doesn't have an automatic cut-off point and the amount of support is tailored to each woman's needs. Some women we assist move on with their lives after a while, but also know that in bad times they can turn to us for emergency support.

Many Mothers we see will cope very well once they have sailed through rough patches or difficult circumstance. However, some Mothers have ongoing issues from housing to addiction, debt to domestic violence, children with disabilities, health issues and so on. In these cases we make good use of the services which already exist to help women, but we can support women in getting help if they are rejected, waiting too long or sidelined. We become their allies in fighting for the support they should have. Additionally, we are often able to top-up the support they get, so that in terms of their circumstances they become better off rather than worse off through keeping their baby.

What does become of their children? After 26 years of working in this field we are beginning to see what does happen to them. The first group of doctors and lawyers have qualified in the last few years. Others have got married, had children of their own, are still studying, some are working. All of them have in common the fact that they have been prayed for since their Mother carried them in the womb and their Mums have always had us to fall back on in times of trouble. God bless these beautiful children and young adults, may God hold them in the palm of His hand.

Help us reach out to Mothers with prayer, help and support by attending the 40 Days for Life Vigil near you. We are running one in Brixton, please contact Gabriella for details on 07745711064. Or find your nearest 40 Days for Life campaign here Donate to help us support Mothers in need here 

40 Days of Celebrating Mums Choosing Life Day 7: Elaine

Elaine who received our help some years ago tells her story of choosing life:

How did you feel when you found out you were pregnant?

I had mixed feelings, I was happy that I had a new life growing inside my body, but I was also very worried and anxious because I knew that it would be extremely difficult to cope with a new baby in the situation my family was going through.

What made you choose abortion?

I was under intense pressure to cope with the housing situation, financial situation and the health challenges I was facing. 

What was it like when you went to the abortion centre?

I went there, but I just got up, cried and left because it was a decision I was struggling to come to terms with. I didn't know how I would cope but luckily on my way home, I saw someone sharing leaflets during the 40 Days for Life campaign and a sign that said..."Pregnant? Need help? We can help"

What made you choose life for your baby that day?

I got the leaflet, called the number on it but I was very skeptical because it seemed to good to be true.

What help were you offered by The Good Counsel Network? 

They offered me financial, emotional and housing support that I needed to navigate that very difficult moment of my life.

What help did you actually receive? 

I got help with baby clothes, food vouchers, advice, counselling and several letters to the council until my family was rehoused in more decent accommodation.

Lorraine, Yvonne and everyone at The Good Counsel Network really helped me. They are doing  amazing work and saving many lives. I'm just immensely grateful to God and everyone at  Good Counsel Network, for supporting me and my family. Whenever I look at my son, I just think of what would have happened if I hadn't received any support

Thanks to everyone who has helped me. May God bless you all xx🙏

Help us reach out to Mothers like Elaine with prayer, help and support by attending the 40 Days for Life Vigil near you. We are running one in Brixton, please contact Gabriella for details on 07745711064. Or find your nearest 40 Days for Life campaign here Donate to help us support Mothers in need here 

40 Days Celebrating Mums Choosing Life Day 6:Celebrating Mothers & the Pro-Life Pregnancy Centres Which Assist Them

 

One year during the 40 Days for Life Campaign we got a call from an expectant Mum, Stella, who somehow had got through to us while trying to phone Marie Stopes abortion centre. We explained who we were - a pregnancy centre which only offers life-affirming help and support to women in difficult pregnancies and their children - and she told us that she had an appointment with Marie Stopes for an abortion the next day. She did not want to have an abortion but did not know what to do. She had two older children and was trying to keep out of the way of her ex partner who had been physically abusive. Then she found out she was pregnant with his child. Abortion seemed to be the only way out. But she was not happy about it.

So she begged us to visit her that night. She had no childcare available and had her two young sons with her all evening and the abortion was early the following day. If we couldn't come to her, she had no chance of hearing about alternatives to abortion.

I agreed to come and went with a volunteer to offer her help and alternatives, including getting her support to keep herself and her children safe from her ex. 

As Providence would have it, Stella was half German and half Polish and the volunteer who came with me was from an identical background to her. As we sat down to talk with her, we noticed a small statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. We two Catholics silently asked the intercession of the Mother of God.

We were able to offer her a simple but very useful package of help, support and advice. We left late that evening and prayed some more.

We didn't hear from her for hours after her appointment time the next day, but when she called she said  "I could not go through with it and I am so glad you have real help for me." 

Stella kept her baby and some months later delivered her first daughter with joy. She has remained forever grateful for the help we were able to offer.

Pro-Life Pregnancy Centres provide unique support for expectant mums

The BBCs Panorama Programme (27th Feb) attacked Pro-Life Pregnancy Centres.

They accuse us of lying, giving false medical information, manipulating women by giving scans and being biased in our views on abortion.

While the medical establishment try to claim that risks from abortion are minor, that post-abortion trauma doesn't exist, that no-one is at risk of severe complications following abortion, remember that the whole minefield of abortion complications has been totally skewed by lies which abound in the pro-abortion culture we live in. Thousands of post-abortive women we have served have stories to tell that back up the reality of the physical and mental trauma of abortion. Ultrasound scans don't lie and showing women their own babies in the womb is arming them with facts, not manipulating them! Lastly no-one is unbiased on abortion, not us nor the abortion providers, but pro-life centres don't claim to be. Abortion centres -which make hundreds of thousands of pounds from abortion - continually try to present themselves as "neutral" and unbiased.

Finally think of women like Stella. Abortion centres have nothing to offer her but the death of her child! They won't be going to her home at the last minute to answer her desperate plea for help to let her child live.

Please support your local pro-life Pregnancy Centre.

40 Days of Celebrating Mums Choosing Life Day 5 In the Case of Rape

 

Anna was raped by a trusted older man who had not seemed interested in her, but suddenly, out of the blue, he assaulted her. She was deeply traumatised and did not know how to begin to think about telling her husband what had happened. Then she found out that she was pregnant.

She was deeply confused, hating the thought of abortion, hating what had been done to her and hating what was likely to happen if she had this baby. Would her husband leave her? Would the baby be a constant reminder of the rape?

As a Catholic, she accepted a "Miraculous Medal" from one of our volunteers, a Catholic sacramental - a medal depicting the Mother of God  - wearing the medal is a sign of asking for Our Lady's protection and powerful prayers.

She went home, put on her medal and started to pray. Somehow she found the strength to tell her husband, and he found the strength to accept the baby. They chose life for their child and went on to have a very blessed life with their beautiful and much loved, and very talented child. 

We thank God today for the gift of Anna and for her husband's generosity and for the gift of that child. We pray for those who are raped and those who become pregnant through rape. May God turn all their weeping into gladness and provide the support and help that Mothers and their children need. We pray for those conceived in rape - may they be loved and welcomed into the world despite the sins of their fathers. May God turn the hearts of those who would commit such crimes away from such evil.

Help us reach out to Mothers like Anna with prayer, help and support by attending the 40 Days for Life Vigil near you. We are running one in Brixton, please contact Gabriella for details on 07745711064. Or find your nearest 40 Days for Life campaign here Donate to help us support Mothers in need here 

Celebrating Mums Choosing Life Day 4 Mums Who Rise Above Suffering and Shame to Choose Life

 

Today we are celebrating Linda, a young expectant mum we met outside an abortion centre who did not want to abort but was worried about how she could carry her child to term because of her circumstances.

She came from a very strict background but who had secretly been having a relationship for some years when she found out she was pregnant. Her boyfriend was very pleasant and supportive, wanting her to keep the baby, but he point blank refused to discuss getting married or telling his family about the child. He came from a much more liberal background, which made it even harder to understand, because Linda would have to give up her whole family if she kept the baby as an unmarried mum.

With many doubts and fears, Linda chose to continue her pregnancy with Good Counsel's support. We helped her to find a place to live with her baby so that she had a place to go before her family could find out about the pregnancy and throw her out. She kept the baby, but she kept in touch with the baby's father and he cotinued to tell her he wanted a relationship with her and her baby.

A few months before the birth he suddenly told her that he had another girlfriend who was also expecting his child and he planned to make his future with her. Linda was heartbroken, devastated and felt humiliated by the whole situation. But she kept her baby and is determined to raise him and give him the best life she can. 

Unfortunately, Linda's situation is not unique. Several expectant mums we have assisted have found their baby's father was not faithful and then had the humiliation of finding out he was having a child with the other woman as well. It is a terrible suffering for a pregnant woman to discover this and women often start to feel that all men are like this; good men often get "tarred" with the brush that "all men are like that" because of these rotten apples! 

Let's pray today for women like Linda who have to endure this pain and the men who inflict this kind of pain through their selfishness. We pray for them to regret their behaviour, to honour and respect the women and children in their lives and to not endanger the lives of children by their faithlessness. We thank God for the gift of the child who was born to Linda. May God bless Linda and her baby and turn all things to their good.

Help us reach out to Mothers like Linda with prayer, help and support by attending the 40 Days for Life Vigil near you. We are running one in Brixton, please contact Gabriella for details on 07745711064. Or find your nearest 40 Days for Life campaign here Donate to help us support Mothers in need here 

Celebrating Mums Choosing Life Day 3 Maria

 

A mum we assisted 13 years ago came to speak at the Ealing 40 Days for Life Opening Event recently "Maria" brought her son with her to give thanks for all the help and support she received from The Good Counsel Network when she had thought that abortion would be her only option. 

Maria and her son (right) with Lorraine from Good Counsel

She said "It was a tremendous relief to be welcomed with kindness, invited over and offered assistance. It gave me hope, and made me joyful, grateful and pleased. 

I received clothing, bedding,vouchers, groceries, Christmas presents, financial support, immigration support, support with legal costs. I was offered accommodation.

The assistance changed my story, my son and I.

The Good Counsel Network also developed a place for mothers and children to socialise and all of this assistance gave me the confidence to be proud of my son." 

Let us pray for Maria today and for all mums considering abortion, may theu find the life-giving alternatives they need.

Please attend the 40 Days for Life Vigil near you. We are running one in Brixton, please contact Gabriella for details on 07745711064. Or find your nearest 40 Days for Life campaign here

Donate to help The Good Counsel Network support Mothers in need of assistance here. 

40 Days of Celebrating Mums Choosing Life Day 2

 

As we continue to pray for an end to abortion, especially through our public witness and prayer and fasting during 40 Days for Life, today let's celebrate Susan, who chose life for her baby this week after seeing a scan. She had been under pressure from her family and boyfriend to abort, but asked us to get a scan for her. She was delighted to see her baby and learn about the help and support we can offer her. She had been heading to the Ealing abortion centre but is now planning to keep her baby. Please keep Susan in your prayers throughout lent.

You can help to save more lives through prayer and witness at 40 Days for Life. Sign up to join our Brixton (South London) vigil by calling the Vigil Leader, Gabriella on 07745711064. Or go to 40Daysforlife.com to sign up for other vigils around the UK.

You can help us to help other mums like Susan with financial support by donating to our work here.

Celebrating Life 40 Days of Celebrating Mums Choosing Life! Day 1

Now we are into the penitential season of Lent it's good to find some positive things to thank God for and to lift up our hearts and our spirits! During 40 Days for Life you will hear many stories in the media about pro-lifers abusing and harassing expectant mothers, but that is not what we do. Our peaceful and prayerful witness offers life and hope to mothers who would otherwise be coerced by others or by their circumstances into aborting.

Today we celebrate Belinda who chose life for her baby last week. Despite her baby having a serious health condition and not being expected to live for very long, Belinda felt harassed and pushed into abortion, and asked us for help to pursue life affirming support to keep her baby. That's what we are currently doing. Please pray especially for Belinda today. And please join our 40 Days for Life vigil in Brixton if you can, call Gabriella to join on 07745711064.

You can also donate to help us support mums like Belinda, here 

You can find other 40 Days for Life Campaigns around the UK and the world here 

Abortion Death Toll Reaches 10 million

At some point in early autumn this year, the total number of abortions carried out in Great Britain reached 10 million. It is hard to imagine 10 million people. I’ve never seen 10 million people in one place at one time. I live in London which has a population of nine and a half million and I come from Wales which has a population of a little over 3 million. So, when I consider the 10 million people who have lost their lives to abortion since the passing of the Abortion Act in October 1967, to be honest, such a number of deaths is incomprehensible. So many people who could have achieved so many things that we will never know of.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta was once asked, why God had not sent someone to cure AIDS, she replied instantly, that God had sent someone to cure AIDS, but that they had been aborted.

We all know people that we find inspiring, someone we think it is worth looking up to, great saints or religious leaders, an author, an honest politician, a good teacher from our school days or maybe even some good athlete or a pop or film star. I’m sure that a number of people have come to mind as you read this, I myself think of the great author GK Chesterton whose writings helped me to join the Catholic Church. Now imagine that the person whom you have thought of had, for whatever reason, been aborted. There can be little doubt that without these people our lives would not have been as fulfilled as they have been. Imagine this loss 10 million times over.

When we are confronted with the scale of abortion we can despair, but we should not, as we must remember that in the end, God wins. His win won’t trample down those who have been wounded by abortion but will liberate them from their pain and will end abortion forever.

I cannot stop all of the abortions that will take place this year and neither can you, but God can. The incredible overturning of Roe vs Wade is a sign of what God can do, and yet, even in the US the move towards ending abortion has only begun, there is still much work to do.

What Can I Do?

Here in the UK, we need to do what we can practically do to reach out to pregnant women and assure them that the help and support they need is really here. That we can help them with their basic needs so that they can keep their babies. In every life that is spared from being aborted, God has sent gifts and solutions to the world’s problems.  Helping one life to be spared is helping to change the world!

©      You could come and join us in this work, praying outside one of the abortion centres in London or around the country (contact us for details of your local vigil). The women going into the abortion centres really need grace from God to continue their pregnancies and it may be that it is your prayers that will provide them with this grace. A trained counsellor there at the doorstep of an abortion centre, offering practical help and support to the women is also of the utmost importance.

©      Does your place of work or student residence etc have any posters or leaflets offering help and support with the phone number of a pro-life pregnancy centre? If not, contact our office and we will post you a fridge magnet today with a helpline number where women can find support today.

©      Does your parish have a Good Counsel Network poster on its noticeboard? Ask us to send them one today if not.

©      Have you joined our Rotary Rota where we ask you to say a Rosary just once a month on a specific day to help support the mothers that we see?

©      Saint Teresa of Calcutta said that abortion would end if we all spent one hour a week in Eucharistic Adoration. Is this something you could offer for the end of abortion? You can join our Adoration Rota and offer an hour of Adoration in your parish for the end of abortion.

God will ask us to account for our time when we stand before Him. We are all busy, we all have lots of commitments, but we can all do our bit.

Over the years in my work in the Pro-life Movement I’ve heard many women speak, after they've had an abortion, about how things may have been different, “if only someone had been there to offer me an alternative.” Then I look at the number of young people whom I now know, whose mothers, upon arriving at an abortion centre did find somebody there and that someone made all the difference, allowing them to choose life for their children! We are all called to be that someone in whatever ways we can, we are all called to do something.

Volunteering & Financial Support

Many of the mothers that we help have serious practical and financial needs and so supporting our work with a donation or better still with a monthly standing order also makes a huge contribution towards saving the lives of unborn babies. Please donate what you can today.

©      Join our Lifesaver’s Circle by donating £350 pounds, which you can also do by taking out a standing order for £30 each month or

©      Join our St Margaret Clitherow Guild by donating £1000 which you can do by donating £84 a month by standing order.

Whatever you do, do something, and God bless you for your support of His little ones.

Stuart

DIY Abortions, Make The First Five Saturdays and Fast on Monday

On Wednesday the House of Commons voted to make DIY abortions at home a permanent feature in English law. The Welsh government had already decided to do this in Wales. The Bill to do this will now go back to the House of Lords on Tuesday 5th April, where we are informed that it cannot be defeated as the amendment to allow the continuation of the abortions at home originated in the House of Lords. However, we must remember that all things are possible with God. The DIY abortions that were brought in during the corona virus pandemic have been truly horrendous. More than 10,000 women have needed hospital treatment after their abortion.

Our Lady of Fatima asked all Catholics to practice the Devotion of making the First Five Saturdays. Saturday 2nd April is a first Saturday and would be a good time to start this devotion, if you are not already in the middle of it. This devotion consists of going to Confession (you can go to Confession within 8 days of the first Saturday, which would still fulfil the requirements), receiving Holy Communion, saying the Rosary, and spending 15 minutes separately meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, and doing all of this in a spirit of reparation for the sins against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Also on Monday 4th April, we are asking you to pray and fast as much as you can, all day in reparation for the votes that have already taken place and calling on God to defeat this Bill in His way. Monday 4th April is the Feast of  Saint Francisco Marto, who was one of the three shepherd children to see Our Lady in Fatima, Portugal in 1917.

It would be good for you to watch or read Natalia’s story of her DIY abortion https://www.marchforlife.co.uk/2021/02/24/my-diy-abortion-natalias-story/

London Abortion Centre Closes After Nearly 11 Years of Daily Prayer Vigils

Marie Stopes Flagship, central London abortion centre closed down yesterday, Friday 28^th May. The 5 storey building in the heart of London’s Fitzrovia, named Marie Stopes House closed it’s doors on abortion just after noon, and sent its - now redundant - staff home with doughnuts and flowers.

Regular pro-life vigils began at this site in 2010. The first '40 Days for Life' Campaign in the UK began at Marie Stopes, Whitfield Street. The Good Counsel Network (GCN) had been working with Robert Colquhoun to get this off the ground. We had suggested this particular location to 40 Days because it was the Marie Stopes ‘flagship’ building. The building is the 'first descendant' of her first 'Birth Control Centre' in Holloway, London, which moved to Whitfield Street in 1925.

We also suggested Whitfield Street as the site for the first UK 40 Days Campaign because unlike the other abortion centres in London (there were 7 major abortion centres back then as opposed to a few dozen small ones now) this one had never had a regular pro-life vigil.

There was a large Helpers of God’s Precious Infants/Youth 2000 Vigil at the site on 28 December 2000 and over the years a few caring souls stopped there to pray a Rosary for mums of babies when they could.  The aim now was to establish a regular presence offering women alternatives to abortion.

The 40 Days Vigil, managed spectacularly by the wonderful Poppy, whose job it was to fill the schedule, went extremely well.  Several women changed their minds and kept their babies.

At the end of the 40 Days Campaign, GCN decided that in order to serve other women in need, we needed to have a presence there every day if possible and the daily vigil was born. This meant we would be there all year round offering women help and support.

The next Whitfield Street '40 Days' was a 24 hour vigil. One of GCN’s volunteers, Annabel, was working 25 hours a day to fill the schedule, and managed to against tremendous odds. We wrote here about this 40 Days Campaign and its stories, which involved reciting the Litany for Life at 7am surrounded by medical students from the building opposite the Marie Stopes Centre (Student Halls of Residence) who were sent out into the cold in their pyjamas by the fire alarm drill in their building.

The students had plenty of fun mocking our vigil too.

But we had the last laugh; the students were first years who arrived mid-September to find a 24 hour 40 Days vigil on their doorstep. When the vigil finished at midnight on the last day, the students opened their windows and blared “Bye bye baby” by the Bay City Rollers out at us. They cheered as we packed up and went home, glad to see the back of us. When they woke up the next morning our normal daily vigil was up and running. They stared at us crestfallen! 

Another thing we have never blogged about is how during one of several 40 Days at Whitfield Street Marie Stopes were doing internal building work. The builders often arrived very early, so Marie Stopes staff started leaving the clinic front door key in the flowerpot on the doorstep for the builders to let themselves in.

I kid you not - an abortion provider was leaving its front door key in a flowerpot on the doorstep overnight. And they were doing this during a 40 Days for Life Vigil, you know, with those allegedly violent, harassing pro-lifers standing opposite, observing.

It became a running joke between ourselves and the builders that the key was being left. And yet no pro-lifer ever interfered in any way with the abortion centre.

Many people witnessed this practise of leaving the key there. And we do have some photos. I will share one here of the key in the flowerpot. I’m sorry to report that yes, this is genuine, and yes the keyring is appropriately tasteless.

During our 11 years of praying at this site, we have been able to offer help to tens of thousands of women and provide ongoing support to many including Alina and Aurelia, who have shared their stories publicly. 

We have had to assist some women to seek hospital treatment for a variety of problems after their treatment here, including at least one case of missed ectopic pregnancy which ruptured after the woman left the centre.  We have also met many women who regretted taking the first abortion pill and were desperately hoping they could still carry their baby to term.

In recent years some Marie Stopes Staff have come to us seeking help to find alternative jobs. They told us they thought the job with MS would involve helping vulnerable pregnant women who were aborting because of difficult situations but found that they were often facing abusive clients with aggressive partners, and that there was a big focus on money rather than on client health or staff wellbeing.

Thankfully these staff were able to get out and get work.

They told us this branch may close soon. That was the beginning of the hopeful whisper ‘This branch may close soon!’ It echoed around our heads for probably 3 long years before it became a positive statement.

For a few years now we have been praying to GK Chesterton for the closure of this and other clinics.

In October 2017, the relics of Jacinta and Francisco were brought to the vigil.

In 2018 we held a 9 day novena of prayer and witness outside Marie Stopes, including a Eucharistic Procession to the abortion centre. We were joined over the 9 days by 29 priests and 1 deacon, and on the final day, the Feast of Our Lady, Mother of Good Counsel with Fr Stephen Boyle offering Mass in thanksgiving for the closure of this abortion centre (although it was not yet closed…)

There are some who will point to new MSI centres springing up like weeds as a reason why we should not rejoice at the closure of this centre. But we do rejoice, for the Mothers and children who have been hurt and killed there. And because we see the rush to open as many little centres as they can as what it is; a desperate attempt to increase the number of abortions and to reduce costs in an "industry" that has trouble recruiting and retaining staff at every level.

But for those who doubt God's hand in the closure of this centre, this is how we heard the news that the centre would close on Friday:

On Tuesday the following conversation appeared on our staff message group.  

Staff member Marco “Photographer is here at Marie Stopes taking photos of the building. It’s for an estate agents. I decided to stand aside in case they thought I came with the building”

Me: Lol! I really hope that is why he’s taking photos.

Marco: It is definitely no doubt. He is here on behalf of Chestertons Estate Agents. And the locals are all saying the staff have been made redundant Friday is their last day.

Me: Wow! Please God that’s all true. Chestertons Estate agents is that for real? You know they were actually owned by his GK Chesterton’s family (though they aren’t now).

Marco: Gosh I hadn’t even thought of what I was saying.

J: Google says its permanently closed.

Marco: I’m even flying the flag today (*attaches picture of his jacket*, see below)

Badge of Frances Chesterton, wife of G.K. Chesterton.

This is how we heard the news of the closing of the Whitfield St Abortion Centre.

By the way did I mention that Friday 28 May is the ‘Vigil’ of Chesterton’s Birthday? Meaning Whitfield Street will wake to an abortion free day, today - on GK’s Birthday.

A huge thank you to all the faithful staff, volunteers, vigil leaders, especially Siobhán the current Vigil leader, and all the Priests, religious, sisters and faithful pray-ers who have prayed and worked for the closure of this centre.

Gilbert & Frances Chesterton, pray for England, for the end of abortion and pray for us! Amen.

Clare McCullough

St George's Day 2021, 3rd Anniversary of Ealing Buffer Zone

The Feast of St George this year marks the 3rd Anniversary of the introduction of a Buffer Zone to reduce the effectivity of the pro-life Vigil in Mattock Lane. Since the Buffer Zone came into force, offers of help to women entering abortion centres have been removed from the immediate vicinity of the abortion centre entrance. The vigil is still allowed to operate on a small patch of grass 150 metres away from the Marie Stopes' abortion centre, but of course many women going for an abortion never see the pro-life vigil, nor know that it is there or what help it offers. During the first and third lockdowns the Vigil was not allowed to operate at all, while abortion figures rose and abortion centres remained open while also providing abortion pills via the post to women who could not travel. 

During the lockdowns we have had many women contacting us in distress to seek help or counselling after taking the abortion pill. Some have opted to seek medical help to try to reverse the effects of the pills they have taken, usually successfully. Others have contacted us after losing their child seeking a listening ear and moral support.

Today I have been speaking with Jenna, a young Christian mum who took the first abortion pill because her children's father is totally unwilling to commit to her and she is trying to work and study so she can support her children more fully. Without his support it is almost impossible. But she does not think it was the right decision. She has not taken the 2nd pill and is hoping she can keep her baby. She wept as she told me how hard it has been, how wrong she believes abortion is, but how she is struggling to cope. She wept even more as I told her about the help we can offer with childcare to enable her to complete her studies so that she can support her children, and how much support we can give her around this. "If only you were there to tell me about this when I went to the abortion centre" she said "I would never have taken that pill." 

Yes, if only.

3 years on from the establishment of the Buffer Zone, women who are coerced into abortion are more isolated and pressured than ever. Ealing Council has decided after their "Consultation" (if you read that document, you will understand why it seems a travesty to call it that) earlier this year to renew the Buffer Zone for another 3 years.

If you can help at our prayer vigils in Whitfield St, Central London and in the "Designated Area" on Mattock Lane, please get in touch here: info@goodcounselnetwork.com 

St George, Patron saint of England, slay the dragon of abortion and give Our Lady back her dowry!