Author Topic: Abortuary to open in Belfast (Read 3972 times)

John Grace · « **on:** October 11, 2012, 06:06:37 AM »

It's necessary to close this place down before it even opens!

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/private-abortion-clinic-to-open-its-doors-in-belfast-next-week-3256427.html

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Private abortion clinic to open its doors in Belfast next week

By Louise Hogan
Thursday October 11 2012
THE first private health centre offering abortion services is to open on the island of Ireland next week.

Marie Stopes Northern Ireland will offer medical abortions in Belfast city centre.

The not-for-profit organisation last night refused to disclose the clinic's exact location, citing security concerns for staff and patients.

The organisation confirmed it was the same abortion service that was available through the National Health Service in Northern Ireland, which is offered when the life of the pregnant woman is at immediate risk or there is a long-term risk to her physical or mental health.

The medical abortion will be offered up to nine weeks' gestation. It is also expected that people will travel from all over the island of Ireland for the service.

Pro-life campaigners have predicted widespread opposition to the plans.

Northern Ireland's Health Minister Edwin Poots questioned the legal position of the centre.

However, former Stormont Assembly member and the former leader of the Progressive Unionist Party Dawn Purvis said the centre was working to meet the needs of the people within "all relevant laws and guidelines".

Ms Purvis added that the centre would be able to meet the "family planning and sɛҳuąƖ health needs" of people in a way that has not been seen before.

"A centre like ours has never existed before in Northern Ireland," said Ms Purvis, who will take the position of programme director at the new centre.

The latest figures show around 12 women a day in all types of circuмstances travel from Ireland to the UK for terminations. Many women in Ireland opt not to carry babies with fatal conditions to full term and with abortion banned under Irish law, instead opt to travel to the UK for a medical termination.

Last year, 4,149 women from Ireland travelled to England or Wales for an abortion, as did 1,007 women from Northern Ireland. Earlier this year four women who travelled to Britain for medical terminations told their stories to TDs and helped spark a public debate on the issue of the strict legal ban on abortion.

In 1992, the Irish Supreme Court ruled abortion was legal where there was a real and substantial risk to a woman's life. However, in the 20-years since the X Case ruling, an abortion law has not been enacted.

The cost for an medical abortion will be £430 (€535) at the Belfast centre. This will include the consultation, scan to confirm pregnancy and the length of the term, counselling and assessment to see if the woman is eligible.

- Louise Hogan

Irish Independent

John Grace · « **Reply #1 on:** October 11, 2012, 06:30:59 AM »

Dawn Purvis has always claimed to be a voice for the working class loyalists of Ulster yet here she is as head of Marie Stopes.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/no-demand-for-abortion-clinic-in-belfast-says-campaigner-570149.html

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No demand for abortion clinic in Belfast, says campaigner
Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 09:59 AM

Anti-abortion campaigners have hit out at the opening of the North’s first abortion clinic.

Officially approved operations will be carried out at the Marie Stopes centre in Belfast, headed by former Progressive Unionist MLA Dawn Purvis.

The new medical facility has provoked outrage among the anti-abortion lobby.

Bernadette Smith, from the Precious Life group, said: “I am absolutely outraged. An organisation which is making profits from the death of unborn children is not welcome in Northern Ireland. There will be an outcry from the people, from government and from the churches.”

Terminations, each costing £450 (€349.49), will be carried out at the new city centre clinic which opens on Thursday October 18.

The clinic also offers a range of sɛҳuąƖ and reproductive services including short and long-term contraceptive options, emergency contraception and HIV testing.

Ms Smith insisted: “There is no demand for Marie Stopes in Northern Ireland. The figures for women seeking an abortion have been coming down.

“The reduction in the number of women travelling to England has fallen by 36% over the last 15 years since the foundation of Precious Life.

“There is a demand for a crisis pregnancy centre that will provide real help for women in crisis pregnancy.”

Marie Stopes International operates in 42 countries and has more than 25 clinics in England, although it has none in Scotland or Wales.

Dr Paula Franklin, medical director with Marie Stopes, said abortions, which involve taking tablets, would only be carried out on women who meet criteria set by two different doctors.

“In cases where we feel the woman’s case meets medical requirements, we will carry out medical abortions. That’s where two doctors independently review the woman’s history and current physical and mental health,” she said.

Aftercare such as counselling and access to a 24-hour helpline will also be provided to women who have abortions.

Dr Franklin said: “We know there will be opposition but we also hope there will be some support from the people of Northern Ireland. We think this is a positive move and we believe there is a need.

“Many women from Northern Ireland travel to England for terminations every year. We also know of woman who are unable to make that journey. If we can provide, in the right circuмstances, for those women who meet the criteria, this is the right thing to do.”

The UK's 1967 Abortion Act does not extend to Northern Ireland.

Within the current legal framework, the provision of early medical abortion is only available when the life of the pregnant woman is at immediate risk or if there is a long term or permanent risk to her physical or mental health.

The location of the new centre is being withheld amid fears of pickets.

Pro-life campaigners hold a picket outside a Family Planning Association office in Belfast’s Great Victoria Street on a daily basis.

Dawn Purvis, programme director with Marie Stopes Northern Ireland, said: “We believe this is great news for the people of Northern Ireland because we will be able to meet their family planning and sɛҳuąƖ health needs in a way that has not been seen here before.

“We have a new, purpose-built, centrally located specialist centre. Our team are highly trained and dedicated healthcare professionals. And our services will be delivered in a confidential, sensitive and non-judgmental way.”

GemmaGal · « **Reply #2 on:** October 11, 2012, 12:20:55 PM »

Dawn Purvis is wrong, this isn't "good news" for anybody. Its clinical murder.
I'm really sorry to know this is their plan, its horrible and sad.

Tiffany · « **Reply #3 on:** October 11, 2012, 01:07:51 PM »

Quote from: John Grace

It's necessary to close this place down before it even opens!

:applause:

Maria Elizabeth · « **Reply #4 on:** October 11, 2012, 04:48:50 PM »

A friend of mine says that burying a Miraculous medal in the entrance way will close an abortuary down.

I also know someone who put a green scapular in an abortuary and closed the abortuary down.

Our lady is very powerful. Use her medals and scapulars.

God bless you.

Viva Cristo Rey · « **Reply #5 on:** October 12, 2012, 02:48:17 PM »

Quote from: Maria Elizabeth

A friend of mine says that burying a Miraculous medal in the entrance way will close an abortuary down.

I also know someone who put a green scapular in an abortuary and closed the abortuary down.

Our lady is very powerful. Use her medals and scapulars.

God bless you.

Also, have a group praying the Rosary outside the abortuary and supplying the people with literature about adoption or keeping their baby.

Hey, if there are that many Irish girls pregnant who don't want their baby, Ireland should allow Americans to adopt these babies.

John Grace · « **Reply #6 on:** October 13, 2012, 10:23:13 AM »

Quote from: Maria Elizabeth

A friend of mine says that burying a Miraculous medal in the entrance way will close an abortuary down.

I also know someone who put a green scapular in an abortuary and closed the abortuary down.

Our lady is very powerful. Use her medals and scapulars.

God bless you.

I do hope they will do this. Whilst Precious Life, the leading pro-life group in Ulster are very ecuмenical, a few Traditional Catholics assist them. Groups like the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children seem to confine themselves to letter writing and lobbying when the reality is the days of "letters to the editor" and parliamentary politics are long since dead and buried.

I personally don't waste time on this "letters to the editor" or lobbying politicians approach. I find it naive and waste of time but to return to the point, I do hope a Miraculous Medal is placed in the entrance and green and brown scapular's are used.

Whilst small, there are Traditionalist Catholic chapels in the province of Ulster. Whilst not Trads, the Friars of the Renewal are active also. They seem to regularly picket family planning clinics.

I envisage many Novus Ordo Catholics attending also. Ideally, the SSPX youth group could do up a A5 size leaflet.

John Grace · « **Reply #7 on:** October 13, 2012, 10:27:11 AM »

Quote from: Viva Cristo Rey

Quote from: Maria Elizabeth
A friend of mine says that burying a Miraculous medal in the entrance way will close an abortuary down.

I also know someone who put a green scapular in an abortuary and closed the abortuary down.

Our lady is very powerful. Use her medals and scapulars.

God bless you.

Also, have a group praying the Rosary outside the abortuary and supplying the people with literature about adoption or keeping their baby.

Hey, if there are that many Irish girls pregnant who don't want their baby, Ireland should allow Americans to adopt these babies.

Very suitable booklet.

John Grace · « **Reply #8 on:** October 13, 2012, 10:36:35 AM »

http://www.facebook.com/PreciousLife.Ireland

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Precious Life have launched the Stop the Marie Stopes Campaign with 3 days of prayer and fasting from Monday 15th to Wednesday 17th October and are organising a massive Prayer Rally, Great Victoria Street, Belfast from 10am to 4pm on Thursday 18th October against the illegal opening of the Marie Stopes Clinic. It is vital that all good people of faith be there to pray to stop this terrible evil. God bless.

Many of our "separated brethern" will attend the prayer rally.I believe Catholics should attend but certainly there should be no joint prayer or the ecuмenical nonsense.Belfast is very sectarian still with much anti-Catholic bigotry.

John Grace · « **Reply #9 on:** October 13, 2012, 10:45:30 AM »

Whilst on subject of Belfast.

Peace lines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_lines

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The peace lines or peace walls are a series of separation barriers in Northern Ireland that separate Catholic and Protestant neighbourhoods. They have been built at urban interface areas in Belfast, Derry, Portadown and elsewhere. The stated purpose of the barriers is to minimise inter-communal violence between Catholics (who are mainly nationalists that self-identify as Irish) and Protestants (who are mainly unionists that self-identify as British).

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The barriers range in length from a few hundred yards to over three miles (5 km). They may be made of iron, brick, and/or steel and are up to 25 feet (7.6 m) high. Some have gates in them (sometimes staffed by police) that allow passage during daylight but are closed at night.

John Grace · « **Reply #10 on:** October 16, 2012, 04:59:46 AM »

From 10am to 4pm on Thursday there will be a rally on Great Victoria Street in Belfast.

Currently some pro-life groups have gone down the legal route regarding the clinic.It must be pointed out Maries Stopes operate in Dublin and there is abortion in Ireland.

I am among those who disagree with Youth Defence with their slogan "keeping Ireland abortion-free".Youth Defence do great work but not beyond criticism.I dislike how they have gone so politically correct and toned down their militancy.

What I would be calling people to do is follow the suggestions below of placing a Miraculous medal etc etc.

At the moment thousands are praying around the world for the intention of the clinic not open open.

It's necessary to have a large crowd outside the abortuary on Thursday. It needs to be prevented from opening even if people have to chain themselves to the entrance.Also people need to be praying the rosary.

The day of lobbying politicians or the "dear editor" approach is over.

A new militancy must continue from Thursday onwards.

Families and children are expected to attend so I can see the day being very positive.

Whilst nobody may want a night in Lisburn Army Barracks* (HQ of the British Army) or the local police station but Catholics must be willing to face arrest or death in the struggle.

JMacQ · « **Reply #11 on:** October 16, 2012, 07:19:18 AM »

So you will chain yourself to the door, John?

GemmaGal · « **Reply #12 on:** October 16, 2012, 01:38:02 PM »

When I lived in Vancouver, Canada our group walked with posters and prayed the rosary every morning when abortions were scheduled at the Abortuary. We were never anything but peaceful and yet several people were arrested including a priest who was the editor of the Catholic Newspaper and a regular priest at the cathedral. The ones who were arrested all spent time in jail even though they got lawyers and fought for their rights to protest the killing of the unborn babies.

Some people were tempted to set fire and/or bomb the Abortuary, others continued to do the walks and prayer. I was there most Saturdays mornings. Those who got arrested were all single people without family responsibilities and they were the ones that sat on the steps blocking the doors. They saved many unborn children because mothers had a second chance to think about it, observed the courage of those who defended their babies' right to live and there were people who made pamphlets available that told where mothers could go who wanted to have thier babies, and support for unwed mothers.

This sort of action does work miracles.

I am so sorry that this awful thing is happening in Ireland now, Ireland has been a Catholic country until the E.U. took over. I had hoped Italy and Ireland would remain free from such abomination.

Keep up the great work!

GemmaGal · « **Reply #13 on:** October 16, 2012, 01:40:47 PM »

and by the way, its not a 'clinic'

its an Abortuary.

NaomhAdhamhnan · « **Reply #14 on:** October 16, 2012, 02:33:52 PM »

Couldn't agree with John more. The time has come to chain ourselves to the railway track if need be. Easy for me to say since I'm not in Ireland at the moment, but if I was, by Jove I'd be there.

Out with the war pipes, the hour has come!