JOHN SMEATON, DIRECTOR OF SPUC: SPUC defends Northern Ireland politician over abortion controversy

Wednesday, 29 August 2012

SPUC defends Northern Ireland politician over abortion controversy

Jim Wells MLA

SPUC defends Northern Ireland politician over abortion controversy
SPUC has defended Jim Wells, a Northern Ireland politician, over his opposition to abortion in all circumstances, including after rape. In a letter to The Belfast Telegraph, Liam Gibson's SPUC's Northern Ireland developement officer, wrote: "Attacks on Jim Wells MLA for defending unborn children ignore the reality of abortion ... Rape is traumatic, but to argue that aborting a child conceived through rape undoes that trauma ignores that abortion, too, is an act of violence. Of 200,000 babies aborted in Britain annually, less than 1% are conceived through rape ... Today, Spuc is proud to work with Jim Wells and other politicians who believe a child's right to exist does not depend on the circumstances of his, or her, conception. [Belfast Telegraph, 29 August]

Abortion

Romney: ‘I’m in favor of legal abortion for health and life of mother,’ rape, incest [LifeSiteNews.com, 28 August]
Responses to the call by Cardinal Sean Brady to protect unborn life [Pat Buckley, 28 August]
Powerful statement by Ireland's Cardinal Sean Brady stating Catholic Church opposition to the introduction of abortion in Ireland [Pat Buckley, 27 August]
US actress hopes hurricane kills pro-lifers; Cher hopes pro-life senator gets raped [LifeSiteNews.com, 27 August]

Embryology

Sperm can be created from skin, claim US scientists [Telegraph, 29 August]
British women fly to US to choose sex of baby [Telegraph, 28 August]
European Court of Human Rights condemns Italian restriction on embryo testing [Expatica.com, 28 August]

Population

One million UK adults delaying starting a family due to rising living costs, claims study [Telegraph, 28 August]

Sexual ethics

Three people enter into civil union in Brazil [Telegraph, 28 August]

General

Report of SPUC youth summer activity [SPUC youth blog, 29 August]
One-handed pianist Nicholas McCarthy graduates from Royal College of Music [SPUC youth blog, 29 August]
Pregnant woman who refused cancer treatment to save unborn baby makes miraculous recovery [Mail, 29 August]

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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 42 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.