JOHN SMEATON, DIRECTOR OF SPUC: See how SPUC's youth conference forms the next pro-life generation

Thursday, 12 February 2015

See how SPUC's youth conference forms the next pro-life generation

Rhoslyn Thomas, head of the Youth & Students division, has sent me the following report on last year's Youth Conference in Telford. Rhoslyn hopes to spread the word about the upcoming Youth Conference in Southport (6-8 March) where another excellent line-up of speakers will help to form the next generation of pro-life activists. The talks given at that conference will be published on this blog over the coming weeks.

Below are the recordings of two talks delivered at last year’s International Youth Conference 2014, held in Telford. The conference was very well received with a top range of speakers, as can be seen from the YouTube videos.

The first video shows a debate between Dr. Helen Watt of the Anscombe Centre and Dr. Anthony McCarthy of SPUC. The debate is designed to be an example of arguments used for and against abortion from a philosophical position, with Dr. McCarthy playing devil’s advocate and Dr. Helen Watt putting forward the pro-life position.

Example debate between Dr. Helen Watt of the Anscombe Centre

and Dr. Anthony McCarthy of SPUC

The following video is of a talk delivered by Dr. William Newton, Associate Professor of Theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Austria Progam. Dr. Newton’s talk points out with great clarity the relationship between a contraceptive culture and abortion. He examines the practical consequences of society’s changing views on sex and how practically abortions flows from such changes in attitude.

Relationship between a contraceptive culture and abortion
Dr William Newton

This year, the SPUC Youth Conference will take place from the 6-8th of March 2015 at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Southport. The line-up of speakers will include Cardinal Burke, the newly appointed patron of the Sovereign Order of Malta. The title of Cardinal Burke’s talk will be: The New Evangelisation of the Fallen Christian West.

The Youth Conference is a unique opportunity to unite and motivate the pro-life youth to go out and spread the pro-life message amongst their peers, as well as in their families and communities. Amongst young people, some are enthusiastic but lack proper up-to-date information, others are well-informed but need to be inspired to carry on the pro-life fight. The youth conference serves both groups: simultaneously educating and motivating the youth of today.

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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.