JOHN SMEATON, DIRECTOR OF SPUC: Major pro-life speakers address one-day conference in Cheshire

Thursday, 24 March 2016

Major pro-life speakers address one-day conference in Cheshire

Fiona Bruce MP

As SPUC approaches the 50th anniversary of its formation, I am delighted to report that we shall be holding a Regional Conference, entitled “Changing Minds - Saving Lives”, on Saturday April 16th at New Life Church West Road Congleton Chesire CW12 4EY (4EU for Satnav). The Conference, being hosted by SPUC’s Congleton branch, will open at 10 am and will be addressed by a line-up of knowledgeable and experienced speakers, comprising:

Fiona Bruce MP - the local Congleton MP and the current Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group. Mrs Bruce has been in the forefront of Parliamentary opposition to attempts to widen the abortion law and to introduce euthanasia in the UK. In relation to abortion Mrs Bruce has commented “Once you have enthroned choice, it becomes very difficult to criticise any particular exercise of that choice, even when the life that is being ended is unmistakably one of us.”

Rt Rev Mark Davies - Catholic Bishop of Shrewsbury who, last year, hosted the visit to his Diocese of the relic image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the international pro-life movement. Welcoming the visit of the image at Shrewsbury Cathedral, Bishop Davies said “We cannot regard any human life as inferior to our own whether we meet them in the helpless refugee, the unborn child or the abandoned elderly person.” He added that today’s culture of death was now threatening the lives of those considered to be a “financial burden” – the elderly and the sick – through assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Christine Fidler - Chief Executive of the Charity image Christian Counselling Service based in Manchester, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. Image provides a free confidential helpline run by trained volunteers for those with problems related to pregnancy and those who need help after abortion or miscarriage. More information about Image can be found on their website at http://www.imagenet.org.uk.

Rhoslyn Thomas - SPUC Youth and Education Officer. Amongst many other activities Rhoslyn has been responsible for organising and running the last two extremely successful Youth Conferences as well as Pro-Life Chains for the past two years. Listen to how, having been involved in pro-life activities throughout her life, she is now working for SPUC to promote the intrinsic value of every human being.

The cost of the Conference, which will include a buffet lunch, is £10 (Students £5) and booking details can be obtained from Steve Hodgkinson at New Life Church West Road Congleton CW12 4EY tel. 01260 297961 email mail@nlchurch.org.uk. Booking beforehand is helpful for catering purposes and would be appreciated. Ample parking is available, but if coming to Congleton by train please notify in advance so that arrangements can be made to collect you from the station.

I encourage all who are within traveling distance of Congleton to make every effort to attend this Conference.

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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.