Wednesday 27th October, the 43rd Anniversary of the passing of the Abortion Act, saw Christian Concern’s Choose Life Campaign lead a series of events designed to mark the occasion and highlight the ongoing scale and consequence of abortion.
Vigil in Westminster
Over 100 people gathered in Old Palace Yard, opposite Parliament, to take part in a special vigil timed to coincide with Prime Minister’s Questions at 12noon. Times of silent prayer and reflection were interspersed with contributions from various speakers including Peter Saunders (Christian Medical Fellowship), Alan Craig (Christian People’s Alliance), Nadine Dorries MP and Andrea Minichiello Williams. Particular attention was drawn to the fact that since the passing of the Abortion Act over 7,000,000 babies have been aborted, with more than 200,000 abortions taking place last year alone (the latter statistic also being highlighted by a bus advertising campaign, undertaken by ‘Choose Life’). During the Vigil, 572 models of babies in the womb at 10-12 weeks were laid out, representing the average number of abortions taking place each day in Britain.
Service of Lament
Following the Vigil was a Service of Lament and Repentance at the Emmanuel Centre led by the former Bishop of Rochester, Rt Revd Dr Michael Nazir-Ali. The congregation heard testimony from two young women both of whom were in danger of being aborted and from a third woman who had herself had two abortions and spoke of the guilt and isolation that resulted but also of the forgiveness and grace of God that she had subsequently discovered. In His address, Bishop Michael took up the theme of ‘choosing life’, rejoicing that God Himself ‘chooses life’ and urging Christians not to be ashamed of choosing life and urging society to do the same, not only with respect to abortion but also in the face of relatively new challenges associated with fertility treatment and embryonic research.
The service featured a poignant four minute silence, representing the more than four decades that have passed since the passing of the Abortion Act.
Downing Street Delegation
Following the service, a small group visited 10 Downing Street to deliver a letter for the Prime Minister along with the results of a new survey on abortion (undertaken by widely-respected researcher ComRes) and a copy of Forsaken, a new book containing the testimonies of five women about their experiences of abortion.
ComRes Research
The ComRes poll revealed that 66% of women believe that the current figure of 200,000 abortions each year in Britain is ‘too high’, and that 78% of people support a ‘cooling off’ period between diagnosis of pregnancy and abortion.
Even more strikingly, 89% would support a change in law to give women the right to be “informed of all the physical, psychological and emotional risks associated with abortion” and 82% a “legal duty on doctors to provide access to advice and information about alternatives to abortion, such as adoption.”
The survey also revealed widespread ignorance about the number of abortions that take place in Britain, with only 3% of respondents making an estimate between 150, 001 and 250, 000. That ignorance is particularly marked amongst the younger age groups, with 45% of 18 – 24 year olds estimating an annual total that is less than 10% of the true figure!
Comment from Andrea can be read on her blog here.
Notes
Copies of the book Forsaken are available from Christian Concern.
*The survey was undertaken by ComRes on behalf of Christian Concern’s Choose Life Campaign. ComRes interviewed 1,001 GB adults by telephone between 15th and 17th October 2010. Data were weighted to be representative demographically of all GB adults. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules (www.britishpollingcouncil.org). Full data tables available at www.comres.co.uk.