Pro-life vigils begin at Brighton clinic

12:20pm Thursday 14th February 2013 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter

An anti-abortion campaigner outside Wiston clinic in Brighton An anti-abortion campaigner outside Wiston clinic in Brighton

Pro-life campaigners have pledged to “pray” outside an abortion clinic every day for the next five weeks.

As part of the international campaign 40 Days for Life, 12-hour vigils will be held outside Wistons clinic in Dyke Road, Brighton, for every day of Lent.

The group claim they will be offering help and support to women as they head into the building, but feminist groups say their presence intimidates vulnerable people making difficult decisions.

Caroline Hubert, the Brighton campaign co-ordinator, claimed society was living through an “abortion crisis”.

She added: “We want people to feel there must be a better way for women in this situation.

“There is no intimidation, it’s peaceful and any person who is taking part has to sign a statement of peace.

“We’re there to pray, we’re not there for anything else.

“We’re not expecting hostility. We know a lot of people do not like what we do and they can respond to us and make that very clear.”

40 Days for Life is being billed as “the largest and longest coordinated pro-life mobilisation in history”.

Ms Hubert said there were 4,000 abortions in Brighton and Hove a year – the equivalent of two-and-a-half classes of schoolchildren every week.

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'Harassing victims'

About 250 people have joined the Brighton branch of the campaign which will run until March 24.

A Brighton Feminist Collective spokesman said the pro-life campaigners regularly “intimidated” women attending the clinic.

She said: “As reported by the Argus last year, they had no qualms about harassing a victim of rape who was already suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

“The message is clear: local residents, students, parents, politicians and health professionals simply don’t want them there.”

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Comments(26)

Justin says...
12:34pm Thu 14 Feb 13

It seems to me to be immoral to campaign for more unwanted children to be brought into the world. The "pro-life" protesters are disgusting. If you want to change the law, make your case to your MP and in the press, but don't target women at a time when they may be distressed.

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Hove Actually says...
12:41pm Thu 14 Feb 13

I thought Lent was Forty days and Forty nights, is this just a half arsked protest while the anti-tesco/starbucks
/car/bike/jobs/trave
ller/Police/edo/prid
e/park & ride are in a bit of a lull during the colder weather?

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Hector66 says...
12:47pm Thu 14 Feb 13

i very much hope there is a counter protest. and i rather feel there is a strong argument for some kind of restraining order around abortion clinics, ie no protests within a mile of them or something like that. this is such an awful time for many of those involved.

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gheese77 says...
12:49pm Thu 14 Feb 13

What gives them the right to interfere in other peoples lives. They can take their holier than thou attitude somewhere else

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Ballroom Blitz says...
12:57pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Bloody holier than thou, so called 'Christians'.
There's nothing christian about intimidating women who are already under a good deal of stress if they are about to have an abortion. Indeed, some might call it bullying. I would.
Is bullying 'Christian' I wonder?
More reactionary lunacy taking place in the name of religion.
I'm proud I'm a non believer.

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Maxwell's Ghost says...
1:01pm Thu 14 Feb 13

What a terrifying smirk.

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Hooitness says...
1:06pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Whether they believe in evolution or not, it's happening. Only nowadays it happens culturally.

I dont think we really have a place for small mindedness anymore.

Let women choose their own path, and either support them through this trauma or shut up and get out of their way.

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rostron71 says...
1:19pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Maxwell's Ghost wrote:
What a terrifying smirk.
It's the expression of the simple and the brainwashed - often seen on religious types who go door to door.

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Hoarder12345444 says...
1:34pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Ballroom Blitz wrote:
Bloody holier than thou, so called 'Christians'.
There's nothing christian about intimidating women who are already under a good deal of stress if they are about to have an abortion. Indeed, some might call it bullying. I would.
Is bullying 'Christian' I wonder?
More reactionary lunacy taking place in the name of religion.
I'm proud I'm a non believer.
totally agree. Very immoral way of dealing with it. Abortion is a sensitive subject. But it is the peoples choice not theirs. I too am glad I am atheist. I shall be shouting abuse at these lot if I drive past.

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Artificial says...
1:37pm Thu 14 Feb 13

If the pro-life movement really was pro-life, why doesn't it support charities researching miscarriage and infertility? Why don't they support contraception advice to prevent the conception of unwanted babies? The reality is they're anti sex and anti women.

http://www.patheos.c
om/blogs/lovejoyfemi
nism/2012/10/how-i-l
ost-faith-in-the-pro
-life-movement.html

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Fight_Back says...
1:46pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Hope it rains for 40 days !!!!

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Morpheus says...
1:46pm Thu 14 Feb 13

The other side of this can be seen with Chris Huhne and his wife who claims he forced her to have an abortion. Where were the medical checks that should have prevented this abortion when the woman really wanted the child?

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006 and a third says...
2:22pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Morpheus wrote:
The other side of this can be seen with Chris Huhne and his wife who claims he forced her to have an abortion. Where were the medical checks that should have prevented this abortion when the woman really wanted the child?
A jaw-droppingly stupid comment. Well done.

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Fercri Sakes says...
2:24pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Just think what they could do to improve people's lives if they used these 40 days to do something beneficial, instead of guilt-tripping vulnerable women.

These people aren't Christian in the sense of following Jesus Christ's teachings. Just a bunch of anti-women bigots and bullys who Jesus would have nothing to do with.

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Worthing1975 says...
2:30pm Thu 14 Feb 13

It seems your all missing the point here, it's quite simple, most ( if not all ) people should by the age of 16 know the outcome of having unprotected sex, that there is a risk of getting pregnant, after all the whole purpose of part-taking in this act is to procreate.

The problem is a social one, sex is no longer always seen as something that is done between two people in love.

This topic is something that really angers me, why? because you always hear the same arguments all the time, if women have the right to choose then maybe they should choose the option to not have sex unless protection is used.

Imagine this scenario two people in love have unprotected sex, the woman becomes pregnant and decides on an abortion, the man has no right in stopping this whatsoever, why? because it is the woman's body, she was perfectly happy to allow him to make love to her but can decide to just get rid of the outcome just like that.

I am not a member of pro life nor am I a church goer, in fact I am a non practising catholic.

My reasons for having such a strong view on abortion is because 28 yrs ago my mum needlessly died in an abortion clinic

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banargustrolls says...
2:38pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Nutters - one stop away from assaulting the care staff who work there no doubt. As Bill Hicks said - you don't see these people blockading funerals, or giving a **** about the people that are actually alive.

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006 and a third says...
2:45pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Worthing1975 wrote:
It seems your all missing the point here, it's quite simple, most ( if not all ) people should by the age of 16 know the outcome of having unprotected sex, that there is a risk of getting pregnant, after all the whole purpose of part-taking in this act is to procreate.

The problem is a social one, sex is no longer always seen as something that is done between two people in love.

This topic is something that really angers me, why? because you always hear the same arguments all the time, if women have the right to choose then maybe they should choose the option to not have sex unless protection is used.

Imagine this scenario two people in love have unprotected sex, the woman becomes pregnant and decides on an abortion, the man has no right in stopping this whatsoever, why? because it is the woman's body, she was perfectly happy to allow him to make love to her but can decide to just get rid of the outcome just like that.

I am not a member of pro life nor am I a church goer, in fact I am a non practising catholic.

My reasons for having such a strong view on abortion is because 28 yrs ago my mum needlessly died in an abortion clinic
Very sad, sorry for your loss.
However, pro-lifer's position on a rape victims right to choose termination means that I group them together with people like Joseph Fritzl - who was a god-fearing church goer, I understand.

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Worthing1975 says...
2:58pm Thu 14 Feb 13

I believe abortion for pregnancy through rape is perfectly ok, but there are plenty of preventative measures both consenting men and women can use to avoid an unwanted pregnancy, most people whom don't like using condoms for example sight their reasons that using condoms ruin the pleasure of the act, I'm sure I'd rather have reduced pleasure than be a man being faced with arguments with a woman over an unborn child nor if I was a woman having to face such an enormous decision like that.

Regards my mum, it wasn't my dads baby, she had been having an affair, in total 6 kids life's were destroyed, me and my two sisters and my mums boyfriends three kids. ( he was so distraught he killed himself )

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006 and a third says...
3:20pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Worthing1975 wrote:
I believe abortion for pregnancy through rape is perfectly ok, but there are plenty of preventative measures both consenting men and women can use to avoid an unwanted pregnancy, most people whom don't like using condoms for example sight their reasons that using condoms ruin the pleasure of the act, I'm sure I'd rather have reduced pleasure than be a man being faced with arguments with a woman over an unborn child nor if I was a woman having to face such an enormous decision like that.

Regards my mum, it wasn't my dads baby, she had been having an affair, in total 6 kids life's were destroyed, me and my two sisters and my mums boyfriends three kids. ( he was so distraught he killed himself )
Excellent points.
Unfortunately these people don't agree with contraception either. Awful.
I agree that contraception is essential.
Famine, ethnic cleansing through organised mass rapes, and AIDS - reduced by the very things they're so against? Appalling.

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Nick Brighton says...
5:01pm Thu 14 Feb 13

What most of the more intelligent comments here show, whether for or against abortion, is that for a pregnant woman choosing to have an abortion is one of the most difficult and distressing decisions of her life. What she least needs is a group of people standing outside, watching her go in and out, whatever their motives. As a Christian, I don't think those standing vigil, really understand the anguish they will cause.

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AmboGuy says...
5:41pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Why can't these people just see that what they think is up to them but that they have NO right whatsoever to tell someone else what they can and can't do to their own body.

If harassing women makes then feel like good Christians then I would suggest that there is perhaps something very wrong with their own morals and judgement.

My own personal point of view is that going to church is a waste of time and that religion is responsible for more war and deaths in the world than anything else (many more than abortion clinics) however, I would never stand outside a church protesting as I have no right to try and force my views on another human being.

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ethel80 says...
11:10pm Thu 14 Feb 13

Actually surprised to see some many understanding comments here. These people would be better served by helping those alive within their community. Including children already out of the womb and in need of help and charity. If they could do that instead of causing distress to scared, afraid and distraught woman then they would be acting in a "Christian" way or what I like to call "someone with morals requiring no religion".

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Ballroom Blitz says...
8:11am Fri 15 Feb 13

AmboGuy wrote:
Why can't these people just see that what they think is up to them but that they have NO right whatsoever to tell someone else what they can and can't do to their own body.

If harassing women makes then feel like good Christians then I would suggest that there is perhaps something very wrong with their own morals and judgement.

My own personal point of view is that going to church is a waste of time and that religion is responsible for more war and deaths in the world than anything else (many more than abortion clinics) however, I would never stand outside a church protesting as I have no right to try and force my views on another human being.
Well said. Especially the last sentence. Unfortunately the words 'tolerance' and 'religious zealot' never appear in the same sentence.

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marymog says...
10:25am Fri 15 Feb 13

Don't be fooled by the spin that The Argus and (so-called) ProChoicer's put on this story; a) there is no proof that anybody is intimidated by the ProLifer's, the story from last year about a rape victim was on the say so of Wiston's clinic staff who have a vested interest; b) the protesters are peaceful - i.e. silent, they aren't shouting slogans, they are standing still quietly praying; c) they actually do NOT approach anyone, another lie from last year's Argus reporter; d) the protesters come from different churches, actually most are Protestants and approve of contraception; e) Nobody is there "to judge" they are there to make people think about abortion and what it actually does to another human being's prospect of life - both the babies and the adults concerned; f) What should concern folk is the misinformation about abortion that ProChoicer's but most especially Wiston's gives vulnerable women re the content of leaflets and "consultations" prior to an abortion as well as the actual lack of comprehensive post-abortion care. If you don't believe this - go and see the campaigners for yourself and read up on Wiston's and their (mis)information .

As for religion being "responsible for more war and deaths in the world" grow up and re-read history, particularly of the 20th century and you'll see the age-old reason for war and death is greed, jealousy and selfishness; religion is manipulated. You might also discover that more people have been killed by "atheist" regimes than religious and that more Christians were actually murdered in the 20th century than any other type of religion or person.

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AmboGuy says...
11:55am Fri 15 Feb 13

Oh save it for the church will you. You've been brainwashed to believe these lies but we haven't. You know as well as I do that religion is the cause of so much suffering and fighting in the world and always has been that its got a lot of blood in its hands. It's a good job we all don't go protesting against religion outside your church isn't it? I don't think you'd really appreciate hearing the truth.

What you seem totally unable to understand is that these protesters simply being there is enough to intimidate and upset people coming in and out of the clinic. I'd be very interested to see how you'd feel if you saw the same people standing outside your house or place of work silently praying (or should that be preying) everyday. They wouldn't need to 'do' anything to intimidate people walking in and out.

Why do you feel the need to force your views on people? The arrogance these evil people show is quite outstanding. They've got a website so why not leave it at that?

I just wish the police had the powers to remove these awful people from around the clinic and arrest them if they come back.

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tom721 says...
5:03pm Sun 17 Feb 13

God bless you young lady. Most of those here pontificating about abortion could easily witness a murder, and say nothing.
The very last thing that women under stress need is a murder on their conscience. Abortion is a free ride for men, though. They never have to bear the scars, so why not support it? Back-up contraception. Another bite at the apple.
Keep your chin up, young lady. You are on the right side of history.

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