AIBU to think the "40 Days for Life" campaigners are utterly immoral

[technodad]

news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9705000/9705877.stm

Im a christian.....that doesnt mean everyone else is. I dont think anyone would take the decision of an abortion lightly and I dont think anyone has the right to deny them that.
There are so many deeper reasons for people deciding they cant continue with a pregnancy. These people ought to be ashamed of themselves.

YANBU; I heard the interview on R4 and was furious. They don't believe in abortion being a good thing at all? Even when the woman's life is in danger, when the baby won't live long past birth, if at all, when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest? Absolute nutters. Let them have their say by all means but this campaign is shockingly cruel.

My jaw nearly hit the floor when they started complaining about being harangued in the street. Utter hypocrites.

Apparently walking with a woman to the door, thrusting leaflets at her and getting gobby because she won't talk to you isn't haranguing though

I say all of the above as a strict Christian.

Spingey and AKMD: I am really heartened to see Christians come out against these demonstrations as I see the stance of these placard-wavers as fundamentally un-Christian.

Could I ask you something? I linked above to an article in a local newspaper where a church leader admitted that he'd preached about this from the pulpit. here

Do you think it is the role of church leaders to endorse this kind of thing? I can't help thinking that by the law of averages some members of their congregation have probably had abortions. I wonder how it makes those women feel? Despite being an atheist I used to have quite a lot of respect for this particular church - I know they do a lot of work for the homeless, for example - but their support of Abort 67 has given me a completely different (very negative) view of them.

AKMD: Your comment here hits the nail on the head:

Let them have their say by all means but this campaign is shockingly cruel.

People's rights to do anything stop when they start interfering with other people's rights. So the right to peaceful protest doesn't permit the haranguing of women exercising their right to seek medical treatment. I would argue their actions are actually unlawful and take legal action in the clinic's position.

This is beyond disgusting.

OK so I am going to follow Technodad's advice and set up an epetition on this, I prety much out myself daily and am invisiable anyway so what shall I use as a tite?

"Protect women from harassment while they are exercising their legal right to abortion."??

abuse and frighten people in the name of Christianity.

Jesus would be so proud.

Thanks bumps! Post a link when you're done. I think your title is very good.

Whatever your opinion on abortion, what about basic human decency? These poor women are having to make possibly the hardest decision of their lives and they're faced with this hatred. I have to say I always find it amazing when any religion/religious group get on their high horse about these sorts of issues, as they r always so aggressive and judgemental which I thought were big no-no's, if u believed in God. I imagine that knowing these people in rl must be very scary uncomfortable, as I imagine them to be as weird and confrontational judgemental about everything. Vile human beings in my opinion.

Good title bumps. Do link to it, I'd be very happy to sign it. I won't try putting it about at DDs school. Hers is RC and they are pretty closed to the idea of terminating pregnancy.

Posted too soon. As well as a lot of other stuff. Luckily DD, even at the age of 10.10 is questioning it.

woolly I don't think u can criticise people for agreeing with the basic principle of anti-abortion if they r in a church. I think its disgusting if they are encouraging people to join the protest.

I have set up an epetition on the governments website but it says that it can take up to 7 days for them to check it complies with their terms and conditions.. So will post it as soon as I get confirmation

Anychocs - they actively support Abort 67 and join their protests, according to the newspaper report I linked to. Quote:

This week, Colin Nichols, leader of Jubilee Church, confirmed his church did support Abort67, with members of the congregation taking part in the protests.

He admitted giving sermons on the topic and agreed abortion was worse than the Holocaust, if based on the number of terminations carried out.

Colin added: ?I agree with Abort67?s pro-life message and if people do not like that I can?t do anything about it as a Christian.?

Andy Stephenson, 37, church member and leader of Abort67, said: ?This is way beyond Christianity ? this is a human rights issue.?

Both men have refuted accusations made by the clinic of protesters ?encircling and haranguing? women and calling them murderers.

Well done.
Without being trite 'the only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing'. You are a good man.

Oh I will defintely sign anything that gives voice to how utterly loathsome I find this.

And Anychocs - I wouldn't dream of 'criticising people for agreeing with the basic principle of anti-abortion' as you put it. I am a firm believer in freedom of speech. I think anti-abortionists are as entitled to their view as I am to mine, even though I think most of their arguments don't stand up to scrutiny. However, I do not believe that they have a 'right' to harangue women who have made the decision to have a legal abortion, or the staff who provide this service.

Two words: Reaction Formation

I'm not saying all the people who are protesting do it for this reason, but it is a compelling reason for many. Look at what is at play beneath the protest - the hidden fears. And the more violent the denial of those fears, the more it betrays their presence.

Great work Bump!

A big thank you from me!

My friend filmed the protesters on his phone. Apparently they got very pissed off. Ha hard luck.

well done to that friend,Lopsided....
I'm positive that almost all the people I know that dont like abortion would be appalled by these self-righteous people's bullying behaviour[bet they just love having their 'fun']

Yes, Bump, please let us know when it's up and running.

Please start a thread (maybe in 'Chat' for maximum traffic) and post a link when your petition is up and running Bump. A totally worthwhile cause, well done xx

Perhaps the clinics should set up a volunteer befriending service, where vulnerable women who feel harassed and intimidated by this behaviour can be put in touch with a volunteer who will accompany them to the clinic for moral support and tell these vile bigots to fuck off.