To think universities should allow “pro-life” groups?

[Mellowfruitfulnessy]

There’s been a few incidents in the news of universities saying that “pro life” groups should be banned because they make women in campus feel “unsafe”.

There was a protest in Exeter today and there’s been similar rumblings elsewhere.

This seems odd to me: it’s fairly standard teaching in Catholicism and the students in the group largely seem to be Christian / non-UK students. Unis are saying these groups are not “inclusive” but if mainstream religious thinking isn’t allowed, isn’t this excluding free speech? Is it really making women feel “unsafe”?

AIBU to say that pro life groups should be allowed on campuses as part of free speech/thinking/religious freedom?

Pro life is really forced birth so no

Of course the statements form student say that is is making university unsafe for “those with wombs” rather than women - I am paraphrasing

I think my main worry is that if this fairly innocuous thinking/ideology is “banned” from campuses, it’s part of the same issue that is preventing any controversial topic from being discussed.

Where is it safe to discuss abortion or euthanasia ethics? Only philosophy seminars? Not even there? Shouldn’t students be able to counter different viewpoints with logical argument? Isn’t it granting ideologies too much power if we say they cannot be allowed because they make people unsafe?

Of course they should be allowed - we have freedom of speech in this country. It’s appalling that some people are trying to censor views that differ from their own.

I think as long as they are not aggressive in line with the more extreme behaviour sometimes seen from those groups, yes, they should be allowed. In the sense of being able to state their position, participate in the debate on the campus etc.
For the disclosure, I am very mildly pro-life on that spectrum (agnostic though). I think I'd support this even had I been pro-choice, echo chambers are less than ideal irrespective of the content.

They're not obliged to give a platform to anyone.

Well it depends what they’re doing really doesn’t it?

Individuals expressing their view in conversation that they don’t agree with abortion - fine, part of free speech.

Group of pro lifers waving banners with pictures of foetuses, chanting, handing out leaflets - not fine and intimidating.

Which are they doing?

It really depends what you mean. If you mean groups of Catholics gathering together who all happen to be pro life then of course that should be allowed.

If you mean groups that plot and plan to target women seeking medical services then no of course not.

I can’t stand the pro-lifers, but they should be allowed to exercise their freedom of speech like everyone else. Thin end of the wedge and all that. The alternative is far worse.

As long as they’re happy for others to have the freedom to tell them exactly where to shove it, as I would do.

They look like about six catholics running stalls tbh.

I agree that campaigning outside clinics etc shouldn’t be allowed - it’s not legal anyway.

No they shouldn't.

Don't force your pro-life bullshit onto potentially vulnerable women. These groups should be stopped. Telling women what they should do with there bodies. Shameful.

@IM0GEN

Of course they should be allowed - we have freedom of speech in this country. It’s appalling that some people are trying to censor views that differ from their own.

Freedom of speech.

Pro life is not 'a fairly innocuous' ideology and has no right to a space where young women should feel safe

Why do they need to form a group?

I am very pro choice.

Of course pro life should be allowed on campus. I do not agree with #nodebate.

Within legal boundaries. Those boundaries apply to all, and I would expect respect and tolerance in return. If not, then you can ban them.

Yes, they should be allowed. It’s quite a mainstream opinion (eg in Catholicism), and it’s quite possible to be pro-life without resorting to the idiocies of the American far right. There were always quiet pro-life stalls at our freshers’ fair in the 1990s.

I’m extremely pro-choice myself, but peaceful free speech is a fundamental underlying principle of a humanist education as well as a liberal democracy. Sure, setting up a far right racist stall or similar hate organisation or ideology should not be allowed. But the general principle should be in favour of peaceful free speech even for those one vehemently disagrees with.

Regardless of where the students come from or their religious leanings, it is highly likely that some of them will have had an abortion.

Pro-life propaganda is, quite frankly, disgusting. Talk of 'murdering babies' - abortion cannot be 'murder' and it's a foetus, not a 'baby'. Then there's all the made-up horror stories of women and girls who aborted then topped themselves because the guilt was allegedly too much for them to handle. Pictures of five month old foetuses being bandied about as being six weeks. I could go on...

Women, girls and others with wombs could be seriously harmed by this. Others, finding themselves pregnant might make decisions based on outright lies.

No. Pro-life groups and all their claptrap do not belong in universities.

Funny like all these so pro-life people only care till the child is born.

You are VVV unreasonable.

Look what’s happening in Poland at the moment,all abortion banned even in the case of fatal genetic abnormalities.
Remaining reasons (rape and incest) still severely restricted due to the medical staff being allowed to refuse the procedure.

Poland is ruled by the mad arsehole Kaczynski and his similarly unhinged cronies who collude with catholic church in abuse of children and women.

Catholic church heavily subsidised from public money. Bunch of fucking hypocrites,vultures and parasites.

Parents of disabled children were thrown out of the Parliament when they asked for more support.

Apparently every life is sacred but only till it’s born, then nobody cares.

@IM0GEN

Of course they should be allowed - we have freedom of speech in this country. It’s appalling that some people are trying to censor views that differ from their own.

No one is trying to censor their individual view.

Freedom of speech does not give you the right to gather in order to bully others.

Freedom of speech does not give you the right to gather in order to bully others

Absolutely. It doesn't give you the right to tell lies either.

We don't have free speech laws in the UK.

I'm strongly pro choice. I agree with the OP so long as these pro life types aren't near clinics or intimidating women. However I believe in freedom of expression and truth across the board - ie the right to say men are men, trans women are men, regardless of other people taking offence.

Why are all the pro-lifers middle aged men? They shout abuse at young girls and show quite horrific pictures that upset children.

If they are so pro-life why aren’t they raising money for care to help young mothers or running orphanages or free childcare centers? Or giving away free pranks and a lifetime of nappies? What about free babysitting service or run the Uni crèche?

Most abortions are in over 40’s anyway so please leave our young teens to make up their own minds.

@DrSbaitso

They're not obliged to give a platform to anyone.

They should be, and will be very soon.