Picture courtesy of Good Counsel Network
This page is dedicated to the newly-formed Waveney Valley Pro-Life Group supporting the aims of SPUC (Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child).
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SPUC CONFERENCE REPORT
From 27 February to 1 March, six young people from the Waveney Valley Parish had the pleasure of attending the annual SPUC youth conference for the first time, joining nearly 300 other young people to learn more about the pro-life cause and to support pro-life leadership. The theme for this year’s conference was The Culture Awakens, and, fittingly, it saw the highest attendance on record.
Every aspect of the pro-life movement was catered for at this event, as we were all given the opportunity to listen to the stories of those whose lives had been affected by abortion and to learn what action we can take to inform others on the issue, such as writing to MPs and taking part in Project Truth. We were also able to meet other like-minded people, which sparked many new friendships and insightful discussions.
There were various talks at the conference, each providing many thought-provoking ways to approach the issue of abortion.
One was given by Alithea Williams, who demonstrated that our movement has a notable historical precedent: the decades-long campaign led by William Wilberforce to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire, achieved through sheer cunning, patience, determination, and, most crucially, by winning over the hearts and minds of people all over the country. This proved to us that, even against all odds, if even one of us employs the same spirit and passion with which Wilberforce fought, there is great hope that within our lifetimes we could live in a society in which abortion is once again seen as unthinkable by all, much as slavery is today.
Another talk was delivered by Professor Philip Booth, who spoke to us about the highly significant impact that language has on people’s perspectives and views, and how the meaning of words has been abused to distort the horrifying reality of abortion. He urged young people to work towards ensuring that the truth is made clear to all by ‘rebuilding a culture of life’.
Another impactful talk was given by Fr David Marsden, who spoke about ‘the Culture of Life versus the Culture of Death’, discussing some very relevant issues in today’s society that affect young people in particular, and encouraging them to lead lives which promote the Church’s teachings on valuing the gift of life, drawing deeply from Pope Saint John Paul II’s Theology of the Body.
One of the final talks was given by the CEO of SPUC, John Deighan, who focused on ‘Leading Cultural Renewal’. He recalled many of the key aspects of the previous talks and the stories of those affected by abortion, tying all of these ideas together to encourage us, the younger generation, to ensure that the message percolates beyond the conference room and into our everyday lives by becoming leaders who work towards change. He emphasised the idea that each person has their own role to play, since every aspect of society needs to be exposed to the truth in order to ensure that no others suffer as a result of our modern culture’s twisted morality, which has resulted in a third of our own generation never being given the chance to live.
We also heard from other remarkable people who left a profound impact on us, such as a woman who was arrested for offering help to women outside abortion clinics, as well as a mother who underwent an abortion procedure herself under great duress when she was very young, a decision that left her deeply scarred, and one that revealed to her both the tragic reality of abortion firsthand, and also the healing hand of Christ.
As well as these talks, the conference offered several workshops for us to attend, offering important insight into how we can make a difference in our own communities.
The workshops were organised to cover many key areas of pro-life advocacy. They included guidance on setting up pro-life societies in universities, engaging members of the public compassionately, writing effective letters to people in positions of authority, and finding opportunities to volunteer and contribute to the pro-life movement directly, as well as a Q&A panel where we could ask questions of members of the SPUC team.
The Q&A session gave us time to discuss the more intricate issues surrounding abortion and pro-life ethics, and to do so with a greater degree of nuance. Some of the topics discussed ranged from apologetics to contemporary politics. One interesting point we took away was that there are many people on both sides of the political divide who promote the dignity of the unborn, which shows that the pro-life view is one that can exist beyond party politics. It was encouraging to hear questions from others that were also on our own minds, and it was satisfying to hear them answered so clearly and carefully.
The conference was also a valuable opportunity for us to meet other young people who share our deep concern about abortion, as the issue can too often isolate and discourage people who do not share the mainstream opinion. Simply being surrounded by others who value the lives of the unborn gave us a great source of hope and comfort, which had a deep impact on us personally. It meant that, for us, the conference did not truly come to a close at the end of that weekend, because we can ensure the message lives on through our actions as we return to our local communities, where we hope to sow the seeds of hope and truth.
One of the things we were encouraged to do was to invite a friend to next year’s conference, or simply to tell others where we were that weekend, so that people who may be completely unaware of the subversive and pernicious reality of abortion can be given the chance to think for themselves rather than blindly relying on the popular modern narrative, which constantly disregards pro-life concerns and arguments, preventing them from permeating public discourse through false labelling and, ultimately, an abuse of the facts and the truth.
Over the weekend, we were able to form lasting friendships thanks to the opportunity for genuine social interaction with people our age, which is certainly one of the main reasons why so many young people return each year in ever-increasing numbers. Something that deeply moved us during our time there was the joyous feeling of being in such intense fellowship with others when united in purpose and mind. It was an experience so palpable that it truly felt like a fleeting foretaste of the perfect fellowship of the Communion of Saints in Heaven. When engaging with others, rather than having any beliefs that contradicted the mainstream view immediately disregarded, we were able to discuss them in good faith and charity, a stark contrast to the constraining and conformist reality of discourse today. In this respect, the conference became, for us, a place that was simultaneously intellectually stimulating and spiritually restful.
The conference was held in a setting which allowed for spontaneous and free-flowing conversation, with activities such as a quiz on the first night and a very heated game of Mafia, both of which encouraged people to move beyond their initial groups in a really natural and fun way. Widely considered one of the highlights of the weekend was the ceilidh on the final night, which broke down any barriers that had not yet been dissolved by the constant insightful conversation. Even for those of us who had never danced before, it felt accessible to all, and there seemed to be no shortage of smiles and laughter.
The timeless feeling of coming together as a group and having so much fun gave us a sense of pure bliss, creating so many fond memories which we will cherish forever. The social aspect of the conference was truly uplifting, and we were making friends right up until the very end of the weekend, since there were just so many amazing people to meet, which made the departure on the Sunday even more difficult.
The general routine and structure of the event meant that we got so much out of the weekend, since it provided a perfect balance of deeply meaningful discussions, socialising, and the many comforts the accommodation had to offer. Mass was also celebrated each morning, which we felt was a perfect start to the day. In addition, there was the opportunity for Confession and an evening Mass on the Saturday. This combination of learning, fellowship, and the sacraments truly made the entire experience even more uplifting and fulfilling. Both attending priests, Fr Matthew Goddard and Fr Marsden, were great to talk to and enjoyable company during our time there.
Overall, we were all extremely glad to have attended the SPUC conference this year. It surpassed all our expectations in ways we could not have imagined beforehand. We have all agreed that we would very much like to attend next year’s conference as well, and we would encourage any other young people who are interested to consider coming along too.