The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is supporting a campaign pioneered by an abortion provider which supports abortion on demand and up to birth, prompting anger from its members and calls for its chief executive Cathy Warwick to resign.
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service, along with other pro-abortion organisations, has launched a campaign entitled “We Trust Women” which calls for the decriminalisation of abortion in Britain and is supported by the RCM.
The RCM’s new policy on abortion was formally announced in a new position statement published last week.
About 200 midwives and maternity workers signed a letter to the college’s board condemning the “utterly unacceptable” move, on which they say members were not consulted.
They wrote: “For the organisation that represents us to support the radical position that all protections for unborn children should be removed right through to birth, and without any consultation of us members, we find utterly unacceptable.” The letter adds: “We wish to state that the RCM does not speak in our name.”
The RCM told the Catholic Herald in February that its “overriding objective is to ensure high-quality care for women.” The statement said it believed that choice over medical care “should extend to all aspects of maternity care including the choice of whether to have a baby or not. The RCM said it favoured “choice on all aspects of their care. The RCM is not for or against abortion. It is for women, and respecting their choices about their bodies.”
Thousands attend March for Life in Birmingham
Thousands of pro-life supporters filled the streets of Birmingham on Saturday to raise awareness of unborn children.
Auxiliary Bishop David McGough of Birmingham delivered an address at the start of the event at Victoria Square. Bishop Emmanuel Badejo of Nigeria also spoke to the crowds, telling them that people in Africa believe there is “always room for one more child”.
The day began with Mass at St Chad’s Cathedral. A “Mercy Bus” was available for anyone present who wished to attend Confession.
Participants heard the testimony of one young woman who was considering an abortion but changed her mind after she witnessed the joy of pro-life activists next to the anger of pro-abortion protesters at last year’s March for Life.
Pro-abortion activists also turned up this year, holding placards that said: “Keep your rosaries off our ovaries”.
Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham, who was unable to attend, said that he hoped the marchers’ witness would help people realise “the rightness of speaking in defence of life”.
Prince praises homeless charity
Prince William has said that his visits to the Catholic homeless charity the Passage as a child made a “deep and lasting impression” on him.
The Prince was presented with a photograph of an earlier visit, made with Prince Harry and Princess Diana, during a return trip last week. He said he had learned “how important it is to ensure that everyone in our society … is treated with respect, dignity and kindness.”
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