3 Whitacre Mews, Stannary Street
London, SE11 4AB, United Kingdom
Telephone: (020) 7091 7091
Fax: (020) 7820 3131
Email: information@spuc.org.uk
Final Commons votes on abortion and embryo research Wed 22 Oct
Dear supporter,
It has just been confirmed that the report stage and third reading of the government's Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) bill will be on Wed 22 Oct. Radical pro-abortion amendments have been tabled for debate and voting at the report stage. The bill as a whole is also scheduled for its Commons third reading later that same day. After that, the bill will return to the House of Lords - who will be asked to approve the Commons' amendments.
I realise that many of you will have already taken action, such as writing to your MP or distributing leaflets. We are immensely grateful for these efforts. We need, however, a last push to reach people who have yet to take action.
Please study the checklist below and take (or repeat) the following actions:
1. Your MP: Telephone, email and/or write to your MP. You can call your MP via the parliamentary switchboard 020 7219 3000. You can find out your MP's name, and email him/her, via http://www.spuc.org.uk/mps
You can write to your MP at: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.
2. The PM: Write to Gordon Brown, the prime minister, at No 10 Downing Street, London, SW1A 2AA.
Please remember to copy any replies from MPs you receive to Anthony Ozimic, SPUC political secretary, either by email to political@spuc.org.uk or by post to SPUC, 3 Whitacre Mews, London, SE11 4AB.
3. Churches: Ask your parish priest or minister of religion to read out the announcement below at Masses/services this weekend (11-12 Oct) and next weekend (18-19 Oct).
4. Leafleting: Distribute leaflets and order more from SPUC, tel 020 7091 7091, or email lizfoody@spuc.org.uk (Note: SPUC has produced several different leaflets, addressing different aspects of the bill in recent months. All the SPUC leaflets are still valid and include the phone number of the House of Commons - and can be used until 22 Oct.)
5. Rally & Prayer: If you pray, please pray for the defeat of the abortion amendments and the whole bill. This Saturday, 11 Oct, the annual Rosary Crusade in London will be offered for the bill's defeat. 1.45pm at Westminster Cathedral. For more information, telephone 01494 729223.
On Sat 18 Oct, there will be separate London and Belfast events:
- London: "1000 Crosses for Life" procession. Meet at 1pm, Westminster Cathedral. For more information, telephone 020 8857 9950 or email support@europrolifeuk.org
- Belfast: "Rally for Life". Meet at 1pm in front of Parliament Buildings. For more information, telephone 028 9027 8484.
- 40-day fast to prevent the extension of the Abortion Act to Northern Ireland. Wed 20 Aug - Sat 4 Oct (excl. Sun) or on another 40-day period of your choice. For more information, visit http://www.spuc.org.uk/resources/fasting7808.pdf
6. Petition: Sign the online petition against extending the Abortion Act to Northern Ireland
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Anti-Abortion/
7. House of Lords: Write to and/or email members of the House of Lords. Select as many Lords as you wish from the list at http://www.spuc.org.uk/lobbying/email clicking on each name to send a separate email, or write to them by post at House of Lords, London, SW1A 0PW.
Thank you again for your help. We know that MPs are receiving many letters, and we must reinforce this with phone calls too. Please do all you can.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Tully
General Secretary
Please ask your parish priest/minister to read out the announcement below at services - or allow you to read it out. If possible, also arrange for the leaflets to be handed to people as they arrive or as they leave.
ANNOUNCEMENT FOR CHURCHES FOR WEEKENDS 11-12 AND 18-19 OCTOBER
The government's embryo bill has its final stages in the House of Commons on Wednesday 22 Oct. The bill aims to allow more experiments on human embryos, and pro-abortion amendments have been tabled which could also lead to many more unborn children dying and women suffering.
Please telephone your MP urgently and ask him or her to vote against the bill and against any pro-abortion amendments. Call the parliamentary switchboard on 020 7219 3000 and ask to speak with your MP. If you don't know the name of your MP and/or would like more information, contact SPUC on 020 7091 7091. [Both these phone numbers are on the SPUC leaflets about the bill.] Please act now before it's too late to protect unborn children.
