SPUC disappointed after previewing TV programme on abortion

London, 15 April 2004--The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has expressed disappointment and concern after seeing a preview of the Channel Four programme about abortion which is to be screened on Tuesday (20 April). SPUC has also challenged Channel Four to give the complete picture of the issue and to represent the pro-life side fully and fairly.

Mrs Eileen Brydon of SPUC's north-east England office said: "This documentary purports to lift the veil of secrecy about abortion yet the subject will remain obscure after people have seen it. Although some people from the anti-abortion side were featured, this was principally an attempt to make abortion seem easy, normal and good.

"There were some good photographs of unborn children but many of the images consisted of brief flashes of the giant pictures of aborted children which some American campaigners display on lorries over there. The UK situation wasn't properly represented.

"Our heart goes out to women who have had an abortion and it could be that Ms Julia Black, the film's presenter, may still not be at peace about the abortion she had. However, her film could have addressed the humanity of the unborn child more successfully and the ultrasound images could have been clearer and better. We could have supplied such images if we had been approached.

"The abortion which viewers will see was a very early one, which is unusual. The message was that this was a quick and easy operation, yet nothing was mentioned of all the possible psychological or physical effects, some of them long-term, on women of having abortions at any stage.

"Also, the programme-makers may have chosen such an early abortion so that the child who was shown was perhaps less recognisable than an older one. Many abortions are carried out later in the pregnancy and images of those children are even more convincing evidence of their humanity.

"The British pro-life movement has a small presence in the film but it tends to be seen from far off. The American scene is given disproportionate prominence and much of the rest of the programme is an attempt to sanitise what is essentially the taking of young, helpless, innocent life.

"In concluding the programme, Ms Black said there were no more secrets on the subject. This is tragically not the case and the film could well simply serve to make abortion seem respectable. This is particularly irresponsible, given the psychological trauma which women can go through after abortion, as well as the inevitable loss of the child's life.

"Pro-life people need to challenge the programme-makers to get to grips with this issue. Our arguments were inadequately gathered and represented. We ask to be heard and for a full portrayal of the humanity of the unborn child and the harm caused to women by abortion."