Urgent Prayer Alert - Bernadette Smyth of Precious Life in Court Today

Torch of The Faith News on Friday 25 July 2014 - 12:45:41 | by admin

You'll recall that Bernadette Smyth, Founder/Director of Precious Life in Ireland, was the woman who, eleven years ago, first got us to pray outside abortion centres here in England. We frequently recommend her work, because she always insists on God being acknowledged at the heart of the pro-life activism of her team.  

Bernadette will be in court today in Northern Ireland to defend the right to pray, counsel and protest at the Marie Stopes abortion referral agency.

This has come about in relation to an attempt by Marie Stopes to use the Protection from Harassment (Northern Ireland) Order 1997, to stifle opposition from pro-lifers. 

In January 2014, Bernadette counselled an abortion-minded young woman, who was using Marie Stopes in Belfast. Bernadette says that the security guard and the young woman's friend kept on trying to prevent Bernie from influencing the lady to choose life, but God gave Bernie the right words to say. It transpired that the young lady was expecting twins. She accepted Bernadette's telephone number and, by God's grace, eventually telephoned Bernadette to tell her that she was choosing life and keeping the babies.

However, the director of Marie Stopes came out to speak to a pro-life volunteer. She accused Bernadette of harassing her and this opened on to the present court case. Bernadette says that she and her family have suffered 6 months of persecution, with Police officers coming to her home on several occasions. She also claims to have been attacked by a Police officer outside Marie Stopes in February. This incident has been reported to the Public Prosecution Service.

Bernadette is in court today to defend the rights of pro-lifers to stand and pray in silent prayer vigils outside of Marie Stopes. She also seeks to freely defend the rights of the unborn, and to protect their mothers from the horrors of abortion by providing counsel to them.

Bernadette asks that people pray for her and this case today. She especially asks for people to pray the Rosary, to attend Holy Mass, and to pray for the intercession of St. John Paul II, whose pro-life teachings have influenced her work. The intention she specifically asks for is: 'that the eyes of everyone involved in this court case will be opened to the truth and that justice will prevail.'

Please keep this intention in your prayers today. St. Bernadette of Lourdes - Pray for us. 

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