Bernadette Smyth Refuses to Be Silenced - May God Bless Her and Her Family

Torch of The Faith News on Thursday 20 November 2014 - 16:32:17 | by admin

Bernadette Smyth, the inspirational director of Precious Life, refuses to be silenced even though she may face a jail sentence following a court conviction for 'harassment' in Belfast yesterday. Please pray for her and her family at this harrowing time.

Only this morning we received a letter from Precious Life describing the difficult time Bernadette and her family have endured since she was accused of harassing Dawn Purvis, the former politician and director of the Marie Stopes abortion centre in Belfast.

Bernadette explains that the stress and anxiety of 11 months of pressure and persecution have left her wondering how much more she can take. She recalls: 'We have felt harassed, humiliated and let down by the Police service who, on more than thirty occasions, have turned up at my home and work and have treated me like a criminal... My children have had to see their mother on the front of all the daily newpapers and TV reports, with some of the reports going as far as to assassinate my character, and to crown it all, they went as far as to publish my home address. I am sure you can imagine the worry this has caused me.'

Solicitor Aiden Carlin notes that Judge Chris Holmes' decision to convict Bernadette is ''a disappointment to the pro-life movement worldwide.'' He described the court case as a political ploy ''to deter Precious Life and to curtail their rights under Articles 9, 10 and 11 of the European Convention.'' He also pointed out that Bernadette had never used bad language or telephoned Dawn Purvis. Neither had she even made any attempt to make contact with her. Indeed, Carlin stressed that it was Purvis who had approached Bernadette on the two occasions mentioned in the case. He noted too, that Bernadette's work with Precious Life has never led to public disorder and has even been praised by senior police in the past. 

One of the most remarkable aspects of this case is the fact that abortion remains a crime in Northern Ireland's law and the presence and legal status of a Marie Stopes centre in Belfast has been described as a legal grey area.

Bernadette makes clear in her letter to supporters that the ultimate game-plan is to destroy her reputation and have Precious Life removed from the streets. She has vowed that she will never be silenced while babies in the womb are threatened by abortion. By God's grace, Precious Life aims to persevere with daily prayer vigils at Marie Stopes and the FPA referral centres; giving practical help to mothers in difficult situations; giving pro-life presentations in schools; lobbying at Stormont, Westminster and in Europe; reaching out on the streets via youth4life; and organizing the annual All Ireland Rally for Life. 

As we've said a couple of times before, Bernadette Smyth has inspired us in the past because of her courageous witness in the defence of the unborn and because she always insists on God being kept at the centre of her work.

In 2003 we accompanied her to pray outside the BPAS abortion centre in Liverpool. Bernadette stood firm when a woman that she offered to help swung a punch at her and when an aggressive biker on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle berated us for praying there. In both of these exchanges, Bernadette firmly stood her ground but was polite and respectful to those who chose to oppose her. She then calmy stated to the group of pro-lifers that such opposition did not really matter as she had her guardian angel with her. 

Bernadette with the great Cardinal Raymond Burke.

There is a real danger that this court case could be used to try and set a precedent to silence and stop pro-life vigils at abortion centres. Marie Stopes is a powerful organization with an annual revenue of over £145 million. Dawn Purvis, the director of the Belfast Marie Stopes, has a history of campaigning for legalized euthanasia and homosexualist ideology.

Bernadette's solicitors have stated publicly that they will appeal the court conviction, adding that Bernadette and Precious Life have been ''assaulted, insulted and publicly accused for simply defending the rights of mothers and their unborn children to choose life.'

Please keep Bernadette, her family and Precious Life in your prayers. Precious Life would also appreciate any financial support that can be given to support them in this battle in the war for the protection of the unborn.

St. Bernadette of Lourdes - Ora pro nobis!         

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