At a time when the NHS and other medical agencies have been hailed as the nation’s saviour, there is a darker side to the story.

Silent witness

One of the most profound tragedies of our day is how quickly we have come to accept the mass slaughter of the unborn with hardly a whimper of protest. The merciless killing of children in this way has so far claimed nine million lives since abortion became law more than 50 years ago.

And few seem to care, as this report from one of our readers makes clear. Mike and Pat Doherty, of North Lincolnshire, have been joining a silent witness outside the Doncaster abortion clinic run by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service for some years. It usually takes place on the last Thursday in October, to mark the passing of the 1967 Abortion Act.

Sadly, numbers have dwindled to just four, and I’ll let Mike himself take up his poignant account of this year’s vigil.

Constructive dialogue

"We have a banner, this year displaying the words ‘Abortion Takes Lives’, as well as candles representing lives which have been lost. The witness is intended to be prayerful, but this year’s event was not as silent (and prayerful) as we had planned.

Normally, one or two of us would be available to respond to people’s queries or signpost them for counselling (as is occasionally appropriate). But, with so few of us, we could not avoid getting involved in conversation.

The witness is intended to be prayerful, but this year’s event was not as silent (and prayerful) as we had planned.

Among the approaches were two avowed ‘pro-choicers’. With the first, the lady’s questions were rational and it was possible to respond appropriately. Apart from referring her to sources which would help her to take an informed view, we also sought to establish common ground.

For example, she did not agree to abortion on the ground of sex or disability. We explained how we felt that those (such as BPAS) who were encouraging abortions (and making money from it) should always be fully held to account.

So you can see that there was constructive dialogue, although she continued to insist on her entitlement to decide her baby’s future. Eventually her boyfriend appeared, and said he agreed with everything we stood for! So hopefully the ‘common ground’ will help to encourage reconciliation.

Confrontation, not conversation

The other lady seemed apoplectic. Amidst a torrent of abusive language, we were told that we three men had no right to be there – and would fortunately be dead within 20 years. My wife Pat was described as “disgusting” for siding with the men. The lady threatened violence, although I don’t think she meant it, and confirmed that she had availed herself of the clinic’s services.

It was unfortunately not possible to have any serious conversation with her and we all agreed afterwards that we would pray for her healing and peace. Surely there was more to this agitation than ideology. Only the Lord knows the full story, but she seemed to be deeply troubled by past events which had led to her abortion. From what she was saying, there could well have been a rape at a very young age.

Amidst this tragedy, we did get much support from passers-by, indicating that there certainly isn’t blanket backing for abortion.

We must always remember that we are advocates for life – the life of the babies who cannot speak for themselves as well as the life of mothers.

As Pat and I left the site and drove past the Doncaster Royal Infirmary, we were struck by a poster inviting mothers to visit the pregnancy-scanning suite: “Come and meet your little miracle.”

We know that when confronted by anyone over this matter, we are not here to ‘defend our own position’ but to show compassion towards the confronter. At the same time, we must always remember that we are advocates for life – the life of the babies who cannot speak for themselves as well as the life of mothers. God willing, Pat and I intend to return next year".

Jesus said: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)