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Papal Knighthood for Right to Life chairman Ken Hargreaves MBE


Ken Hargreaves MBE

Ken Hargreaves MBE

The Chairman of Right to Life, Ken Hargreaves, has been awarded a Knighthood of St Gregory by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in recognition of his lifetime commitment to the pro-life cause and his service to his local community.

Ken served as the Conservative MP for Hyndburn, Lancashire, from 1983 to 1992 and whilst in the House was an active member and officer of the All-Party Parliamentary Pro-life Group.

Speaking today, his friend and former Parliamentary colleague, Ann Widdecombe said: "This is excellent news. Ken has been an absolute stalwart of the pro-life fight for decades, and it is only right that his unstinting support for the cause should be recognised in this way. He was an assiduous Member of Parliament, serving his constituents well, and was extremely popular in the House of Commons. I am sure everyone in Hyndburn will want to celebrate this award."

Although seriously ill at present following a series of health problems, Ken Hargreaves said: "I was deeply moved to be told this wonderful news. It's a special blessing from Pope Benedict, not for me, but for all the men and women who throughout my life, especially through their support of Right to Life and Life, have refused to accept the killing of the unborn and who have opposed abortion and euthanasia. Every life is unique, every life is precious - and we must renew our efforts to stop the terrible tide of killing, what Pope John Paul called "the culture of death", and learn again to cherish and uphold the sanctity of human life from conception until natural death."

Catholic Peer, Lord David Alton added: "Ken has been a real friend to me personally, to the pro-life cause as a whole, and to all those who turned to him over many years for support, advice or assistance. The award is thoroughly deserved, and visiting him on the day of its announcement, I was privileged to be one of the first to call him "Sir Ken"!"

And Right to Life Vice Chair, John Cotter, said: "Ken has been a steady pair of hands on the tiller of Right to Life since it was first launched. All our members will be delighted by this recognition for the role that he has played, and will join with us in prayer for him at this time of ill-health."

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