Events to mark anniversary of Abortion Act

The 43rd anniversary of the Abortion Act will be marked by a number of events in London this Wednesday. Campaigning group Christian Concern has booked adverts on buses to highlight the number of abortions that have taken place. The group will also be holding a Vigil outside Parliament and hosting a national Service of Lament, led by the former Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali. Blood Money, a documentary on the American abortion industry is also being premiered on the day.

Since the 1967 Act, more than seven million abortions have taken place in Britain, with more than 200,000 taking place in 2009 alone.
However, a poll undertaken last weekend by ComRes revealed that nearly one-third of all people (30%) say that they think fewer than 20,000 abortions take place in Britain each year, and one in ten people (10%) say they think 20,001-50,000 abortions take place. A further 41% say they do not know the figure. Only 3% estimated a figure between 150,001 and 250,000. In the 18-24 age group, 45% polled believe fewer than 20,000 abortions take place each year - one tenth of the real picture!
 
To help highlight the hidden reality of the situation, Christian Concern has booked adverts on buses around central London.
 
In a statement Christian Concern says it believes that: "MPs and Lords who voted in the 1967 Act never imagined that within four decades seven millon babies would have been aborted, or, that the reasons for abortion would have been so relaxed over the years."
 
Andrea Minichiello Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, said: "As this survey reveals, there is widespread ignorance in our nation as to the scale of abortion. On the 43rd anniversary of the Abortion Act, through these adverts, acts of witness and lament, we aim to provide individuals, the Church and our nation with an opportunity to stop and think about the wide ranging implications of an act that has affected so many families in this country. For too long abortion has been a taboo subject, a situation that only compounds the problems that abortion brings. It is time for society to face up to the hidden scale and consequences of abortion"

A documentary on the abortion industry in the United States, is premiering in London on Wednesday evening. Blood Money, which features interviews with former clinic employees and abortion patients, will be screened at the Notting Hill Coronet.

The film examines the history of abortion in America, from the Roe v Wade ruling in 1973, to the creation of abortion clinics, the denial of when life begins and the devastating effects abortion has on women. The hard-hitting film – narrated by Alveda King, grand-daughter of the civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King – has been made by an anti-abortion campaigner, David K Kyle. His interviews with Carol Everette, who used to run abortion clinics in Dallas and is now a pro-life speaker, are particularly poignant.

The film-maker, David K Kyle, said he hopes the documentary will encourage people to become more involved in pro-life activities. "People are making millions upon millions of dollars off the murdering of innocent babies. We want to motivate people to do something, even people in the pro-life community."

The screening is being organised by the London 40 Days for Life team that is keeping a prayer vigil outside the Marie Stopes clinic in central London from September 22 to October 31 in parallel with similar vigils all over the world.

The film starts at 6.30pm on October 27 and tickets are on sale at £10. For more details see: www.40daysforlife.com/London

A copy of the film can be purchased at:  www.bloodmoneyfilm.com/

For further information on the Christian Concern campaign,see: www.chooselifecampaign.org