New series of pro-abortion ‘Masterclasses’ to be held in NUI Maynooth

Following hard on the heels of Ireland’s recently approved abortion legislation the Health Services Executive (HSE) Crisis Pregnancy Programme (formerly the Crisis Pregnancy Agency) has announced another series of masterclasses supposedly for the support of an unplanned pregnancies but which focuses on abortion under the title termination of pregnancy. 

The so-called masterclasses have been arranged in conjunction with the Department of Adult Education at NUI Maynooth.

The HSE is now under the direction of Tony O’Brien a former Chief Executive of the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA), which is an affiliate of International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), one of the largest abortion providers in the World.

Two of the masterclasse sessions 1 and 2, dealing with counselling and advanced counselling skills will be held in both Maynooth and Cork whilst sessions 3 and 4 dealing with terminations and ethics respectively will be held in Maynooth only

It is particularly distressing that these masterclasses are to be held in a University, which for many generations was renowned as a Catholic University and prepared young men for the priesthood.

A peaceful protest was held in Maynooth when the first series of masterclasses took place in 2011.    As the organisers refused to allow any of the pro-life people to attend the event, or even to get within any decent proximity of the meeting-room, it was then decided to enter the campus – carrying posters and placards – and circle the building peacefully three times.

That demonstration by pro-lifers consisted of an impressive crowd of young and old defenders of the unborn who stood on both sides of the main road that runs past an entrance to the National University of Ireland at Maynooth, Co. Kildare, for about two hours – in the sometimes very heavy rain.

Details of the classes are set out below

Masterclass 1

The Law and Crisis Pregnancy Counselling

18 October 2013, 10am – 4.30pm – Maynooth 28 February 2014, 10am – 4.30pm – Cork city This Masterclass will explore the complex area of law and crisis pregnancy with particular emphasis on minors. The legal responsibilities concerning crisis pregnancy issues will be covered while simultaneously recognising the need to provide the best care for the client. Jenny Bulbulia BL will address the legal issues and Anne McCarthy will facilitate the group to explore the implications of the law for their practice.

Masterclass 2

Advanced Counselling skills

25 October 2013, 10am – 4.30pm – Maynooth 24 January 2014, 10am – 4.30pm – Cork city This Masterclass provides an opportunity

to explore and practice counseling and therapeutic skills in crisis pregnancy with

a focus on boundaries, contract setting, trauma and informed decision making. Participants will build on the skill of listening deeply to the client’s needs and concerns while mindful of the legal, social and cultural context. Anne McCarthy, who leads the crisis pregnancy counseling skills course at NUI Maynooth, will lead the day.

Masterclass 3

Termination: Dealing with complex issues

21 February 2014, 10am – 4.30pm – Maynooth

The experience of termination of pregnancy is rarely if ever discussed by women or

by the wider society. Professionals will be offered an opportunity to explore and reflect on the complex issues concerning termination of pregnancy. Sherie de Burgh, One Family will present this Masterclass. Sherie has many years of experience

with clients regarding pregnancy and parenting and has considerable knowledge, compassion and empathy for all concerned.

Masterclass 4

Ethics and supervision

06 June 2014, 10am – 4.30pm – Maynooth

This Masterclass provides an opportunity to explore the complex dilemmas that working with personally distressing and culturally sensitive issues can raise. Professor Tim Bond, a leading writer in this field of ethics and counselling, will create a space for informed and open conversation to enhance participants’ understanding and to address issues encountered by practitioners in the field of crisis pregnancy counseling.

UK proposals on abortion counselling fraught with danger

There are currently two proposals before Parliament to alter the current status of abortion counselling in the UK.  The First, known as the Dorries/Field amendment, which is a seriously flawed life protection measure with the potential of banning all pro-life counselling. The second is a pro-abortion alternative tabled by Conservative MP Louise Mench which raises even more serious concerns than the Dorries/Field amendment. 
The Mench proposal is scheduled to come before Parliament on Thursday.

SPUC have issued briefings on both as follows. The say on the Dorries/Field amendment

There is a great deal of confusion and controversy over the pregnancy counselling amendment to the health bill (Health and Social Care Bill) being proposed by Mrs Nadine Dorries and Rt Hon. Frank Field. From the very outset, SPUC has expressed serious reservations about the amendment (see Pro-Life Times, p.1), and recent reports have deepened our concerns. At the heart of the matter are two key issues: one is the question of what the Dorries/Field amendments are seeking to do (and it is not at all clear what they are seeking to do), and the other is the question of whether Nadine Dorries and Frank Field are pro-life.

At one level the aim of the amendments is simple – to require GPs to offer pregnant women considering abortion the chance to have “independent” information, advice and counselling. But what will this consist of? Will the three elements (information, advice, counselling) be provided together, or separately? Who will the counsellors be? Will the information include where to obtain an abortion? Will it include sources of help to continue with a pregnancy? While Nadine Dorries and Frank Field have presented their aim as stopping BPAS and other abortion organisations from offering pregnancy counselling, their amendment would not in fact stop doctors referring women to abortion clinics for counselling as long as doctors mention independent counsellors too.

The second issue of confusion is whether Nadine Dorries and Frank Field are pro-life – in the simple sense of wanting to save unborn lives. They are not making this very evident. Nadine Dorries repeatedly stresses in press interviews and on her internet blog that she is “pro-choice”. She supports the Abortion Act. She said she “would hate to see a return to the dark days of back-street operations.“ She has also said:
“I'll say it again, no organisation which is paid for carrying out abortions and no organisation that thinks it's appropriate to bring God into a counselling session with a vulnerable woman, should be allowed anywhere near the counselling room.”
Some people think that she is just being clever. If so, this is a dangerous and foolish tactic. With powerful and well-resourced opponents in the pro-abortion lobby, she is liable to be held to account for such statements. For his part, Frank Field has refused to meet pro-life groups to discuss the proposals.

With regard to the Louise Mench proposal the aim of which according to herself is,
"to satisfy pro-choice... To make sure every pro-choice objection in the Dorries/Field amendment are answered"
"Counselling would have to include abortion advice (how, when, medical) so many (Christians) might opt out."
If they cannot offer neutral advice on abortions the shouldn't be counsellors, by definition they must explore all options."

The SPUC analysis of the Mench proposal can be found on this link

Accord; Catholic Marriage Advisory Council

‘Accord’ is the name of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ marriage counselling agency.  It used to be called the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council - and that’s what it was, and that’s what it did, in the past.   Today the organisation and its focus gives cause for concern. No doubt there is some good work done by members of the agency today, in advising and helping couples to prepare for marriage, and counselling married couples whose marriages are going through difficult times. But why the change of name?    

Over recent years, advice that has been handed out by the agency has not exactly been in keeping with Catholic teaching.  Is that why the name has been changed? 

I have personal knowledge, for instance, of a number of young couples that have participated in marriage-preparation courses offered by ‘Accord’.  These young couples have been quite frankly appalled and devastated by the information offered to them during such courses, in that such information was totally in opposition to Catholic teaching in relation to the sanctity of marriage, and commitment in marriage.

A newspaper account of the recent launch of the Annual Report of ‘Accord’ tells us that:

‘Asked if Accord was willing to offer counselling services to same-sex couples, Ms Barror [National Director of ‘Accord’] said: “At the moment we are open to everybody, but our expertise and our current focus is very much on the traditional married couple … We will embrace everybody but we will refer appropriately if it is outside our expertise.”’

Are the Irish Bishops aware of what they are supporting?