Last term I interviewed Emma Hansford, chair of Choose Life on campus and a volunteer counsellor for Life in York. Abortion is a very emotive subject for everyone. Choosing what to do over an unplanned pregnancy is a very difficult decision. The decision can be more difficult when additional pressures such as rape, the possibility of a special needs child being born, or under age sex are involved. Life is not oblivious to such difficulties but tries to highlight the dignity of human life created by God. Life is not a militant pre-life organisation. Life instead seeks to raise awareness but also help those making difficult decisions. Life has 140 counselling centres across the country offering pre- and post-abortion counselling. They have a baby hospice, baby clothes, cots, and even have a number of homes available for women who are made homeless through choosing to have their baby.

If a woman arrives fearing she is pregnant she is offered a free pregnancy test. If she chooses, Emma told me, she is then able to have non-judgemental and non-persuasive counselling. Life is aware that one of the problems that cause many women to suffer after an abortion is the feeling that they did not possess the decision. Often in such a situation, a decision needs to be made quickly. The woman may be very emotional and she is given very little time and space to come to her decision. In addition others, the man, her parents, doctor, all feel they know what is best for her. Life therefore tries its hardest to try to give the woman the fullest information with a compassionate approach and the time to reach her decision and make her choice without any influence. As a Christian, Emma has found the whole experience has changed her too. She explained to me that she had always viewed right and wrong in a very black and white manner. Scripture was very clear, and it was difficult to view it differently. She reflected on her experience, however, and told me that she felt for many of the women. She felt particularly for the young girls, and for the women who no longer had sex with their husbands, but instead had had an affair and had consequently fallen pregnant. It seemed to Emma that these were very difficult decisions, and to choose the “right” way would mean a great deal of courage that would take more than many of us have.

The post-abortion counselling is also very difficult. Life estimate that about 40% of women who have an abortion will experience some sort of trauma afterwards. The procedure itself can be very invasive, sometimes leaving a woman with very little feeling of dignity. It can also occasionally leave women with infections, or make them infertile. The feeling of loss can be immense, and a feeling that the decision was somehow made by someone else or that she was not fully informed can leave a woman with very difficult feelings. They need time and space to talk about their emotions. Emma told me how sometimes women just felt they needed to grieve and that it was difficult for others to understand.

I then asked her how we in Christian churches could help. The churches seem largely united on the issue. They are very good at telling us what to do and what not to but sometimes are less active at actually caring. Emma feels that the churches do not always show compassion to those who have often made the “right” decision. How many single mothers for example do you see warmly welcomed into the community? She felt that we often feel the need to take the role of the Spirit and condemn rather than letting the Spirit carry out its role and showing God's love and compassion. Who are we after all to throw the first stone? Yes we can guide, but we cannot judge; that is the role of God.

Choose Life on campus is a distinct and separate organisation, and as such occupies quite a different role. Choose Life is an awareness raising organisation. Emma told me that her work involves distributing leaflets, providing a voice at Freshers Fair, participating in debates and campaigning against the abortion fund. If you are interested in getting involved, Emma feels that this is a key area on campus. The abortion fund is up for review next term and it is necessary if you feel it should be changed to attend the meeting. If you e-mail socs223, she will advise you of the details and keep you up to date of where you can get involved.

Kate Adams

If you wish to get involved with Life nationally or become a volunteer counsellor you can write to the headquarters at Life House, Newbold Terrace, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 4EA. If you ever need the number, Life in York is open 11am to 1pm, Monday, Wednesday and Saturday on (01904) 651030, or the national number available between 9am and 9pm every day on 01926 311511.