Precious Life have welcomed the news from the European “ONE OF US” initiative that over 1 million signature petitions have been collected in support of protecting human life from conception.
Precious Life officially launched the ONE OF US Campaign in Northern Ireland in June at the Northern Ireland Assembly, where politicians from across the political divide came together to sign the petition. Since then, the pro-life has been collecting signatures from across Northern Ireland.
ONE OF US is a European grassroots initiative supported by pro-life groups from different countries throughout Europe. The movement is seeking to gain 1,500,000 petition signatures by 1st November 2013, requesting the European Parliament to recognise that life begins at conception. The campaign will be taken forward using the vehicle of a European Citizens’ Initiative which is a newly established legal instrument which allows citizens across the EU to propose legislation.
Director of Precious Life, Bernadette Smyth said, “We’ve had a great response to the ONE OF US Campaign in Northern Ireland. We welcome the amazing news that 1,001,192 signatures have already been gathered across Europe. The goal of the ONE OF US campaign is to greatly advance the protection of human life from conception across Europe. The second goal of the initiative is to stop organisations like Marie Stopes International receiving millions of pounds of European funds.”
The petition has already gained the support of churches, politicians, members of the European Parliament and civil society leaders throughout Europe.
Pope Francis gave his blessing to the ONE OF US Campaign when he praised efforts to secure legal protection for human beings at their earliest stages of life. Speaking at St. Peter’s Basilica, the Holy Father said, “I invite everyone to stay focused on the important issue of respect for human life, from the moment of conception …I am pleased to recall the petition to support the ‘One of Us’ initiative to ensure legal protection to the embryo, protecting every human being from the first moment of its existence.”
Sunday 22nd September has been designated as a special ONE OF US day in Europe when a joint collection of signatures will be organised in all countries of the European Union.
Bernadette Smyth concluded, “Precious Life has produced a postcard to promote the ONE OF US Campaign. We are distributing thousands of these across Northern Ireland. We will be out on 22nd September in a major push to collect signatures. We will also continue collecting petition signatures during our ‘Street Outreach’ and outside churches every weekend until 1st November. If you would like to help us promote the campaign, please contact me on 02890278484. The petition can also be signed online at oneofus.eu.”
