This prayerful event marks the anniversary of the implementation of the Abortion Act in April, 1968. We'll remember all unborn children, mothers and families affected by abortion. We'll pray our society will bring about the day when no child is unwanted, no woman unloved and the pressures which lead abortion no longer exist.
Register at: bit.ly/proliferosary25
Sr Andrea Fraile gave this powerful pro-life reflection at the national Stations of the Cross on Monday night.
She highlights how we must reflect Jesus' mercy and love in our message of life, particularly to those who are suffering, vulnerable and alone.
Sr Andrea Fraile is a member of the Sisters of the Gospel of Life based in Glasgow.
The national online Stations of the Cross is held each Monday in Lent at 7:45pm. Register at bit.ly/stations25
John Deighan highlights that in the Way of the Cross, despite the anguish of the suffering Christ, we can find hope, consolation and inspiration by anticipating His Resurrection and ultimate victory.
Watch below or on YouTube. John Deighan is the CEO of The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children. Visit spuc.org.uk
Part of the national online Stations of the Cross, held each Monday in Lent at 7:45pm. Register at bit.ly/stations25
Paul Atkin, the Pro-Life Officer of the Archdiocese, recently returned from a pilgrimage to Mexico City in homage to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Every year, millions of Catholics visit the shrine on the outskirts of the capital. Here is what he learned…
Tepeyac Hill is the major site of pilgrimage in the Americas
Tepeyac Hill, where the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego, is a huge site of pilgrimage. It is to that continent what Lourdes is to Europe. The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (below) has Mass on the hour, every hour, from 6am to 8pm. I was able to go to Mass and take time to pray before the miraculous tilma (cloak), which is displayed in a specially designed glass case. At the very top of Tepeyac Hill, there’s the Chapel of the Hill of Tepeyac – it is where the Virgin Mary actually appeared to Juan Diego.
The cloak worn by Juan Diego baffles scientists
The cloak can be viewed in the Basilica. The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, miraculously imprinted on the cloth, continues to baffle scientists and historians. The image has never faded and it shows no signs of deterioration after almost 500 years. Some of the image’s miraculous qualities are fascinating: for example, there are no brushstrokes on the cloak - the image appears to be a divine imprint, rather than the work of a human artist.
Mexico City is safer than you think
We saw loads of police officers at the main tourist points and there was one on every platform on the underground. The first two carriages of every train are reserved for women and young children. We didn’t feel unsafe at any time. We stayed at the Hotel Catedral in the centre of town where rooms start at about £70/night. Getting to and from the airport was easy with Welcome Pickups who provided an English speaking driver for about £35 from the airport to our hotel.
Our Lady of Guadalupe put an end to human sacrifice
I discovered that the appearance and image of Our Lady of Guadalupe contributed to the end of human sacrifice in violent Aztec culture and played a significant role in the conversion of millions of Mexicans to Catholicism. St Pope John Paul II made five visits to the Shrine declaring Our Lady of Guadalupe the Patroness of the Unborn and today we pray to her as an enduring reminder that every life is precious from conception to natural death.
It’s easy to get there
I fulfilled a long-held promise to Our Lady to visit the site of her miraculous apparition at Guadalupe, in Mexico City. While Rome and Lourdes are more practical to get to in this year of pilgrimage, it’s easier to get to than you might think, particularly if you combine it with a trip to the US. The Pilgrimage site is located in Mexico City with flights there from major US and European airlines. If you were visiting Florida it would be an easy add-on and UK nationals do not need a visa.
As I left the Basilica to head back to Scotland I had a renewed sense of the importance of defending the most vulnerable, particularly the unborn and their mothers. Our Lady of Guadalupe’s image inspires all who seek to uphold the dignity of life, and her intercession offers strength to the pro-life movement worldwide.
Paul Atkin, from the Archdiocesan Pro-Life Office, joined tens of thousands of pro-lifers in Washington DC for the recent March for Life.
The annual event is the largest pro-life gathering in the world.
It highlights the need to protect unborn children while advocating for policies that support both mothers and their children.
Paul said: “There was a strong Catholic presence, with numerous bishops, priests, religious orders, and laypeople taking part.
"Many carried banners, prayed the Rosary, and attended Masses and Eucharistic adoration in connection with the event."
He added: "What I remember most is that the event was like an annual Catholic reunion!
"There were lots of parishes and schools, led by their priests and nuns, who had travelled, sometimes for days, to be at the March.
Welcome to our new followers! We're so glad you're here.
We hope you were able to join us for the 2025 March for Life on Friday. Here's a recap of the awesome day where tens of thousands marched in our nation's capital to be a voice for the voiceless! pic.twitter.com/dypO87lK66
— March for Life (@March_for_Life) January 28, 2025
"The 'culture of life' is a vibrant part of the Church in America and it was heartening to witness and be part of."
This year’s march called for renewed efforts to expand support for women facing unplanned pregnancies, improve adoption services, and resist efforts to enshrine abortion access at the state and federal levels.
Participants voiced concerns about continued political and cultural battles over abortion laws, pledging to work toward a society where life is cherished and protected.
US Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic, told the crowd: “We march to live out the sacred truth that every single child is a miracle and a gift from God."
He said that it was the task of government to “make it easier for young moms and dads to afford to have kids, to bring them into the world, and to welcome them as the blessings that we know they are here at the March for Life”.
Paul also met with representatives of the Archdiocese of Washington to discuss pro-life issues and share ideas.
The UK March for Life 2025 is in London on Saturday 6 September 2025 and a bus always runs from Scotland. Contact Paul at the Archdiocesan Pro-Life Office for details: prolife@staned.org.uk
Thanks to everyone who attended the annual Pro-Life Chain in Lothian Road, Edinburgh, on Saturday.
The event is organised by The Society for Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) and it saw around 200 people gather as a peaceful witness to the lives of the unborn who are killed by abortion.
SPUC posted on Facebook: "A huge thank you to all pro-lifers who stood in defence of life yesterday at SPUC’s Edinburgh pro-life chain.
"The courage of our pro-life community is truly inspiring and together we will make abortion unthinkable!"
The day began with recitation of The Rosary at Sacred Heart Church in nearby Lauriston Street, led by Fr Gerard Hatton (St Patrick's Church in The Cowgate) and joined by the Marian Franciscans, who travelled from Dundee for the event.
Paul Atkin, from the Archdiocesan Pro-Life Office said: "The Pro-Life Chain reminds us of the infinite dignity of every human person from the first moment of their conception.
"The Church is committed to protecting the weakest and most vulnerable people in society who are created in the image and likeness of God.
"In Scotland today, unborn children and their mothers are the most threatened members of society when even their right to life is taken away.
"It was great to see so many Catholics from all over Scotland supporting this peaceful witness to the goodness of life."
Archbishop Leo Cushley highlighted the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act in his pro-life reflection at our Lenten Stations of the Cross.
He said: "We want people to debate always with charity, but there always needs to be an honesty about what is said in our exchanges with people and I hope and pray that that will continue."
Watch the full reflection below or on YouTube.
"I am struck to say something about the new law that is coming into place on 1st April (2024).
I'm not sure that it's a good thing at all, it seems to take away some of the important things that are good for our society: the ability to speak honestly, to speak kindly, to speak clearly, to have a reasonable debate about all sorts of important matters, and I for one wouldn’t like to see us closing down debate on important topics.
One of those topics for us is the topic of life and of the freedom that God's gift of life gives to all of us.
Of course we want people to debate with charity, always with charity, but there always needs to be an honesty about what is said in our exchanges with people, and I hope and pray that that will continue.
I mention this because of the context that we find ourselves in praying for life and for a respect for life, and for a greater love and charity towards those who feel the urge or the wish, or who feel under pressure to have their children aborted and for the children themselves.
And it remains a concern for Christians since the very first times, the very earliest times, and so we include that in our prayers.
And it's also a good time to talk about it during Lent and as we prepare for Easter, because Easter is to some great extent, about freedom, it’s about freedom from sin, freedom from death and it's also about a freedom that allows us to do something more.
Freedom is not the ability to do whatever we want. Freedom is really about serving God and about being able to do what the Lord wills for us.
And it seems that sometimes this is overlooked or forgotten and I would like us to be able to pray for a renewed sense of the true purpose of our freedom and that is to serve God, to love each other and to be happy with him in Paradise."
This reflection was broadcast on 25 March 2024 as part of our Lenten Stations of the Cross series.
Fr Jonathan Whitworth, of St Thomas the Apostle Parish, Neilston (Diocese of Paisley) describes how we can be tempted to put down our Cross and blend back into the crowd.
But if we remain steadfast in prayer, and with the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we shall bear fruit in courageous service to the truth.
This reflection was part of our Lent Stations of the Cross. Join us online each week at 7:45pm. Register at bit.ly/lentstations
Students from across Archdiocese (main pic) recently attended 'Call to Courage', SPUC's annual Youth Conference in Stone, Staffordshire.
Several of them were sponsored by the Archdiocesan Pro-Life Office to attend the event.
Tobias Bailey, below, a member of the Catholic Society at the University of Stirling spoke at the conference.
In 2023 his Society was banned by the university's student union for posting their support for a peaceful prayer initiative organised by 40 Days for Life.
Tobias was part of a campaign to stop the censorship and was supported by the Archdiocesan Pro-Life Office and SPUC Scotland.
It's a fantastic event ... you learn how to put into practice the Church's teaching that all life begins at conception and that we are loved and valued by God from that first moment."
The student union realised their ban was unjustified and reversed their decision.
"This year's event was a sell out with over 200 young people attending from all over the UK," said Margaret Akers, below, a parishioner at St Patrick's, Edinburgh, and SPUC Scotland's Services Co-ordinator.
"It was great to see record numbers of young people engaged and collaborating together.
"As a graduate of the University of Edinburgh I know how important the event is to nurture young pro-life leaders for the future."
Margaret spoke to the Conference about the dangers of 'pills by post' or DIY abortion at home.
She warned that this dangerous method is now being used to remove any legal basis for abortion.
The SPUC Youth Conference grows both in numbers and influence year on year, and this year was no exception, with 200 young people from around the UK (and some from Ireland!) gathering to be empowered to fight against the culture of death and hopelessness, and for life! 👏… pic.twitter.com/G6d2DUOQXE
— SPUC Pro-Life (@spucprolife) February 26, 2024
"People are actually proposing DIY abortion up to birth" she said: "This could be the biggest change to abortion since it was legalised in 1967."
Also attending were members of Edinburgh University's Life Society (main image).
President Sophia Tait, from West Lothian (main pic centre), said: “This is my third time attending the SPUC youth conference.
"I always leave this event feeling both challenged and inspired to defend the Church’s teaching that life begins at conception, and to help build a culture of life in our world that reflects the inherent value of every human person.”