Attendees at the 2018 SPUC Youth Conference were urged to use all the information they had learnt to speak up for the unborn - to be pro-life heroes.
On 9-11 March, nearly 150 young people gathered at the Yarnfield Park Conference Centre to hear from an array of expert speakers and to network and socialise with like-minded people.
All the videos are available here, and the photos here.
Expert knowledge
This year, there was a focus on equipping young people with the latest research on life issues. Prof Priscilla Coleman, an academic psychologist and Professor of Human Development at Bowling Green State University in Ohio who has published extensively on the psychological effects of abortion, gave a talk called "Abortion and Women’s Mental and Relational Health." This was complemented by a presentation by Prof Patricia Casey, Professor of Psychiatry at University College Dublin and Consultant Psychiatrist MMU Hospital, Dublin, who spoke on abortion and mental health from the clinical perspective, as well as giving a timely insight into the situation in Ireland.
Clockwise from right: Prof Casey, Roger Kiska, Prof Coleman, Prof Paton
Equipping for battle
Ever popular SPUC speaker Fiorella Nash also equipped attendees with the knowledge to counter some of the more bizarre pro-choice arguments, with her intriguingly titled "Hijackers, Parasites and Comatose Violinists." A panel on pro-life apologetics also gave delegates the chance to ask experts how to tackle any difficult questions they might face in everyday life.
Other life issues were also explored, with Roger Kiska of the Christian Legal Centre presenting on the rights of conscience for medical professionals. Prof David Paton gave a very useful talk on euthanasia, bringing much needed clarity and in depth research to this emotive debate.
Be a defender of the unborn
As well as imparting valuable information, speakers also inspired the attendees to go out and make a difference. Louise Grant of SPUC Scotland spoke of what it means to be a hero, and the different ways in which people can get involved with the movement and be pro-life heroes. Ben of March for Life also gave a stirring presentation on how we can not stand by while the injustice of abortion is going on around us. We can no longer be bystanders, but defenders, he said. "Be a defender of the unborn."
Finally, Aisling Hubert closed the conference by linking the pro-life battle to other human rights causes. Like the civil rights movement, it is a winnable battle, she said. ""If we are willing to count the cost, we will see the end of abortion," she concluded to cheers from the audience.
Not all work!
Of course, there was also time for fun. The quiz on Friday night included the less usual rounds of a sleeping bag race and facts about Donald Trump, and the traditional ceilidh was as lively as ever.
One attendee wrote in to say: "Thank you so much for hosting the event! It was extremely informative and fun. I had a great time and it was wonderful to meet lots of like-minded young people who were all taking a stand for life."
All the videos are available here, and the photos here.