A NEW support group for women forced to consider abortion for any reason will be launched by Archbishop John Bathersby in Brisbane next weekend.
The launch will complement a wider ranging archdiocesan initiative being proposed to support mothers with vulnerable pregnancies.
Pregnancy Crisis Inc (PCI) has grown out of Brisbane couple Alan and Patti Camp’s determination to tackle Australia’s 90,000-plus annual abortion rate and to help the poor.
Mrs Camp, who is president of the new organisation, said PCI, with its prayer support from archdiocesan prayer groups and Australian religious congregations, was believed to be the first prayer-based group of its kind.
Women who had been considering abortion have already been assisted since PCI was formed in August and support group training was completed last week, Mrs Camp said.
The group intends to establish prayer and education groups within Catholic high schools throughout Australia to encourage respect for all human life especially the unborn.
Queensland Bioethics Centre director Ray Campbell congratulated Mrs and Mrs Camp for their commitment, noting that “well organised support for vulnerable pregnant women who want to continue with their pregnancy has been lacking in Brisbane”.
Mrs Camp said PCI, which has a growing membership, aimed to provide a range of services to support women experiencing vulnerable pregnancies.
“Depending on individual needs this could range from regular visits for a coffee and a chat to arrangements for crisis accommodation,” she said.
“The St Vincent de Paul Society has agreed to provide baby packs for the first six months of the child’s life in cases where the mother or family is impoverished.
“However, PCI will provide support to mothers as long as they need it to get on their feet.”
Mrs Camp said the group would be following Mother Teresa’s charism to see Jesus in the poorest of the poor.
“The little ones – the unborn – are the poorest of the poor in Australia.”
Our Lady of Guadalupe is patroness of PCI.
An address on the charism of Blessed Mother Teresa will be given at the PCI launch next Saturday at Legion House in Fortitude Valley.
For more details about PCI support services contact Patti Camp via email at tf-a@bigpond.com
