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Cardinal George Pell will tonight announce the creation of the Centacare Pregnancy Support Program. The announcement will be made at a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Pell at St Mary’s Cathedral commencing at 7.30 pm.

 

Cardinal Pell has asked Centacare to develop the program to provide support to pregnant women who are contemplating abortion. The program will be available not only to women but to their partners and families. Cardinal Pell emphasised the importance of a program of this kind as it can offer assistance to all women, including those who feel that they have no one to turn to for assistance.

 

Through the program, expectant mothers and, if required, their families will be provided with social, emotional and practical support to enable them to continue with their pregnancy to full term.

 

Cardinal Pell says: “Women need real alternatives to abortion, and while the Catholic Church provides many family services, this new Pregnancy Support Program is targeted to meet the specific needs of women contemplating abortion.

 

“We want to respond to the needs of women facing an unexpected or difficult pregnancy by providing them with life affirming options.

 

“This will be a professional counselling and support service to women and their partners and families, as well as a referral service for accommodation and appropriate ongoing support services. Obviously spiritual help will be offered if it is requested.”

 

Centacare’s program will be available to women and their families in Sydney. Similar church-based programs exist in New Zealand and Scotland. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is considering ways and means to offer wider support to pregnant women across Australia.

The Centacare Pregnancy Support Program will be available from Tuesday 4 January 2005 on (02) 9390 5366.

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