Family & Life

The Witness Tour, featuring Kathy Sparks and Rebecca Kiessling - - 12/11/2007

The Witness Tour, featuring Kathy Sparks and Rebecca Kiessling - Bringing the truth about abortion to over 50,000 college students

Ultrasound is Ireland’s pro-life student network whose aim is to create awareness about abortion and related issues on college campuses across the country. Two years ago, we brought American abortion-survivor Gianna Jessen to Ireland on our 8 day Revelation Tour, throughout which we visited 6 colleges around the country. This year, during the month of November, we are conducting a similar tour – The Witness Tour – which will likewise reach over 50,000 college students across 5 universities with a pro-life message.

This pro-life blitz of colleges has in the past gained the attention of thousands of students and promises to do the same this year. New materials have been designed and printed by the Ultrasound network and are intended specifically for students. These materials include leaflets, posters, information booklets, stickers, t-Shirts and free pro-life wristbands for all the students. This year the Tour Team will be joined by two American speakers, ex-abortion worker Mrs Kathy Sparks and Mrs Rebecca Kiessling, who was conceived through a brutal rape. Both women have truly remarkable stories to tell.

Kathy Sparks worked as an assistant in the Hope Abortion Centre in Illinios where she participated in over 300 abortions. Kathy speaks extensively about her experiences in the clinic and how they affected the girls she treated, herself, and other members of the clinic staff. She reveals the hidden secrets of the abortion industry, sharing first-hand accounts of exactly what happens when a woman enters an abortion clinic. She knows how staff are trained to lie, manipulate and exploit vulnerable women and shares that after a suicide attempt, she began to look more closely at her work in the abortion clinic. Today she runs a crisis pregnancy service in America and has many speaking engagements at international events.

Rebecca Kiessling is our second tour guest. Mrs Kiessling was conceived through a violent rape and speaks about the right to life of those who have rapist fathers. In her testimony, Rebecca elaborates on the oft-repeated statements that abortion should definitely be legal in the cases of rape and incest. Although children conceived through rape have become utterly defenceless in a society which mistakenly believes abortion is the answer, Rebecca makes us confront the reality of the ‘exception’ that would have taken her life. A keynote speaker at many events in America, Rebecca is pleased to have the opportunity to share her story with Irish students.

The Witness Tour will visit 5 Irish universities over an 5 day period. They are Dublin City University, NUI Maynooth, Galway/Mayo Institute of Technology, University College Cork and University of Limerick. The tour will include 20 members of the Ultrasound tour team who will be working to promote the pro-life message on campus during the day. The team will also take the opportunity to invite students to attend the testimonies of both Kathy Sparks and Rebecca Kiessling in the evening. The times and venues of these talks are listed on a page accompanying this press statement.

Both Rebecca and Kathy are available for a limited number of interviews. If you would like to arrange one you can do so by phone or email at the contact details below. Please respond as early as you can so as we can arrange both Rebecca and Kathy’s interview schedule efficiently.

For further information contact Eoghan de Faoite on 01 8730463 or on 087 6524935

The Witness Tour – featuring Kathy Sparks, former abortion worker and Rebecca Kiessling, conceived through rape

Monday 12th November: Dublin City University – HG20 @ 7pm.

Tuesday 13th November: NUI Maynooth - John Hume 3 @ 7pm

Wednesday 14th November:Galway/Mayo Institute of Technology, Room 903

Thursday 15th November: University College Cork – Boole 3 @ 7pm

Monday 19th November: University of Limerick – Room Jean Monet DGO16 @ 6.30pm

Organiser: Annette Rougheen
Contact Number: 01 8730463 or 087 6524935
Email Address: eilyg@campus.ie