Cambridge Medical Ethics Forum

I paid a brief visit to Cambridge yesterday evening to give a talk to the Catholic Medic Ethics Forum at the Chaplaincy. The debate in the taxi from Cambridge station to Fisher House was almost more animated than the discussion after my talk, as the driver insisted on quizzing me about 'this view that women have to have as many children as possible and sit at home with them. Then when the kids grow up, sit at home with the grandchildren.'

I did my best to explain the Church's teachings and battled the feeling that nothing I said would make any difference. By the end, however, he sounded slightly embarrassed about bringing up the subject in the first place, perhaps because he had not expected me to argue with him. Good to know that none of the Church's other teachings - the divinity of Christ, the Resurrection of the body etc - are remotely problematic, since I never get questioned about them by members of the public.

It felt surprisingly normal to be back in the oh-so-familiar library where I spent so much time as a student and I was impressed by the group who turned up. I was talking about abortion, the law, the Church's position, conscientious objection and common arguments in the abortion debate. There was time for questions afterwards and some informal chat before a friend dropped in to take me back to her house for a bite of supper and an early night.