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French woman’s petition asks Europe to support mothers facing pressure to abort

July 2, 2026 · 1 min read

Appearing before the European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions on June 23, French activist Charlène Bernard, who had launched a petition on maternity protection, recounted the ordeal that led her to undergo a forced abortion.

Bernard’s petition asks whether European institutions and member states are doing enough to protect women who wish to continue their pregnancies when they face pressure from partners, medical professionals, or difficult social circumstances.

Focusing on maternity protection and support for vulnerable pregnant women, her petition has drawn backing from pro-life civil society groups including the European Centre for Law and Justice as well as support across several political groups in Parliament, most notably the European People’s Party, the European Conservatives and Reformists, Patriots for Europe, and Europe of Sovereign Nations.

Her petition also lands in a French context that suggests the issue merits closer scrutiny. According to a 2024 IFOP survey , 29% of French women who underwent an abortion said they felt pressure to abort from the health professional they consulted. Applied to France’s 251,270 abortions in 2024, that would suggest on the…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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Paul Johnson

That 29% statistic from the IFOP survey really stuck with me—especially since our parish’s mothers’ group often hears from women here in Dallas who feel pressured by doctors to terminate, even when they don’t want to. How do we practically support these women when the very people meant to help them seem to push against their choice?

Nicholas Turner

Our Moms' Circle at St. Seraphim's in Denver heard similar stories last month—Sister Maria spoke about a woman in Aurora who was pressured at a clinic there. We’ve started contacting the diocesan office to coordinate with local pregnancy centers. Have you found any specific resources that actually work in Dallas?

Rebecca Smith

Our parish in Sydney had a similar case last year with a young mum from Parramatta who was pushed by her doctor. We ended up linking her with the local Life Choices centre and it made a real difference. Have you tried the Australian Pregnancy Support Services network? They’re pretty practical with follow-up care.