Power struggle splits pro-life movement as SPUC chief refutes MPs' accusations

Smeaton denies playing 'Vatican politics' with political lobby group Bowman talks exclusively to the Catholic Herald about why she quit
By Simon Caldwell THE SOCIETY for the Protection of Unborn Children is battling for its credibility after a vicious power struggle and a cascade of top-level resignations precipitated an angry backlash from pro-life politicians.
Political director Phyllis Bowman, chairman Alan Rabjohns, parliamentary officer Chris Whitehouse and five others of the 12-member executive quit the society because of a row over the leadership of national director John Smeaton.
Mr Smeaton, 48, was accused of turning the. society away from its remit of campaigning in Parliament for the right to life, wishing instead to turn Spuc into a "Pontifical Council for the Family UK" by championing the .Vatican cause on the family, population control, artificial contraception and sex education, which, it was claimed, would risk alienating many non-Catholics within Spuc and Parliament.
An attempt by the executive to shift Mr Smeaton sideways and so pave the way for a new national director failed when the National Council voted against the recommendations of an executive sub committee report on the structure of Spuc by 51 votes to 12, even after they had heard speeches in its favour from Tory MP Ann Widdecombe and Lord Alton.
This prompted the resignations which in turn provoked a furious letter from pro-life MI's and peers to Spuc branches to inform them they had lost confidence in the society.
Mrs Bowman, in her late seventies and working her notice until the end of the month after spending 33 years with Spuc, broke her silence to speak to The Catholic Herald. "I have found the whole thing distressing and, as you can imagine, I am very worried about the cause," she said. "The report was produced with the simple aim of how best to take the society into the millennium. The recommendation was that John should concentrate on those things in which he is primarily interested, like the family and sex education.
"He launched a colossal campaign claiming there was a conspiracy to get him sacked when nothing of the sort was happening," she added. "If there was a conspiracy, it was against Phyllis Bowman."
She and others had invited the council to "back them or sack them" over recommendations which would have allowed Mr Smeaton to keep his £33,000 annual salary, but to run an organisation called Parents Advisory Group Europe from home. Mrs Bowman would also have had to step down.
Mr Smeaton, a Catholic, vigorously denies playing "Vatican politics" and said he helped to develop Spuc Muslims and Spuc Evangelicals. "Our policy is exactly what it has been for three decades. The focus of our battle is ever on the parliamentary fight to uphold the rights of the unborn child," he said. Paul Tully, Spuc's information officer who is now its deputy national director, financial director and general secretary, said: "There are clearly those Who are unhappy with Johri leadership of the society.
"One of the frustrations we have is a lack of any specific criticism or specific explanation of the criticisms which have been made. The charge of a change of direction is simply not true."
Others within Spuc claim that any quietening in Parliamentary activities was a result of advice from Mr Whitehouse who had warned against lobbying MPs for change because the current prospects of success were not only remote but could also have been counterproductive.
Nevertheless, the resignations have left Spuc stripped of some of its most experienced lobbyists and could create a situation in which its £1.1m annual income from direct mail and White Flower collections will be sorely hit.
Some claim that unless goodwill is restored soon, the very existence of the society may be in danger. One source told The Catholic Herald that staff are still waiting to be paid last month's wages.
The politicians' letter will undoubtedly cause harm. Drafted by Ann Widdecombe and also signed by Lord Alton, the Duke of Norfolk, Lord Stallard, Baroness Knight and MPs Nicholas Winterton, Ann Winterton, Martin Smyth, Ronnie Feam, Julian Brazier, David Amess and Jim Dobbin, it reads: "We note the vast majority of the funds... is given by individuals believing it will be channelled into the political and Parliamentary fight here in Westminster.
"It is clear from the priorities of your current national director, and the contempt for Parliamentarians that he has shown by not informing us that individuals with whom we have worked in some cases for over 30 years have resigned, that such funds may not be used for the purposes for which they were ostensibly raised.
"We question the probity of this situation and will be sharing our concern with others in a position to take appropriate action to ensure that donations to the political fight are used for that purpose."
It is rumoured that Spuc was so outraged at the charge of misappropriating funds that it considered legal advice against the group, but now seeks to reassure them of its intentions at a special meeting.
But to fill the void left by the resignations, Spuc is said to be considering contracting a firm of political consultants, among them Keyturn Solutions, which ironically is headed by former Tory MP Irvine Patnick, who not only voted against David Alton's 1988 Private Member's. Bill but who also voted three times for abortion up to birth for the disabled, and for experiments on human embryos.
At the root of the problems is a huge row between Mr Smeaton and Mrs Bowman, who groomed him as her successor for years. Mrs Bowman, a pnal dame and a convert to Caholicisn from atheism, stooCdown as director two years go but continued in her poliical capacity, a role she aimed to relinquish after the nextGeneral Election while groming Vlartin Casey for that ob.
Mrs Bowman claims late last year Mr !rneaton began moves to forc her out of her post. She said that with the help of executve menber Dr Margaret Whit, a "kangaroo court" was stated agaiast her, to which she vs not admitted, shortly beforeshe fell seriously ill after visit te India. While in intenive came, it is claimed her tie was downgraded.
On her raw, the sination became frauglt and factions attempted to Iternattly bar Mr Smeatoi then Mrs Bowman fann Ihyllis Bowman Hose, the Spuc headquarters iWestnanster.
Tensions andrecrimiations eventually cased dilisions throughout thesocietywhich led to the saking af one member frorthe Clipham branch and a police being called to remove aaother member, AleaKing, worn a Spuc council meeting_ The bad atosphet also caused seven e.employees to write last weelto the ouncil to complain abut the treat ment of "diss members of staff, whoi,hey chimed, had seemingll been disciplined merel for raising grievances or fr rnakhg criticisms. Thegroup also supported the tter fram the Parliamentarias.
Editorial Cement—p7