Abortion hitting the headlines again
Abortion has been hitting the headlines again in Northern Ireland.
Human Fertilisation & Embryology Bill (from the Evangelical Alliance)
In July an amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill was tabled which, if passed, would extend the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland. The HFE Bill, which already covers many other controversial issues like how and when embryos can be used for research purposes; whether unborn babies have an automatic right to a father; and also the development of animal-human hybrid embryos, will be debated again at Westminster in the coming weeks.
If this amendment is passed the law on abortion here would change dramatically where currently termination of pregnancy is allowed only to preserve the life of the mother. In England and Wales in 2007 there were almost 200,000 abortions, representing one in four pregnancies.
Attempting to extend the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland by an amendment to the HFE Bill threatens to undermine our own local political structures. Earlier this year our local political parties jointly wrote to all MPs at Westminster requesting that no attempt be made to use the HFE Bill to introduce the 1967 Abortion Act here. The four leaders of the largest Christian denominations in Northern Ireland have also, in a letter to all MPs, supported the political parties in their assertion that the law on abortion here should be a matter for debate and decision at the Northern Ireland Assembly. Even without this opposition it is common practice for Government to consult with all interested parties before making significant changes to legislation here.
In opposing this move the Church and community here have a vital role to play in supporting single parent families and those who are desperate in the face of difficult unwanted pregnancies. Northern Ireland's current position gives its people a unique opportunity to show the rest of the UK that they can care compassionately and effectively for women in need, without resorting to abortion.
In Northern Ireland the Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety has been developing guidance to explain the law relating to termination of pregnancy in Northern Ireland and how it relates to good clinical practice. The guidance has been developed following a Judicial Review by the Family Planning Association.
Note:
The Evangelical Alliance was founded in 1846 and is the oldest alliance of evangelical Christians in the world. The Alliance is the largest body serving evangelical Christians in the UK, and has a membership including denominations, churches, organisations and individuals. In its formative years the Alliance particularly stood for the victims of religious persecution and enabled evangelicals from different denominations to work together.
As part of a movement ‘uniting to change society' the Alliance promotes unity and truth, acts as an evangelical voice to the state, society and the wider church, and works collaboratively with Alliance members and other evangelicals, to present Christ credibly as good news for spiritual and social transformation. The Alliance speaks on behalf of its members and represents evangelical concerns to Government, the National Assemblies, the media and key decision-makers. In resourcing its members and encouraging Christians to fully engage in their communities as responsible citizens, the Alliance strives to make evangelical truths publicly accessible.