News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

abortion-stormont-main_article_image.jpg
Niall Carson/PA Wire
UK News

It's a 'tragic day for unborn children': NI Catholic bishops lament legalisation of abortion

by Tola Mbakwe

The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 voted in at Westminster came into force at midnight.

It means women are legally allowed to terminate a pregnancy up to 28 weeks of the baby's life. Healthcare workers will also not be prosecuted.

The Catholic bishops of Northern Ireland said this legal framework has led "to potentially one of the most liberal and unregulated abortion regimes in the world".

"This is a tragic day for the unborn children who will now never bless our world with their unique and precious lives. It is also a sad day for our local democracy."

Aoife Moore/PA Wire
A rally in Dublin City centre to celebrate the eminent decriminalisation of abortion and gay marriage in Northern Ireland.

The legislation was designed by the Government to provide the legal framework for under-pressure civil servants to continue running public services in the region in the ongoing absence of powersharing.

However, during its passage through Parliament in the summer, opposition MPs bolted on amendments to the law to bring about the historic abortion and marriage reforms.

Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Martha Brown (left, grey t-shirt) with her partner Louise McCullough (right, black t-shirt) and equal marriage supporters at Maverick Bar, Belfast, celebrate the change to abortion and same sex marriage laws in Northern Ireland at 00:01.

Under the Act, the Government is also obliged to make regulations to extend same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland by 13 January.

The only way the law changes could have been halted ahead of the midnight deadline was if a new devolved executive had been in place before then.

That was also going to be a long shot. More than 1,000 days since powersharing imploded amid a row over a botched green energy scheme, recent months saw limited progress in efforts to resolve the raft of issues still preventing the DUP and Sinn Fein re-entering government together.

Niall Carson/PA Wire
Members of Pro Life take part in a photocall in the grounds of Stormont Parliament, Belfast, the Stormont Assembly will sit for the first time in two and half years later after it was recalled by MLAs wishing to protest at changes to Northern Ireland's abortion laws

The statement from the bishops continued: "For the past three months, with tens of thousands of others, we have been calling on our political representatives to restore the NI Assembly, not only to address the pressing economic, social, health, welfare and educational issues of these times, but especially also to debate and halt the Abortion legislation which was rushed through the Westminster Parliament in July 2019."

The Assembly did sit for the first time in over two and half years on Monday, after DUP members and several other anti-abortion unionists signed a recall petition to reconvene proceedings.

However, the members were unable to influence the law changes as the Assembly could not function properly in the absence of a ministerial executive.

NI Assembly TV/PA Wire
Handout video grab from NI Assembly TV showing a half empty debating chamber at the Stormont Assembly in Belfast, as it sat for the first time in two and half years after it was recalled by MLAs wishing to protest at changes to Northern Ireland's abortion laws.

The DUP's attempt to table legislation to halt the abortion reform fell at the first hurdle after outgoing speaker Robin Newton ruled that the bill could not be considered until a new speaker was elected - an appointment that was impossible without nationalist approval.

Sinn Fein boycotted proceedings while the SDLP walked out after making clear it would not participate in the election of a speaker.

DUP leader Arlene Foster has vowed to explore legal options to stop the liberalisation of abortion in the region.

Niall Carson/PA Wire
Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald (left) and Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill, with party MLA's, speaking to the media in Stormont Parliament buildings in Belfast as an attempt to restore devolution to Northern Ireland fails.

However, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald welcomes the law changes, branding the DUP's behaviour in the Assembly chamber a stunt.

"To describe as a 'stunt' the efforts of thousands of citizens from all sections of our community to make use of the democratic system to address an issue of such fundamental importance is deeply offensive," the statement adds.

"The unavoidable truth is that our locally elected representatives had the time and the power to prevent this draconian Westminster abortion legislation being introduced over the heads of local citizens but chose not to do so. It is the duty of citizens to hold their elected representatives accountable for the decisions they have made."

The statement also addresses their disapproval about the "redefinition of marriage".

They called on their locally elected representatives to bring together the Assembly to deal with the introduction of this legislation and the range of other issues such as welfare, health and education.

The bishops also asked people to pray for the situation saying: "...pray for a society which respects the equal right to life and care of a mother and her unborn child, with a compassion that welcomes every child as a unique and wonderful gift."

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate