In response to the decision by the House of Commons to bypass the law in Northern Ireland which protects unborn children and their mothers from abortion the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children has expressed its strongest disapproval describing the move as underhand and an affront to the rule of law.
“The government has bowed to the pressure of pro-abortion extremists in permitting them to hijack a Bill intended to help reinstate the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland and use it to push pro-abortion sentiments on the province”, said Antonia Tully Director of Campaigns at SPUC.
She continued, “The capitulation now means that the Secretary of State must issue guidance to senior officers of all Northern Ireland departments in relation to abortion and marriage.
“Liam Gibson, Northern Ireland officer of SPUC said that “The grave concern is that we may see guidance which wildly distorts actual human rights instruments which are founded on the equal right of all persons to be protected by the law.
“It is a slap in the face to the people of Northern Ireland to see measures introduced through the back door with no respect for our democratic process. We are fully aware that this cannot change the current law, but it is another attempt to pressure the province into capitulating to a determined pro-abortion lobby.
“It makes a mockery of a Bill which was supposedly intended to help re-establish the devolved institutions, but now smuggles in confusing provisions that make no sense. Any guidance is meaningless in the face of the rule of law which must be upheld.
“The devolved governance of Northern Ireland is crucially important. We do not need and do not want politicians who are not accountable to the people here, dictating to us about matters which have rightly been devolved to Stormont. Abortion is an emotive issue and one that elicits strong opinions. That makes it even more important that it is addressed by our own elected representatives.
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“Democratic accountability is central to the devolution settlement arising from the peace process. If MPs really care about peace and stability in Northern Ireland, they cannot simply impose their will on us whenever it suits them. By voting to bypass our laws which protect unborn children and their mothers MPs are sending the message that Westminster does not genuinely believe in devolution and the right of Northern Ireland to govern itself. Civil servants cannot issue guidance to create new laws and any attempt to do so will be most definitely vigorously opposed by SPUC.”
LifeNews Note: Courtesy of SPUC. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children is a leading pro-life organization in the United Kingdom.