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17 / 05 / 2008 - Precious Life welcome church leaders` letter to MPs urging no extension of abortion to N. Ireland
Precious Life have welcomed the statement from church leaders in Northern Ireland to Westminster MPs urging them to vote against the extension of the 1967 Abortion Act.
In a letter to all MPs, the leaders of the four main churches in Northern Ireland said any legislation on abortion should be decided by the Assembly. They said it was especially right they should, in the light of the abortion debate last October when all parties expressed their opposition to the extension of the 1967 Abortion Act to the North.
The letter was signed by Primate of All Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh; Rev. Ray Cooper, the president of the Methodist Church in Ireland; Rt. Rev. John Finlay, the moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland; and Archbishop Alan Harper, the Church of Ireland (Anglican) Primate.
"We feel it is important for the government to respect the wishes of the people of Northern Ireland and allow locally elected MLAs to take the lead on this issue" they said.
The church leaders added: "We would ask that, on this issue, MPs take account of the Northern Ireland political parties, and indeed of the people of Northern Ireland, by voting against any amendments concerning abortion legislation in Northern Ireland."
"Last year, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland indicated that he felt the Northern Ireland Assembly is the best forum for discussion of these questions.
"We wholeheartedly agree with this position and ask that you make every effort to ensure that any future changes to the law on abortion in Northern Ireland are solely the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly," the churchmen wrote to MPs.
Parliament is currently debating the controversial Human Fertilisation and Embryology bill. A group of pro-abortion MPs have threatened to table amendments to the Bill that would extend abortion to Northern Ireland.
The church leaders also said they wished to support the political party leaders in their assertion the law on abortion in the North should be a matter for the Assembly.
The DUP's Nigel Dodds said the main Stormont parties had "made clear their opposition to introducing freely available abortion here".
Any amendment to Westminster legislation extending abortion provision would be "sickening to the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland", he added.
Director of Precious Life, Bernadette Smyth concluded "Westminster must heed this clear message being sent out by our people, our politicians and our churches - keep abortion out of Northern Ireland! "
In a letter to all MPs, the leaders of the four main churches in Northern Ireland said any legislation on abortion should be decided by the Assembly. They said it was especially right they should, in the light of the abortion debate last October when all parties expressed their opposition to the extension of the 1967 Abortion Act to the North.
The letter was signed by Primate of All Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh; Rev. Ray Cooper, the president of the Methodist Church in Ireland; Rt. Rev. John Finlay, the moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland; and Archbishop Alan Harper, the Church of Ireland (Anglican) Primate.
"We feel it is important for the government to respect the wishes of the people of Northern Ireland and allow locally elected MLAs to take the lead on this issue" they said.
The church leaders added: "We would ask that, on this issue, MPs take account of the Northern Ireland political parties, and indeed of the people of Northern Ireland, by voting against any amendments concerning abortion legislation in Northern Ireland."
"Last year, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland indicated that he felt the Northern Ireland Assembly is the best forum for discussion of these questions.
"We wholeheartedly agree with this position and ask that you make every effort to ensure that any future changes to the law on abortion in Northern Ireland are solely the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly," the churchmen wrote to MPs.
Parliament is currently debating the controversial Human Fertilisation and Embryology bill. A group of pro-abortion MPs have threatened to table amendments to the Bill that would extend abortion to Northern Ireland.
The church leaders also said they wished to support the political party leaders in their assertion the law on abortion in the North should be a matter for the Assembly.
The DUP's Nigel Dodds said the main Stormont parties had "made clear their opposition to introducing freely available abortion here".
Any amendment to Westminster legislation extending abortion provision would be "sickening to the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland", he added.
Director of Precious Life, Bernadette Smyth concluded "Westminster must heed this clear message being sent out by our people, our politicians and our churches - keep abortion out of Northern Ireland! "
Church leaders back politicians` anti-abortion letter
Cardinal Seán Brady, Roman Catholic Primate; Rev Roy Cooper, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland; Rt Rev John Finlay, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland; and, Archbishop Alan Harper, Church of Ireland (Anglican) Primate.
The leaders of Northern Ireland's four main churches have written to all Westminster MPs, in support of local political leaders, in asserting that the law on abortion for Northern Ireland should be a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Cardinal Seán Brady, Rev Roy Cooper, Dr John Finlay and Archbishop Alan Harper ask that: “MPs take account of the Northern Ireland political parties, and indeed of the people of Northern Ireland, by voting against any amendments concerning abortion legislation in Northern Ireland.” The full text of the Church leaders’ letter to MPs is as follows:
TO ALL MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
Dear Member,
Re: Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
As leaders of the four main churches in Northern Ireland we wish to support the four leaders of the main political parties in asserting that the law on abortion here should be a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly.
We feel it is important for the government to respect the wishes of the people of Northern Ireland and allow locally elected MLAs to take the lead on this issue, especially in light of the debate on abortion that took place in October 2007 when all of the main parties in Northern Ireland signalled their opposition to an extension of the 1967 Abortion Act. We would ask that, on this issue, MPs take account of the Northern Ireland political parties, and indeed of the people of Northern Ireland, by voting against any amendments concerning abortion legislation in Northern Ireland.
Last year, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland indicated that he felt the Northern Ireland Assembly is the best forum for discussion of these questions. We wholeheartedly agree with this position and ask that you make every effort to ensure that any future changes to the law on abortion in Northern Ireland are solely the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
With our best wishes for your work and deliberations.
Yours sincerely,
+Alan Harper
+Seán Cardinal Brady
John Finlay
Roy Cooper
Source : Catholic Communications Office
The leaders of Northern Ireland's four main churches have written to all Westminster MPs, in support of local political leaders, in asserting that the law on abortion for Northern Ireland should be a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Cardinal Seán Brady, Rev Roy Cooper, Dr John Finlay and Archbishop Alan Harper ask that: “MPs take account of the Northern Ireland political parties, and indeed of the people of Northern Ireland, by voting against any amendments concerning abortion legislation in Northern Ireland.” The full text of the Church leaders’ letter to MPs is as follows:
TO ALL MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
Dear Member,
Re: Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
As leaders of the four main churches in Northern Ireland we wish to support the four leaders of the main political parties in asserting that the law on abortion here should be a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly.
We feel it is important for the government to respect the wishes of the people of Northern Ireland and allow locally elected MLAs to take the lead on this issue, especially in light of the debate on abortion that took place in October 2007 when all of the main parties in Northern Ireland signalled their opposition to an extension of the 1967 Abortion Act. We would ask that, on this issue, MPs take account of the Northern Ireland political parties, and indeed of the people of Northern Ireland, by voting against any amendments concerning abortion legislation in Northern Ireland.
Last year, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland indicated that he felt the Northern Ireland Assembly is the best forum for discussion of these questions. We wholeheartedly agree with this position and ask that you make every effort to ensure that any future changes to the law on abortion in Northern Ireland are solely the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
With our best wishes for your work and deliberations.
Yours sincerely,
+Alan Harper
+Seán Cardinal Brady
John Finlay
Roy Cooper
Source : Catholic Communications Office