Home Page
About Us
What we do
News
Campaigns & Events
Abortion in N. Ireland
Resources
"I need help..."
Make a Donation
Find us on Facebook
22 / 10 / 2008 - PRO-LIFE VICTORY!!! - attempt to force abortion on Northern Ireland fails in Westminster
Precious Life claim victory after the proposal to extend abortion to Northern Ireland failed to be debated in the Westminster Parliament. We are absolutely delighted. It was Precious Life's "pro-life tidal wave from Northern Ireland" that forced the government to effectively scrap the proposal.
The vote on extending the 1967 Abortion Act was scheduled as an amendment to the controversial Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. This was the first time in nearly 20 years that MPs had a chance to vote on the issue. However, it failed to reach the floor of the House of Commons after the government used a parliamentary procedure to ensure the amendment would not be introduced during the afternoon's debate. It has been reported that ministers were reluctant to allow a vote on the issue given the strength of opposition from Northern Ireland.
In a statement to the media, Director of Precious Life, Bernadette Smyth said, "I am absolutely delighted that our unborn children are safe from this death threat from Wesminster. I commend our politicians, our church leaders, and our people, who stood up against Westminster and demanded the protection of Northern Ireland's unborn children"
"All Precious Life's hard work has paid off. Our campaign to stop this latest abortion threat from Westminster began In January. We took our campaign onto the streets of Northern ireland. We launched a Petition Campaign, distributing hundreds of thousands of postcard across the province. We lobbied our MPs and Assembly members. We wrote to our church leaders. In May, and again just last week, the leaders of the main political parties, and the leaders of the main churches, sent letters to Westminster MPs stating their opposition to the Abortion Act. We organised a massive 'Rally for Life', and on Saturday, thousands turned out at Stormont. Yesterday, we travelled to London to present 120,000 petitions to the Prime Minister at Downing Street, and then delivered our Rally for Life DVDs to every MP in the Houses of Parliament."
"Westminster simply couldn't withstand this pro-life tidal wave coming from Northern Ireland"
She added, "We will build on this victory and continue working with our Assembly Members to ensure abortion is never legalised in Northern Ireland"
Bernadette Smyth concluded "We can now hold our heads up high with pride in victory while those who supported the abortion amendment hang their heads in shame and defeat. Today, the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland are proud to remain 'First Class Citizens' of the United Kingdom because of our protection for unborn babies and their mothers from abortion."
The vote on extending the 1967 Abortion Act was scheduled as an amendment to the controversial Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. This was the first time in nearly 20 years that MPs had a chance to vote on the issue. However, it failed to reach the floor of the House of Commons after the government used a parliamentary procedure to ensure the amendment would not be introduced during the afternoon's debate. It has been reported that ministers were reluctant to allow a vote on the issue given the strength of opposition from Northern Ireland.
In a statement to the media, Director of Precious Life, Bernadette Smyth said, "I am absolutely delighted that our unborn children are safe from this death threat from Wesminster. I commend our politicians, our church leaders, and our people, who stood up against Westminster and demanded the protection of Northern Ireland's unborn children"
"All Precious Life's hard work has paid off. Our campaign to stop this latest abortion threat from Westminster began In January. We took our campaign onto the streets of Northern ireland. We launched a Petition Campaign, distributing hundreds of thousands of postcard across the province. We lobbied our MPs and Assembly members. We wrote to our church leaders. In May, and again just last week, the leaders of the main political parties, and the leaders of the main churches, sent letters to Westminster MPs stating their opposition to the Abortion Act. We organised a massive 'Rally for Life', and on Saturday, thousands turned out at Stormont. Yesterday, we travelled to London to present 120,000 petitions to the Prime Minister at Downing Street, and then delivered our Rally for Life DVDs to every MP in the Houses of Parliament."
"Westminster simply couldn't withstand this pro-life tidal wave coming from Northern Ireland"
She added, "We will build on this victory and continue working with our Assembly Members to ensure abortion is never legalised in Northern Ireland"
Bernadette Smyth concluded "We can now hold our heads up high with pride in victory while those who supported the abortion amendment hang their heads in shame and defeat. Today, the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland are proud to remain 'First Class Citizens' of the United Kingdom because of our protection for unborn babies and their mothers from abortion."
Jeffrey Donaldson MP speaking against the amendment to force the 1967 Abortion Act on N. Ireland