Precious Life launches Open Letter: "City Hall Is Not A Billboard For Abortion"
Precious Life has launched an Open Letter asking Christian and other pro-life organisations across Northern Ireland to unite in calling on Belfast City Council to reject plans to illuminate Belfast City Hall in celebration of abortion. Precious Life is inviting Christian churches, ministries, pro-life groups and community groups to sign the Open Letter, which will be presented on Tuesday morning before the full Council Meeting when the illumination proposal is due to be considered (1st September).
The proposal to light up Belfast City Hall to celebrate abortion was approved at a Council Committee meeting and the illuminations are currently scheduled to take place on Monday 28th September. The Open Letter states that City Hall is a public civic landmark belonging to all the people of Belfast and should not be used to promote or celebrate one side of a divisive moral and political issue.
Bernadette Smyth, Director of Precious Life, said, “We are inviting Christian and pro-life organisations across Northern Ireland to stand together and send Belfast City Council a clear message: City Hall is not a billboard for abortion. Catholic, Protestant, evangelical, pro-life and community groups are being asked to add their names to this important Open Letter. The more united our voice, the harder it will be for Belfast City Council to ignore.”
Mrs Smyth added, “Illuminating the City Hall would inevitably be seen as an endorsement by Belfast City Council of abortion and of a particular political campaign. For thousands of people across Northern Ireland, abortion represents the loss of an innocent child, while Christians and people of faith believe that every unborn child has inherent dignity and worth. Whatever one’s position on abortion, a publicly owned civic landmark should not be used to promote or celebrate one side of such a divisive issue.”
Bernadette Smyth concluded, “The strength of this Open Letter will come from the breadth of many organisations who are willing to stand together and call upon Belfast City Council to reject this proposal and ensure that this historic civic landmark remains a symbol of unity belonging to all the people of Belfast. The City Hall should unite Belfast, not divide it. It should represent the people, not celebrate abortion. Belfast City Hall is not a billboard for abortion."
The proposal to light up Belfast City Hall to celebrate abortion was approved at a Council Committee meeting and the illuminations are currently scheduled to take place on Monday 28th September. The Open Letter states that City Hall is a public civic landmark belonging to all the people of Belfast and should not be used to promote or celebrate one side of a divisive moral and political issue.
Bernadette Smyth, Director of Precious Life, said, “We are inviting Christian and pro-life organisations across Northern Ireland to stand together and send Belfast City Council a clear message: City Hall is not a billboard for abortion. Catholic, Protestant, evangelical, pro-life and community groups are being asked to add their names to this important Open Letter. The more united our voice, the harder it will be for Belfast City Council to ignore.”
Mrs Smyth added, “Illuminating the City Hall would inevitably be seen as an endorsement by Belfast City Council of abortion and of a particular political campaign. For thousands of people across Northern Ireland, abortion represents the loss of an innocent child, while Christians and people of faith believe that every unborn child has inherent dignity and worth. Whatever one’s position on abortion, a publicly owned civic landmark should not be used to promote or celebrate one side of such a divisive issue.”
Bernadette Smyth concluded, “The strength of this Open Letter will come from the breadth of many organisations who are willing to stand together and call upon Belfast City Council to reject this proposal and ensure that this historic civic landmark remains a symbol of unity belonging to all the people of Belfast. The City Hall should unite Belfast, not divide it. It should represent the people, not celebrate abortion. Belfast City Hall is not a billboard for abortion."