North Ireland Bishops call
new abortion law unjust
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| Buildings at Stormont Northern Ireland (AFP) |
The Catholic Bishops of Northern Ireland call the new
abortion law established under the provisions of the Northern Ireland Act 2019
unjust.
In response to the Consultation on a New Legal Framework for
Abortion Services in Northern Ireland, they say that “as a consequence, no one
is obliged in conscience to cooperate with any action permitted by this law
which directly and intentionally leads to the killing of an unborn child."
The Bishops add that “everyone is morally obliged to oppose
this law by conscientious objection.”
The new law came into force after MPs at Westminster voted
for a law change in July, due to the fact that Northern Ireland Assembly at
Stormont did not return by Monday 21 October.
The Executive has not convened since January 2017.
Up to now, abortion was only permitted if a woman's life was
at risk or there was a danger to her physical or mental health.
The Bishops of Northern Ireland emphasize that, "the
New Legal Framework should provide all health professionals including midwives,
nurses and ancillary staff working in hospitals and other community settings
with the right to refuse to participate in any aspect of the delivery of
abortion services such as consultation, administration, preparation, in
addition to the direct and intentional act of abortion itself.”
They also say that “pharmacists working in hospitals and
pharmaceutical outlets in the wider community should also be free to exercise
conscientious objection when asked to provide or stock medications designed to
assist another person in carrying out an abortion.”
The Bishops stress that in their view, “the proposal to
provide unrestricted access to abortion up to 12/14 weeks will in effect amount
to abortion on demand.”
Fr Michael McGinnity was involved in drafting the
consultation response and spoke to Vatican News about some key issues,
including conscientious objection.
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