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N. Ireland withdraws controversial abortion guidelines

Northern Ireland’s Department of Health has withdrawn controversial abortion guidelines, which have been criticized by pro-life groups as an attempt to bring in abortion through the backdoor, after having reissued them in violation of a court order, reports Patrick B. Craine, LifeSiteNews.com.

The Department of Health made the announcement in a letter to Jim Wells, the chairman of the Northern Ireland Assembly's health committee. It also announced that it will be launching a public consultation on the guidelines.

Both of the country’s largest pro-life groups, Precious Life, and the UK’s Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) welcomed the news. Both groups took a leading role in opposing the guidelines.

Northern Ireland law only allows abortion in cases where it would preserve the life of the mother. The guidelines purported to give a practical interpretation of the law without effecting any change in the law; but pro-life groups argued that the guidelines actually distort the law, and could open the door to abortion for disabled babies, among other things, as well as force hospitals to provide abortions.

The guidelines were rejected by the Belfast High Court in November on the basis that they violated Northern Ireland’s abortion law. At the time, the department had sought to convince the judge to allow the guidelines if they withdrew two sections on counselling and conscientious objection, but he refused their request. The department, however, ignored the ruling and released an identical document in February, minus the two sections.

“Sheer persistence, public activity and prayer have now forced the department to back down,” said Bernadette Smyth, founder of Precious Life in a release by Irish pro-life group Youth Defence. “We’ll be keeping a sharp eye on what happens now since they have shown that vigilance is necessary to protect mothers and unborn babies. We’ll also be making sure that pro-life voices are heard in the public consultations.”

SPUC, which has steadfastly opposed the guidelines in the courts, was preparing to present a full legal challenge yet again prior to their being withdrawn. Belfast’s High Court had granted them leave to challenge the document, and they were set to appear in court in September.

Liam Gibson of SPUC North Ireland said they are “very pleased” with this “sensible” move from the department. "Until now, the health department has acted in a high-handed and belligerent manner regarding the guidance,” he said. “The department appeared determined to pursue its own agenda, rather than apply the law.”

He criticized the document for omitting the “central” issues of the rights of medical workers and the information that is given to women. “We believe that any guidance which says nothing about these issues is fundamentally flawed, and should never have been published,” he said. “The department finally seems to have accepted that.”

“We will be working closely with pro-life members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and its health committee,” he added, “to ensure that the department's consultation does not result in the rights of women, unborn children or the medical profession being undermined.”

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TAGS: North Ireland controversial abortion guidelines pro-life movement

[07/15/2010]

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