The Private Member’s Motion before the Assembly also welcomes the important intervention of disability campaigner Heidi Crowter on this issue, who was born with Down’s syndrome.
Signed on behalf of PCI by Rev Trevor Gribben, Clerk of the General Assembly and PCI’s General Secretary, and Rev Daniel Kane, Convener of the Council for Public Affairs, the letter began by thanking MLAs for their continued work “in response to the unprecedented challenges presented by the global pandemic”, commending their flexibility and leadership in the face of challenging circumstances.
Pointing legislators to a 2017 report by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which found existing UK abortion laws, regulations and practices discriminated against persons with disabilities, the two ministers highlighted the following concluding observations:
The Committee is concerned about perceptions in society that stigmatize persons with disabilities as living a life of less value than that of others and about the termination of pregnancy at any stage on the basis of fetal impairment.
The Committee recommends that the State party amend its abortion law accordingly. Women’s rights to reproductive and sexual autonomy should be respected without legalizing selection abortion on the ground of fetal deficiency.
They went on to say:
“You will of course be aware that the new abortion framework for Northern Ireland, introduced at Westminster, similarly makes provision for terminations on the basis of non-fatal disabilities.
“Whilst we recognise that that Private Members’ Motion has been tabled in the name of members of one political party, we are in no doubt these sentiments are shared across the Northern Ireland Assembly. Tuesday’s debate provides an opportunity to place those views on the record and we would ask you to consider supporting this motion, and in so doing endorse the courageous campaign of Heidi Crowter and her colleagues.”
In his address at his installation as Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland last night, Rt Rev Dr David Bruce also urged MLAs to listen to Heidi. Speaking about the ‘deeply distressing’ and ‘radical liberalisation of the law’ in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, Dr Bruce said, “Like all ethical issues, there must surely be a point of principle upon which our decisions rest, and we as a church affirm again that life is holy to God, and that the most vulnerable in society deserve the most assiduous protection from society – and this includes the unborn…
“[W]e encourage legislators to listen carefully to the persuasive call of people such as Heidi Crowter, a lady with Down’s syndrome who powerfully makes the case against abortion for non-fatal disabilities.”
Northern Ireland's new abortion law came in as a result of an override of devolution by the Westminster Parliament in July of last year, when provisions for abortion were added to the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill. At the time, the then Moderator, Dr William Henry, expressed his ‘deep disappointment and dismay’ at the move.