World’s oldest pro-life group enters Northern Ireland election arena over threat to legalise killing of unborn babies
Voters in Northern Ireland are being urged to use the ballot box to choose pro-life candidates and reject advocates of legalised abortion on 2 March.
A number of key constituencies are being targeted by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC).
A huge leafleting exercise (leaflet attached) is being carried out urging supporters to vote strategically.
In a series of events, the organisation will focus its attention on high-profile seats and candidates.
Areas of particular concern to SPUC's campaign include:
- South Antrim - where former Alliance leader David Ford is standing and who has promised to reintroduce a Private Members’ Bill if re-elected to legalise abortion when babies are diagnosed with life-limiting conditions
- Fermanagh and South Tyrone - where DUP leader Arlene Foster is standing
- West Belfast - the Sinn Fein stronghold where pro-life Republicans are being urged to make their views known
The election is being held as SPUC, the world's oldest pro-life group, marks its 50th anniversary following the introduction of the 1967 Abortion Act at Westminster.
Liam Gibson, the Society's Northern Ireland development officer said:
"Northern Ireland has steadfastly resisted every effort to implement the legalisation of abortion which would inevitably result in a slaughter of innocent babies.
"We have been in the vanguard of opposition to bring the law into line with the rest of the UK.
"Babies in the womb diagnosed with life-limiting conditions are being targeted for legalised killing.
"MLAs who advocate these proposals will table plans as soon as they return to Stormont.
That's why on 2 March we are urging people to vote only for pro-life candidates. Even a second, third or fourth preference vote can help the pro-abortionists.
"The NHS, education, jobs, the economy - they're all important.
"But for unborn babies, Polling Day is much more than that.
"For them...it's a matter of life or death.
"And don't forget. Every abortion has two victims. One dead. One wounded."
Chief executive John Smeaton said:
"This year, SPUC marks its 50th anniversary as the world's longest established pro-life movement.
"At the same time, the right to life of unborn children in Northern Ireland is facing renewed threats from a series of court cases and from politicians pledged to introduce abortion as soon as the election is over."
Mr Smeaton added:
"Arguably our greatest achievement in the pro-life movement over the past 50 years has been the prevention of the extension of the Abortion Act to Northern Ireland but the battle is never-ending.
"Pro-abortion politicians want to rush through legislation which is discriminatory, vague and could potentially result in widespread abortion.
"But public opposition is just as strong as ever.
"When the Northern Ireland Department of Justice held a public consultation on proposals similar to David Ford's Bill more than 97 percent of people rejected any change in the law."
Mr Smeaton said proposed amendments would not be limited to a few cases but would be used to push for even more radical change.
He said:
"Pro-abortion groups promote abortion on a massive scale. They want unlimited abortion.
"They want to establish the killing of babies as part of the health service and demand public funding of abortions. The abortion industry in Britain makes a fortune because the NHS pays commercial abortion providers to kill babies.
"SPUC exists now for the same reason it was created in 1967. To protect human life from conception. To fight for the rights of those who cannot defend themselves.
"To give voice to the voiceless - the unknown, the unseen, the unheard. To make the world hear the silent screams of babies being killed on an industrial scale.
"Since the Abortion Act of 1967, an estimated 8.7 million unborn children have been killed in the UK - that's almost FIVE times the 1.8 million population of Northern Ireland.
"There are around 200,000 abortions every year in the UK - that's 550 every day. Almost all (98 percent) carried out at the expense of the taxpayer.
"SPUC - and our pro-life allies - seek to uphold Article Three of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights which guarantees the right to life so that unborn babies are not treated as 'non-persons'.
"The job of the pro-life movement in 2017 is the same as it's always been, to stop the concept of abortion becoming normal. It is normal not to kill children.
"Northern Ireland has another chance to make a stand for the innocents and I ask everyone to contact their candidates urging them to vote against the legalisation of abortion.
"And I would encourage all voters to take a look at what has happened in the rest of the UK and learn from our mistakes. Make sure you vote only for pro-life candidates as they can and will make a difference in the fight for the rights of the unborn child."
Contact us
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