SPUC has welcomed a response to the Consultation on ‘A New Legal Framework for Abortion Services in Northern Ireland’ from the Catholic Bishops of Northern Ireland. Liam Gibson, SPUC Northern Ireland Political Officer said: "The bishops are in a more powerful position than they probably realise. Together with the laity they are capable of mobilising sufficient opposition to resist the new regime."

The statement from the Catholic Bishops of Northern Ireland was released earlier this week, in response to the new Northern Ireland abortion regime which was implemented in the region in October 2019.

The statement outlines the opposition to the abortion regime and calls on "all people of good will" to not formally cooperate with the unjust proposals.

The statement reads: "The Catholic Bishops of Northern Ireland wish to make clear that the new abortion law established under the provisions of the Northern Ireland Act 2019, is an unjust law. 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. Indeed, everyone is morally obliged to oppose this law by conscientious objection.

 "All Christians and people of good will are obliged in conscience not to cooperate formally in abortion services, even if permitted by civil legislation. The New Regulatory Framework in Northern Ireland, 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."

"We wish to make it clear that we are completely opposed to all attempts to include any school premises as an option for the provision of abortion pills or any other abortion service...

"With regard to Catholic Schools, central to our school ethos is the promotion of the dignity and life of every human being. The provision of abortion services in our schools would be contrary to everything a Catholic School stands for with regard to respect for all citizens and the promotion of the common good. Similarly, any inclusion within the school curriculum of information about how to access abortion services would fundamentally undermine the Catholic Ethos of our schools."

Turning this call for resistance into a practical plan

Mr Gibson said: "Central to the bishops’ statement is the recognition that legislation which strips babies of legal protection before birth is unjust; it cannot be regarded as juridically valid or morally binding. This is a vital first step in the fight to overturn the new abortion regime now being imposed on Northern Ireland. 

"As the statement makes clear, Christians and all people of good will, have a moral obligation to oppose this regime by conscientious objection. And the bishops have a moral obligation to support and defend parents, teachers and medical personnel when they are faced with the consequences of acting on this advice."

Mr Gibson continued: "The provision of abortion inside schools has been a long-term objective of the abortion lobby and we can see this policy being pushed at an international level. The Northern Ireland Office will not abandon its plans without a fight but the Bishops are in a more powerful position than they probably realise. Together with the laity they are capable of mobilising sufficient opposition to resist the new regime provided that that resistance is organised and co-ordinated.

"What the church does next will be decisive. In the weeks and months ahead, the Bishops and the laity must work together to turn this call for resistance into a practical plan of action." 

The full statement from the Catholic Bishops of Northern Ireland can be found here