Call for change in abortion law

Revd Christine Beecroft’s eldest daughter was born at just 29 weeks and spent months in intensive care. Christine was shocked by recent reports that British women up to 30 weeks pregnant have been advised to go to Spain for abortions. She explains why she wants Tony Blair to change the law on ‘social’ abortions.

I am currently happy to be 23 weeks pregnant with my third child. We already have two little girls, Emily who is four, and Ruth who is three, so we are going to have our hands full!

However, under the existing law in the UK, I would be entitled to have an abortion for ‘social’ reasons up to 24 weeks, despite the fact that my unborn child is in good health. Should I unexpectedly go into labour this week, the advances in neonatal care are such that my baby would have a chance, albeit slim, of surviving and going on to live a normal life.

The paradoxical situation we have in this country is that we are fighting to keep alive some 23 week old babies in our neonatal units and giving them the right to life, whilst at the same time in abortion clinics and hospitals we are disposing of other 23 week old babies, as we uphold the mother’s right to choose.

Last year in the UK there were a record 182, 000 abortions performed. The vast majority of these, over 90%, were for ‘social’ reasons. As many as one in three women now have at least one termination in their reproductive life. Abortion takes a personal toll on the mother, both emotionally and physically.

All this leads me to ask the question – whose life is it anyway? It seems to me that we need to reconsider the case for the rights of the unborn. The vociferous pro-choice lobbyists seem to be drowning out the voices of those who would speak up for the rights of the unborn.

The activities of one pro-choice charity, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) seems to be going to new extremes. It has been reported in the Daily Mail that the BPAS has been advising women to go to Spain for abortions up to as late as 30 weeks. If this is true, I find this advice distressing as our daughter Emily who is a lively and healthy four-year-old, was born prematurely, at 29 weeks.

Emily, who was born weighing just 2lbs 3oz, spent several weeks in an incubator, and two and a half months in total in the special care unit. Despite the many ups and downs of her time in there, and the emotional rollercoaster for us, we were delighted to take her home with no long term medical problems. This is thanks to the excellent neonatal care which she received in hospital, and the many prayers of family, friends and church members. She is now full of life, and has started school this term, which she is greatly enjoying. It’s awful to think that a baby like Emily who has done so well could have been aborted at the clinic in Barcelona.

The case for late abortions for ‘social’ reasons has recently come into question following new scientific evidence showing 3-D images of foetuses as young as 12 weeks moving their legs, seemingly practising walking in the womb. Given the captivating coverage on TV of these images, perhaps our collective conscience has been disturbed enough for us to be challenged to think again about what we are allowing in permitting ‘social’ abortions up to 24 weeks. Even David Steel, who introduced the 1967 Abortion Act, is now in favour of reducing the upper limit for social abortion. Tony Blair is also in favour of a review.

Those of us who hold the traditional Christian view of the sanctity of human life, and the belief that all human beings,  including the unborn, are created in the image of God, will see this latest scientific evidence merely confirming what we already know to be true: these are tiny babies, of eternal significance and inestimable value, who have a right to life.

The law is flawed and dated, and urgently needs reviewing. Now is a good time for Christians to stand up and to lobby for that law to be amended.

As we approach Christmas, and are reminded of the birth of Jesus Christ, let us reflect on one of the most striking and powerful passages of scripture as it relates to the unborn, Luke Chapter one verses 39 – 45. Here, Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visits Elizabeth, six months (24 weeks) pregnant with John the Baptist. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit says to Mary, ‘For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy.’ (Lk 1:44)

It’s time for us to call for a major public debate on the subject of abortion, and for the voices of those who would speak up for the rights of the unborn to be heard. It’s awful to think that a baby like Emily who has done so well could have been aborted at the clinic in Barcelona.