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Abortion Northern Ireland: Protestant and Catholic churches hit back at Chris Heaton-Harris plans to teach 'value free' lessons on how to access abortions

Churches across Northern Ireland have hit out at moves by the Secretary of State to roll out compulsory sex education in schools - including ‘value free’ scientific teaching on abortion and how to access it.

By Philip Bradfield

Published 7th Jun 2023, 16:39 BST- 5 min read

Updated 7th Jun 2023, 17:16 BST

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said on Tuesday that he was updating the requirements for relationship and sexuality education (RSE) in the curriculum.

The announcement was welcomed by the NSPCC, NI Humanists, the NI Human Rights Commission, People Before Profit, Alliance for Choice and Informing Choices NI.

However the move has been strongly opposed by most of the main churches across the community.

Crowds of people in Belfast took part in a rally against Westminster liberalising abortion legislation in Northern Ireland.

In 2019 then Secretary of State Brandon Lewis oversaw the relaxation of abortion legislation in NI, which at the time only allowed abortion if the health of the mother was seriously at risk.

In 2020 the assembly passed an indicative motion against the liberalisation of the law, which passed 46 votes to 40.

Mr Heaton Harris said the regulations will make “age-appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, covering prevention of early pregnancy and access to abortion” a compulsory component of the curriculum for students.

His actions are based on the recommendations for NI from an United Nations committee based in New York, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

A statement from the Northern Ireland Office said: “The Regulations, in practice, will result in educating adolescents on issues such as how to prevent a pregnancy, the legal right to an abortion in Northern Ireland, and how relevant services may be accessed.“This should be done in a factual way that does not advocate, nor oppose, a particular view on the moral and ethical considerations of abortion or contraception.”

TRANSFERORS COUNCIL

However The Transferor Representatives’ Council, which represents the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian Church and Methodist Church in education issues in Northern Ireland, objected to the lack of time allowed for consultation. The regulations will require the Department of Education to issue guidance on the content and delivery of the education to be provided by the start of next year.

Chairman Dr Andrew Brown said: “Laws and policies for Northern Ireland should be made in Northern Ireland by ministers who have been locally elected by its citizens – an electorate which includes parents, teachers, carers and guardians. The announcement’s timing, right in the middle of the exam season for schools and before the summer holiday, is questionable and greatly reduces the time available for any meaningful consultation with teachers and boards of governors.

“The value judgments made in the 2018 CEDAW Report that RSE is ‘underdeveloped or non-existent’ were unfair and unfounded, and run against the evidence reported by the Education and Training Inspectorate. "

PRESBYTERIAN

The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Right Reverend Dr John Kirkpatrick, pointed out that the move would not be subject to any amendment or debate by Northern Ireland MPs or peers.

“It is deeply regrettable that the legislation laid today is almost impossible to amend or change in Parliament, and that neither the Secretary of State, nor his officials, found time to consult or engage in a meaningful way with any of the key stakeholders within education," he said.

Dr Kirkpatrick continued, “It is disappointing that the NIO has swallowed the findings of the CEDAW report as a whole without any discernment or sensitivity."

He added that Mr Heaton Harris is insisting upon the teaching of RSE "without a particular view on moral or ethical considerations" but. Surely he does not himself need to go back to school to realise that every approach to RSE will be shaped by a larger worldview, as there is no ‘neutral’ understanding of human identity and human sexuality."

"He is seeking to impose a particular worldview on the education of children in Northern Ireland. What has happened today, seriously undermines a school’s ability to link RSE to its agreed values and ethos, in line with current Department of Education guidelines.

CATHOLIC

The Catholic Bishop of Londonderry Donal McKeown said he was concerned that schools not offering the lessons could be "criminalised".

He said: "Schools want to offer pupils education, not just information."If anyone wants to find out about abortion you get something called Google and you type in abortion," he told the BBC.Bishop McKeown said there was a need for schools to help young people develop "lifelong skills for healthy relationships".But he added: "I am really concerned this seems to be a decision by the secretary of state that will impose a particular way of approaching the issue on all schools."[That will] perhaps end up having schools penalised and criminalised for not obeying the legislation."I don't think you need to impose a duty on schools, that come from a range of different backgrounds, an obligation to provide information as if abortion and that whole area is somehow or other a value-free thing."He told BBC Radio Foyle's The North West Today programme that Mr Heaton-Harris should have engaged "with all parties in Northern Ireland, not just with CEDAW coming from New York".He said the changes to the curriculum were borne from an "ideology that says: 'This is about my rights', and there is no question of morality involved".

FREE PRESBYTERIAN: 

The Free Presbyterian Church also expressed deep concern at the announcement. Rev Gordon Dane the convenor of the church’s Government and Morals committee said: “Once again we are having our local beliefs and preferences overridden by the UN report from the ‘Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’. This outside group which acts to a globalist and one-size-fits-all-agenda seeks to impose a liberal and immoral set of values on our province.”

He added: “Abortion is the killing of living human beings and for Secretary of State Heaton Harris to announce that abortion must be taught in schools in a way ‘that does not advocate, or oppose, a particular view on the moral and ethical considerations of abortion or contraception’ is frankly incredible."

A Northern Ireland Office spokesperson responded: "Regulations which amend the curriculum in Northern Ireland will mirror the approach in England with regard to education on contraception and access to abortion.

"This matter became law in 2019 and there is a clear statutory duty in section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 in relation to sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Statement on RSE: Released 6th June

 

GENERAL PRESBYTERY OF THE FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ULSTER

 

Government and Morals Committee

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     

                             

Rev Gordon Dane:   Chairman                         Rev David McLaughlin       Secretary

Phone: 07709117500

email: gbdane@btinternet.com

 

 

 

FREE PRESBYTERIAN CONCERN AT HEATON-HARRIS ANNOUNCEMENT

 

The Free Presbyterian Church has expressed deep concern at the announcement last Tuesday afternoon by Secretary of State Christ Heaton-Harris that he will impose a new “sex and relationships” curriculum on the Province, including teaching pupils about their right to abortion.

 

Rev Gordon Dane the convenor of the church’s Government and Morals committee said, “Once again we are having our local beliefs and preferences overridden by the UN report from the ‘Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’ This outside group which acts to a globalist and one size fits all agenda seeks to impose a liberal and immoral set of values on our province. It is telling that in the midst of their report from which has flowed the imposition of a liberal abortion regime in our Province they saw fit to attack what they called the “religious condemnation of women who undergo an abortion” And their agenda is an attack on traditional Christian family values.”

 

The statement went on, “Abortion is the killing of living human beings and for Secretary of State Heaton Harris to announce that abortion must be taught in schools in a way “that does not advocate, or oppose, a particular view on the moral and ethical considerations of abortion or contraception” is frankly incredible. How can one be morally neutral on the killing of vulnerable people in the womb? To present abortion in a “factual way” as an option, is to take a moral stand. To believe that it is “a right” is taking a moral stand by default. The Bible says “Thou shalt not kill.” That is the most basic right that anyone can have and an education system that is morally neutral about that has become immoral.”

 

The statement concluded, “We would call on parents to exercise their right to withdraw their children if this is to be imposed upon us.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“…for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”      Revelation 1 verse 9

Protest against Mid-Ulster Pride

 

Sadly, in our land we have saw the forcing of the sodomite agenda with the introduction of what it termed “rural pride”. As part of this, a group was established earlier in 2020 calling themselves Mid-Ulster Pride. 

One of the most prominent members of this group, it’s vice-chair, is a Church of Ireland minister named Andrew Rawding. Based in the Coalisland area with responsibility for three parishes, he has attracted headlines by branding his own denomination as “homophobic and prejudiced".

(https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ni-minister-brands-his-church-homophobic-in-plea-to-marry-same-sex-couples-39514983.html)

 The Lord Jesus Christ summed up such “ministers” when He said-

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

 

Mid-Ulster Pride held a march in Cookstown on Saturday 19^th September consisted of 13 people walking in silence holding banners.

The Rev Marcus Lecky, minister of Cookstown Free Presbyterian Church organised a Gospel witness and protest against this promotion of immorality. Around 45 were in attendance comprising of members of the local church supported by those from other congregations and local Christians.

Placards were displayed highlighting the Biblical view of sodomy, the love of Christ and the need for Christians to love God and walk in obedience to His commands-

Leviticus 20:13 “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination:”

Revelation 1:5 “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood”

2 John 1:6 “And this is love, that we walk after his commandments.”

 A Gospel open-air was held prior to the parade with Rev Lecky reminding the listeners of the nature of sin, the judgment of sin and the forgiveness of sin. He highlighted the great love displayed by the Lord Jesus Christ in giving His life a ransom that sinners might be saved. Sinners were exhorted to repent of their sin and turn to Christ alone for salvation.

As the march passed the both up and down the town, a silent protest was held with the display of the texts of Scripture.

 It was encouraging to see a good number stand and listen to the preaching of God’s Word; we pray that this sowing of the Good Seed will bring forth precious fruit.

In contrast, there appeared to be little interest in the pride march with only a few members of the public paying any attention. We pray that this disinterest is a reflection of their opposition to such ungodly behaviour rather than a carelessness disregard about the breaking of God law.

A number of ministers were in attendance – Rev Paul Hanna, Rev Daniel Henderson, Rev Ryan McKee, Rev Raymond Robinson.

New abortion laws in Northern Ireland

At present the entire United Kingdom is in a state of lockdown due to the outbreak of COVID-19. This virus has moved swiftly across the world leaving many dead in its trail.

In its wake we are brought to observe the powerlessness of world leaders to stop this virus in its tracks. It crosses borders with impunity and reaches into every social sphere of society, no person is exempt from its touch.

Many nations have employed the most stringent of measures to try and protect their citizens from this plague. Money has been made available to provide services and help businesses. Authorities have implemented laws restricting the movement of people in an effort to slow the progress of this pestilence.

Millions of pounds have been made available in an effort to safeguard the population, laws have been enacted within days, adverts have been produced and broadcasts made to awaken people to the terrible reality of this virus. We support and commend the current actions of the authorities on this front.

However, there is a stark contrast in that nothing is being done to stop the deliberate deaths of unborn children! 

Amid the present united effort to preserve lives we have the introduction of legislation providing unrestricted abortion up to 12 weeks in Northern Ireland!

In the knowledge that the NIO consultation received over 21,000 responses, 79% of which indicated there should be no change to the current law, we ask of Westminster – is this democracy?

It is the duty of Government to preserve life, even those who have shown reckless regard for their own safety and that of others, but what about the defenseless child in the womb? Do they not matter?

According to the BBC 25/3/2020 the Global death toll due to COVID-19 has passed 20,000. Government statistics state “There were 200,608 abortions for women resident in England and Wales in 2018”.

(https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/abortion-statistics-for-england-and-wales-2018)

In the midst of this effort to save lives we call on politicians to unite against the horror of abortion and extend the effort to save lives. There is a sad slaughter that has already been taking place for years in the United Kingdom?

God’s law states very clearly in Exodus 20:13, “Thou shalt not kill.” 

We urge our UK Government to take heed.

We mourn the loss of life with the spread of Covid-19 and pray that lives will be spared. The Bible teaches us to value all human life. We also pray that men and women would realize their need of a Saviour and in faith and repentance cry unto God.

We implore our Prime Minister and our Government to consider their rebellion against God in laws that have been passed and turn from this wickedness.

The Bible teaches in Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

FREE PRESBYTERIANS STILL REJECT SAME SEX MARRIAGE

The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster views the introduction of same sex marriage in Northern Ireland on January 13th with deep concern. In keeping with the teaching of Scripture and consistent with our position as a Christian denomination we will only recognise marriages between biological male and female. 
Therefore, in exercising their freedom of thought, conscience and religion we wish to make it absolutely plain that we anticipate that ministers in our denomination will not be conducting same sex marriages in any of our churches.

Marriage is a holy institution given by God for the monogamous, lifelong, marital union of men and women.

As apostasy from God and His Word deepens in our nation, all kinds of immorality abound throughout society. The consequence of this increasing immorality is that God’s institution of marriage is constantly treated with scorn as a sinful people give vent to their corrupt lusts. 

Sadly, in a relatively short period of time, there has been an alarming abandonment of the teaching of Scripture on marriage as ordained by God. This contempt for Biblical marriage includes, not only the abandonment of it as a divine institution, but also direct attack upon it in the promotion and acceptance of so-called same-sex marriage. 

The legislation of same sex marriage violates the law of God as Creator and offends God as the Judge of all. We would remind the powers that be of the Scriptural warning that God is not mocked and that legislators of evil will be called to give account at the Great Judgment Day.

“…for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 1:9

Day of Defiance

Monday the 21^st October is a notable date in the calendar of Northern Ireland for all the wrong reasons. It has been termed by many the “darkest day”. A day when the abortion law that has saved the lives of over 100,000 babies was liberalised, a day when marriage is to be redefined to include that which is contrary to God’s law.

These changes are not being implemented as a result of a decision by the citizens of Northern Ireland nor by the majority of their elected representatives but have been forced on the people following decisions at Westminster and the fact that the Northern Ireland assembly is not functioning.

We commend those MLA’s who signed a petition to trigger a recall of the Assembly on Monday and who sought to introduce the “Defence of the Unborn Child Bill 2019”. Sadly, other parties did not have the same interest or desire to preserve the life of the unborn child despite all their talk of equality and tolerance.

The moral landscape of Northern Ireland has changed overnight and not for the better.

We now have a society where there is the potential to have the most liberal abortion laws in Europe.

Instead of the mother’s womb being a place of safety it could now be the place of death. There is now the very real possibility that a child conceived through an act of sexual crime will be put to death for the crimes of the father. Likewise, a child thought to have abnormalities instead of receiving dedicated care and affection, may be unwanted and discarded by abortion. The little one who has offended no one could be aborted and put to death if viewed as an inconvenience.

God’s institution of marriage, an illustration of Christ’s relationship with His Church (Eph 5:25) is to be changed to include that which is corrupt and sinful, that which is condemned in the Word of God.

In both of these cases, no consideration has been given to those who may object or have a differing point of view. 

We hear much about Human Rights, tolerance, equality but does it exist for the medical professionals who have devoted their lives to the preservation of human life and oppose abortion?

Does it exist for those who hold to the Biblical definition of marriage?

What has happened is the mark of a secular, sinful, selfish world. 

Paul writes in-

2 Timothy 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 

² For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 

³ Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

⁴ Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 

⁵ Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

The well-known verse in John 3:16 tells us that “God so loved the world that he gave”. This is the essence of the Gospel. A God that loves and One that gave, what a contrast with the world we live in. The Lord Jesus Christ in giving His life for fallen man was selfless but what we have seen taken place in Northern Ireland reveals the sinful selfish heart of mankind.

Despite the darkness, there is hope for fallen man. In love and grace, God has provided salvation for the repentant sinner and that applies to those involved in abortion and homosexuality.

In such a time we are reminded that God is sovereign, that Christians have a duty to pray and to witness. Regardless of what society is doing, we are still to “preach Christ crucified”!

Presbytery Statement on impending Abortion Legislation.

TIME TO BE A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS

Our nation is counting down the days – until the 31st October.  Will our Parliament finally deliver on the expressed will of its people, or will it trigger yet another mechanism by which to invoke another delay to, if not revoke the result of, the referendum?

Of greater concern to us in Northern Ireland than any Brexit deadline is the fact that we can see the whites of the eyes of another cut-off point and can hear the clock ticking on a much more sinister countdown.  One that threatens to put out eyes before they can open; to close the ears of that child whose sensory faculties are rapidly developing inside the womb of its mother; to mechanically – and monstrously – revoke that child’s right ever to live, or learn to speak, or cheer, or vote. 

Exhilaration

While for some – the kind of people who recently celebrated with air punches and cheers in New South Wales, Australia, after they overturned an 119-year-old law against abortion and replaced it with a most radically permissive regime; and those who in May 2018 when the barriers to abortion fell in the Republic of Ireland threatened “The North is next!” – 21st October 2019 cannot come quickly enough; yet for many in Northern Ireland this is a date to be dreaded.

Extremity

It is horrendous to think that our province has been railroaded to such a degree that from being the safest place in the British Isles for an unborn baby she will accommodate one of the most extreme abortion regimes in the world, with little to no protections for anyone, including our health workers, but especially the most defenceless, the unborn child.

As one Australian MP recently depicted it, this is “the slavery debate of our time” and laws imposed upon Northern Ireland without local consultation gives the green light to our own version of the notoriously wicked Holocaust.  

Euphemisms

Naturally this is disputed by those in our society who perversely portray abortion as a   “progressive” measure.  It does not seem to register with them that the murder of the most defenceless of our society should never be couched in terms of advancement.

The euphemisms employed to deliberately mask and minimise the crude, cruel dismemberment of a living child in its mothers’ womb are not only threadbare but terrifying.  In a calculated effort to diminish the horror, terms are pulled into play such as, “a woman’s right to choose,” the deceptive, “a compassionate response to crisis pregnancy,” or the ridiculous description, “healthcare.”  Since when did we take pleasure in healthcare that is locked into only one outcome – death?  Abortion is neither health care nor a woman’s right:  it is murder; the unjustifiable, unconscionable, sinful slaughter of the innocent.  It is a completely bewildering sight to witness some political parties vigorously campaign to outlaw smacking a child, yet at the same time support the violent killing of a child in the womb.

Education

When we permit God’s Word to be our educator, we discover that the weight of Biblical evidence indicates that the Lord considers the unborn child to be a person – therefore that child’s life should be protected as other people’s lives are protected.  The Scriptures plainly teach:

• As a basic commandment (number 6), “Thou shalt not kill.”

• In many passages in the Bible the child in the womb is described as a person:  “The children struggled within her” (Rebekah, Genesis 25:22); Elizabeth “conceived a son in her old age” (Luke 1:36&57); “the babe leaped in her womb” (Luke 1:41).

• God’s judgment always falls on those who slay the unborn (2 Kings 8:11-12; 15:16; Amos 1:13).

• God requires the same punishment for killing a child in the womb as He does for killing a man (Exodus 21:22-23).

Earnestness

With these facts in mind and the deadline quickly approaching, I appeal to Julian Smith MP, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, to recognise the mobilisation of local public sentiment on this issue, to remember the previous votes of the Stormont Assembly not to relax our abortion law, to redress the ambush on our democracy launched and facilitated by the unwarranted interventions of Stella Creasy and John Bercow respectively, and recall the Stormont Assembly before 21 October so that our own elected representatives can take the necessary action both to prevent this law coming into effect and so stop this Death March before it is allowed to begin.  Only by this means will we raise a necessary voice for the voiceless and reverse one of the most wicked impositions of our times:  “Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction” (Proverbs 31:8).

Rev. Ian Brown

Minister, Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church,

on behalf of the General Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster.