Dear Editor,
I write in response to the Belfast Telegraph article of 19th May 2022 entitled ‘Abortion service plans unjust and a continued assault on the preciousness of life, say ‘concerned’ Church leaders’. Whilst the Presbyterian church leaders quoted in the article are entitled to hold and express their views on the morality of abortion, it is important to highlight that they do not represent the views of all Christians. As Faith Voices for Reproductive Justice (FVRJ) (1) we represent people from all religious communities in Northern Ireland whose faith has led us to support safe abortion access as a necessary part of society.
There has never been complete consensus on the morality of ending a pregnancy and the approach taken by Christian denominations has changed over time. The Bible contains no direct teaching on abortion and many Christians the world over consider it an issue of individual conscience. For us at FVRJ, we believe that the moral consequences of denying women and pregnant people access to abortion services deserve more consideration by the Church. We all want to build communities where every family feels supported to have and raise children in safety and with dignity. But we cannot achieve that by denying women the right to make their own decisions about their own bodies. Research (2) demonstrates that religious women have abortions at roughly the same rate as those with no faith and we know many Christian women right here in Northern Ireland who have made this decision faithfully, prayerfully and with a sense of responsibility for their own lives and those they already care for. Public statements from church leaders condemning abortion serve to force those women into silence, burdened with stigma and fear of alienation from their church community. We want them to know that they are not alone and in fact churches are full of people who understand the complexity of pregnancy and difficult reproductive decisions, just as we believe God understands.
Grace and peace,
Kellie Turtle on behalf of Faith Voices for Reproductive Justice