We all know the proverb that nothing is certain in life other than death and taxation. But what also seems certain is that, whenever Parliament debates an issue concerning the unborn child, the great and the good always line up to defend the one industry in this country which is beyond scrutiny.
The Observer’s editorial ahead of yesterday’s vote illuminated their unswerving loyalty neatly: “The British Medical Association, among other professional organisations working in genetic illnesses, has condemned the amendment on grounds that it would prevent abortions given for chromosomal abnormalities linked to sex. Numerous women’s organisations have registered their opposition to the amendment, including Southall Black Sisters and End Violence Against Women.”
I don’t think I need to elaborate on the galling irony behind a charity dedicated to ending violence against women opposing a clarification in the law which seeks to save the lives of baby girls.
Among other desperate excuses for opposing legislation outlawing a practice which all MPs present insisted they abhorred, was the argument that it would “criminalise” women and doctors, along with objections to the amendment’s wording. Yvette Cooper, who was instrumental in defeating the amendment, wrote to MPs ahead of the vote and told them that they should oppose the amendement for using this terminology because, as the Observer put it: “This (wording) is an attempt to erode women’s reproductive rights since it recognises ‘the rights of the unborn’, independent of the pregnant woman.”
It is hard to think of another multi-million pound industry that can persuade hundreds of MPs to line up behind it and warble such a litany of devotion, even when it means turning their backs on the section of society they claim to care so passionately about. One thing is certain following this debate and that is that the abortion lobby have our MPs in a violent headlock.
In the meantime, the Catholic Bishops Conference for England and Wales is releasing a document ahead of the general election to help Catholics answer the question ‘who should I vote for?’ Here is the division list from yesterday’s vote on whether the law should protect little girls from being aborted purely because they are girls. For many Catholics this should provide at least part of the answer.
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