Lawyers attack DHSSPSNI Revised Abortion Guidelines 2008

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It is the clear view of the Association of Catholic Lawyers of Ireland that these new guidelines are in reality the same guidelines as have already been rejected by the Assembly last October.

A criminal review of the abortion guidelines issued by the DHSSPSNI show that the Department has produced seriously flawed advice which could introduce a liberalised abortion practice in N Ireland.

Doctors who follow these guidelines may find that they are breaking the law.

Areas of serious concern include:

The complete ommission of the Unborn Child as a patient under the law

The mistaken advice that there is a defence to Child Destruction following the Bourne Case.

That “terminations” are like any other medical operation and similar rules of consent apply for young girls.

The deliberate ommission of relevant case law.

The deliberate ommission of part of the Child Destruction offence.

The misleading impression that doctors who will not committ direct abortions need a conscientious objection clause to rely on.

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Click below for a pdf copy of the Briefing Paper. This paper addressess the the criminal law on abortion in N Ireland. This paper outlines the main legal problems in the DHSSPSNI paper with citations and discussionaroung medical and legal issues.

CLICK THIS LINK FOR BRIEFING PAPER:

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The DHSSPSNI Consultation Document on the Guidelines can be seen by Clicking Here.

Catholic Lawyers previous briefing paper.

New Website for information on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

A very helpfull website has been set up by the All Party Pro Life Group in Westminster to keep interested pro life groups and individuals abreast of the news regarding the forthcoming HFE Bill.

Click here for direct link…..

or go to http://hfebill.org

Association of Catholic Lawyers of Ireland and American Catholic Lawyers Association form alliance.

From the website of the American Catholic Lawyers Association: Click Here…..

“ACLA Forms an Alliance in Europe”

IRELAND: The ACLA has joined forces with the new Association of Catholic Lawyers of Ireland (ACLI), formed by Barrister (Mrs.) Johanna Higgins, an advisor to the group “Precious Life”, to combat the pro-abortion forces at work in the North of Ireland. ACLA President Christopher A. Ferrara co-signed a letter from Mrs. Higgins in support of a motion in the Northern Irish Legislative Assembly to correct draft Guidelines of the Health Department which would mislead women and physicians about current abortion law, which fortunately is still quite strict there.

Mrs. Higgins said: “We were delighted to receive the support of Mr. Christopher Ferrara on behalf of the ACLA which has some great pro-life victories under its belt.””

All Party Pro Life Group Launched At Stormont

The 2nd November 2007 saw an historic event in Stormont, the launch of an All Party Pro Life Group.

The keynote speaker at the launch was Dr Alveda King who, being the niece of the late slain Martin Luther King, likened the aborted child to “a slave in the womb”.

Also speaking were Dr Patricia Casey on the proven psychiatric links between abortion and suicide, Mrs Johanna Higgins, Barrister of the ACLI, presenting comment on the criminal law on abortion, Mrs Bernadette Smyth, Director of Precious Life and Mr Donaldson MLA MP, Mr Ramsey MLA and Mrs Robinson MLA MP.

The event was well attended and guests included all the main pro life groups, Doctors for Life, Lawyers, Teachers and the Catholic Bishops representative.

It was a wonderful event, very uplifting and informative.

Dr Alveda King, Bernadette Smyth (Precious Life), Johanna Higgins (Barrister), Lynn Coles (Silent No More Regional Co-ordinator) in Parliament Buildings at the Official Launch of the All-Party Pro-Life Group of the Northern Ireland Assembly

OPEN LETTER TO THE PRO LIFE PROTESTERS OUTSIDE THE HOTEL CASTILLE, MALTA

In response to this information from the malta independent.

 ”Gift of Life and the pro-life movement are calling on all Maltese, in particular, Maltese women, to come together in a show of unity against abortion, to protest peacefully and silently outside the Castille Hotel in Valletta tomorrow at 8.30pm.

This protest is being called against the message of death that Dr Rebecca Gomperts of the abortion ship Women on waves brings to our Island.

Tomorrow evening, Dr Gomperts will be holding a press conference followed by a public debate at the Castille Hotel on the need for legalised abortion in Malta.

In the name of the unborn child, Gift of Life, backed by the support of the vast majority of the Maltese people are appealing to both Dr Lawrence Gonzi, Prime Minister and Dr Alfred Sant, Leader of the Opposition, to come together to act to safeguard and protect the right to life of the unborn child.”

To the people of malta gathered before the hotel castille on behalf of their unborn children

The Association of Catholic Lawyers of Ireland wishes to extend its support and prayers to the people of Malta in their fight to keep their beautiful country free from the scourge of abortion.

We pray to the Immaculate Heart for you this day. That your enemies will not be successful and that you will keep safe your children and your children’s children.

In both the north and south of our own country, Ireland, we are also engaged in protecting ourselves from a sustained attack by the abortion providers.

Those who murder the unborn are shamed by those who will not allow this crime in their countries.

God bless you malta.

For the association of catholic lawyers of Ireland

Pro Life Group Launch Campaign of Support For Pro Life MLAs

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Newspaper Ads urge Assembly members to support motion opposing abortion

Pro-life group Precious Life have taken the unprecedented move of placing advertisements in Northern Ireland’s daily newspapers to publicise their Petition Campaign to Assembly members urging them to support a motion opposing abortion. The ads will appear on Wednesday 26^th September. The group is also distributing thousands of Petition Postcards across the province. The Assembly motion has been tabled by Jeffrey Donaldson MP and Iris Robinson MP in opposition to draft guidelines on abortion which were issued by the Department of Health in January. Precious Life says the guidelines will change how the law on abortion is interpreted and legalise abortion in Northern Ireland “through the back door.”

Director of Precious Life Bernadette Smyth said, “This motion against abortion is currently a ‘No Day Named Motion’ so it could be debated anytime within the next few weeks. We have already distributed over 30,000 postcards across Northern Ireland for the public to sign and send to their Assembly members urging them to support the motion. To ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to sign the petition we have printed it as an advertisement in Northern Ireland’s three daily newspapers – the Belfast Telegraph, The Irish News, and News Letter – with a combined readership of almost half a million people.  This is unprecedented. Never before has there been such a major pro-life campaign with advertisements running simultaneously in our daily papers.”

She explained “Our legal advisors have informed us that although the Department of Health guidelines cannot change the law on abortion in Northern Ireland, they will change how the law is interpreted. In effect this will legalise abortion in Northern Ireland ‘through the back door’.  After Precious Life met and lobbied with various MPs and Assembly members to explain the dangers contained in these guidelines, MPs Jeffrey Donaldson and Iris Robinson agreed to table this motion in the Assembly to oppose the guidelines.”

The last time abortion was debated in the Assembly was in June 2000. The terms of this latest motion are: That this Assembly opposes the introduction of the proposed guidelines on the termination of pregnancy in Northern Ireland; believes that the guidelines are flawed; and calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to abandon any attempt to make abortion more widely available in Northern Ireland.

News of the latest Assembly motion comes as some MPs in Westminster are calling for the 1967 Abortion Act to be extended to Northern Ireland. The MPs are planning to mark the 40th anniversary of the Act by making changes to the law during the next session of parliament in October.

Mrs Smyth concluded “It is vitally important that there is a strong pro-life vote when this motion comes before the Assembly. This will send out a clear message to both the Department of Health and Westminster that the people of Northern Ireland want protection for unborn babies and their mothers from abortion.”

Breaking News – Abortion Law Threat From Westminster

 The Association of Catholic Lawyers will be seeking to make legal representations to the Government requiring that they acknowladge the right of ALL the unborn children of this island under the Irish Constitution.

There will be more news on this as the matter progresses. However the move is in response to the proposed ammendment to the Abortion Act 1967 in Westminster, England. Pro Abortion politicians in Westminster are seeking to override the democratic will of the Catholic and Protestant people of the North of Ireland by forcing through an extention of the Act to include the North.