Since the 1967 act became law, 5.3 million abortions have been carried out in Great Britain,
more than the population of Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic combined, and almost
the same number as the number of Jews who were murdered in Hitler's death camps.
Responsibility for an abortion or a termination lies primarily with the woman and not with
the state. If the Assembly takes the simple moral high ground and agrees this motion,
it will do nothing to help those 2,000 women who travelled to Great Britain every year
for an abortion.
In hospitals throughout Britain, teams of surgeons will be trying to save the lives
of unborn children from one ward. By doing the card or handing the same hospital, other
teams will be destroying the lives of unborn children.
It is important to remember that the baby is genetically complete at this point. Nothing
is added after that other than nutrition and oxygen. It is genetically complete.
I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are thy works,
and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, that I was made in
secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my
substance, yet being unperfect, and in thine bugle my members were written, which in continuance
were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
As regards the woman's right to choose, I have nothing but the highest respect and understanding
for women and young girls who have unplanned pregnancies. It is not for us or anyone else
to condemn them. We should try to help them, but abortion violates a human being's right
to life. Human rights are universal.
A single thread of human DNA contains information equivalent to half a million pages of 500
words each. Between 21 and 25 days, the heart starts to beat. Fingers and toes are formed
shortly afterwards. The sad reality is that 98.6% of these children were perfectly healthy
human beings, being carried by perfectly healthy mothers.
I said earlier that there have been 5.3 million abortions in Great Britain since 1967.
These women should not have to leave home or have to leave Northern Ireland, and they
should not be made to feel like criminals having to hide their identities. They should
not be us besides our society. I cannot support the motion.
It is my perception that all of the interventions this afternoon from women's assembly members
have been in favour of our members. I would like the member to comment on that.
We sit here making decisions about their lives without one eye open of the pain, sorrow or
suffering that whatever decision they make in relation to abortion will blight the rest
of their lives as they say it at that time. When they put their hands out like scales
and try to make their decision, the moral arguments we create do not help them because
there is right and wrong in each hand or in each side of the balance.
