Christian group welcomes Bill to stop abortion for minor disabilities

 (Photo: Unsplash/Aditya Romansa)

Christian advocacy group CARE has welcomed a new Bill aimed at ending abortion up to birth for treatable conditions like clubfoot or cleft lips. 

CARE spokesman James Mildred said that there was "obvious discrimination" with the current laws and that the Bill, if passed, would bring clarity to this area.

"The 1967 Abortion Act was amended in 1990 to allow for abortion up to birth in cases of 'serious disability'," he said. 

"Tragically, this has been interpreted to include treatable conditions like a clubfoot an cleft lip or palete."

Under current laws, babies with these conditions can be terminated up to birth.

The Bill is being backed by a cross-party group of MPs led by Fiona Bruce, The Sun reports.  The Christian MP's son was born with a clubfoot, which was successfully corrected by surgery and physiotherapy.

Mr Mildred continued: "Conditions like a clubfoot, and cleft lip or palete can be corrected, and there are many high profile examples of people overcoming these conditions.

"Since the 1990 change, societal attitudes towards those with disabilities have significantly improved and this is reflected in legislation like the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act.

"It's high time our abortion laws were reviewed by MPs and brought into line with the positive change in wider societal attitudes towards those with disabilities.

"Regardless of where MPs stand on the wider issue of abortion, here is a perfectly sensible change and we could urge all MPs to back it."

News
Nigerian faith leaders call for interfaith reconciliation to end violence
Nigerian faith leaders call for interfaith reconciliation to end violence

Nigeria is the deadliest country in the world for Christians.

Businessman and peer Lord Edmiston reflects on faith, stewardship and global mission
Businessman and peer Lord Edmiston reflects on faith, stewardship and global mission

The successful businessman and peer said he was driven by evangelism, not the creation of wealth for its own sake.

Greek Orthodox Church in Britain baptises 250 people
Greek Orthodox Church in Britain baptises 250 people

The church said that many of those baptised had been guided into the faith through its Discover Orthodoxy programme.

Kemi Badenoch pledges to restore historic church funding scheme
Kemi Badenoch pledges to restore historic church funding scheme

The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme was formally closed at the end of March but ran out of money before that after its budget was cut.