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In the News

  • BHA: Supreme Court dismisses case challenging lack of free abortions for Northern Irish women on NHS
    June 14th, 2017

    By a majority of 3-2 the Supreme Court has today dismissed the appeals of A and B, who challenged the legality of the Secretary of State for Health's failure to provide abortion services to women from Northern Ireland free on the NHS in England. Humanists UK intervened in the appeal in support of the appellants, and has expressed its disappointment at the outcome.

    The law governing abortion in Northern Ireland is one of the most restrictive in Europe such that abortion is unlawful in all but the most extreme cases. The criminal sanctions imposed in Northern Ireland are amongst the harshest in the world, with the maximum sentence being life imprisonment. The law does not however prohibit women resident in Northern Ireland from travelling to Britain to access abortion services. It is estimated that approximately 2,000 women do so every year – a situation countenanced and permitted by both the Northern Irish Assembly and central government – but they must pay up to £2,000 for those services privately.

    Read more.

  • PinkNews: Theresa May appoints MP who defended 'gay cure' charity as Arts Minister
    June 14th, 2017

    Theresa May has appointed an anti-LGBT MP with 'gay cure' links to the government.

    This Prime Minister has been reshuffling her front bench after the Conservative Party lost its majority in parliament in the June 8 General Election.

    While negotiating a deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) – a Northern Irish party which opposes LGBT rights – May appointed John Glen as Minister for Arts, Tourism and Heritage. 

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  • LifeNews: Nurse Fired for Refusing to Assist Abortions Takes Her Fight to Court
    June 14th, 2017

    A Christian midwife filed her application with the European Court of Human Rights Wednesday against Sweden. Elinor Grimmark had to seek work in another country because she refused to participate in abortions. Because the Swedish courts have failed to recognize her freedom of conscientious objection, she is asking the European court to hear her case, Grimmark v. Sweden.

    "The desire to help bring life into this world is what leads many midwives and nurses to enter the medical profession in the first place. Instead of forcing desperately needed midwives out of a profession, governments should look to safeguard the moral convictions of medical staff," said ADF International Director of European Advocacy Robert Clarke. "Ellinor's case could determine whether people who value life at all stages of development will be able to pursue a medical career in the future. Sweden has failed to protect this midwife's fundamental right to freedom of conscience guaranteed by international law."

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  • NSS: Supreme Court rules NI women don't have equal right to abortion services in England
    June 14th, 2017

    In a three/two decision, the UK Supreme Court has ruled that UK citizens normally resident in Northern Ireland do not have a right to free abortion services from NHS England on the same basis as other UK citizens.

    The case concerned A and B - her mother. In 2012 A, then aged 15, became pregnant and with the support of B travelled to England to obtain a termination at the Marie Stopes International Clinic in Manchester. The appellants argued that the failure of the Health Secretary to make provision for A to undergo an abortion free of charge under NHS England was unlawful as it was a breach of public law and a violation of her human rights.

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  • BBC: Abortion: NI women not entitled to NHS terminations in England
    June 14th, 2017

    The UK's highest court has rejected an appeal by a mother and daughter in their legal battle for women from Northern Ireland to receive free abortions on the NHS in England.

    The Supreme Court challenge centred on the case of a Northern Ireland woman who became pregnant when she was 15.

    She went to England with her mother for an abortion in a private clinic in 2012, at a cost of about £900.

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  • BBC: Farron quits as Lib Dem leader over clash between faith and politics
    June 14th, 2017

    Tim Farron has said he is to step down as leader of the Liberal Democrats, less than a week after the election.

    In a statement, he said he was "torn between living as a faithful Christian and serving as a political leader".

    He said he should have dealt "more wisely" with questions relating to his faith during the election campaign, including his views on gay sex.

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  • Mail: Jihadi next door who starred in Channel 4 documentary with London Bridge terrorist Khuram Butt is arrested over the same attack
    June 14th, 2017

    An Islamic fanatic who starred in a Channel 4 documentary with London Bridge terrorist Khuram Butt has been arrested for the same attack.

    Ricardo McFarlane, 29, was taken into custody after a raid by anti-terror police in east London last week.

    He is one of seven suspects that are being quizzed by detectives in relation to the horrific attacks on London Bridge and Borough market on June 3.

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  • PinkNews: DUP leader Arlene Foster: Homophobia claims are 'complete nonsense'
    June 13th, 2017

    DUP leader Arlene Foster says it's "complete nonsense" to suggest that her party is homophobic.

    Northern Ireland's ultra-conservative Democratic Unionist Party has been under scrutiny this week, as the Conservative Party is trying to seal a voting alliance in order to gain a majority in the House of Commons.

    The DUP has blocked all progress on equal marriage in Northern Ireland, and has supported the introduction of a UK-wide 'conscience clause' to protect people who discriminate against LGBT people.

    Read more.

  • Christian Today: The pain for those who are both gay and celibate, when a church changes its doctrine on marriage
    June 13th, 2017

    The Scottish Episcopalian Church was brave to apologise to LGBT people for the prejudices and horrors of the past weeks and yet no one has asked the question of why saying sorry for the past has anything to do with playing God's role in the present by redefining marriage.

    Instead, the Scottish Episcopal Church, among many others, has trampled on celibate LGB people with the decision to depart from God's own teaching in scripture. Next year, when I move to Scotland to study, I may not be able to attend a Scottish Episcopalian Church. The question of whether I can continue to attend in line with the Anglican church I attend in the south of England hangs over my head.

    Read more.

  • SPUC: Petition launched urging Prime Minister Theresa May to condemn 'anti Christian bigots' for demonising pro life and socially Conservative Northern Ireland MPs
    June 12th, 2017

    Pro-life campaigners have launched a petition calling on Prime Minister Theresa May to condemn attacks on Northern Ireland MPs who oppose abortion and same sex marriage.

    The initiative has been taken by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) which was formed in 1967 - the same year as the Abortion Act was passed.

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