DUP Member for South Down Jim Wells, who was appointed as Northern Ireland’s new health minister in a cabinet reshuffle this week, has spoken out against abortions for women who become pregnant as a result of rape.
Jim Wells, who took up his new post on Tuesday, says he is opposed to abortion laws being liberalised in Northern Ireland, which would allow rape victims to terminate their pregnancies in local hospitals.
Speaking during a radio interview in 2012, he explained: “That is a tragic and difficult situation but should the ultimate victim of that terrible act [rape] – which is the unborn child – should he or she also be punished for what has happened by having their life terminated? No.”
He added: “In Northern Ireland there are hundreds of married couples who would love to adopt children, a child, a baby, and who could give support in that situation. A termination of a pregnancy should not be the first option in that situation. The other option is that you kill the child who’s a totally innocent victim in this terrible set of circumstances.
“These instances are extremely rare in Northern Ireland and my concern is those who are lobbying on this issue are using it to some extent because they want abortion on demand for everyone, regardless of the circumstances.”
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