Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland
Statement on Northern Ireland Abortion 23rd March 2021

The Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland (RPCI) is saddened and angered by the determination of the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Brandon Lewis MP, to implement unrestricted abortion access in Northern Ireland. The intended rollout of more widespread abortion services funded by the tax-payer is immoral and wicked, offering as it does an opportunity for pre-born children to be put to death.

It must be recognised that abortion services in various forms are already on offer in Northern Ireland; the RPCI laments this, and is appalled to learn that over 1,000 pre-born children were killed in Northern Ireland in the last twelve months. With the protection of British law, more than one thousand acts of lethal violence were carried out against defenceless human beings. Citizens should be horrified at what their society now tolerates – indeed, in some quarters, celebrates.

It is particularly tragic that in the same twelve months during which our national and local governments have been urging citizens to make every effort to “save lives” from Covid-19, so much effort has been given to legalising the termination of human life in the womb. Our political leaders, including the Secretary of State, the Prime Minister and our local Stormont Assembly members, should consider the account that they and all of us will one day have to give to our Maker – “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Abortion-on-demand, which is what we have across the United Kingdom in practice, if not in name, is an unjustifiable attack on the sanctity of human life – something God has expressly forbidden, both in the Ten Commandments (“You shall not murder”, Exodus 20:13) and throughout Scripture.

Procuring or carrying out an abortion is an offence to a holy God, but there is still hope for those who repent. Jesus Christ was crucified to bear the punishment of sinful men and women – and raised again to new life, offering reconciliation with God and hope of a new beginning. Such is the love of God, that those caught up in the sin of abortion can find forgiveness and redemption.

We urge the United Kingdom as a nation to repent of her sin and acknowledge Christ Jesus as King of the nations and the only Redeemer of human beings.