NI joining GB

I know people who, for religious reasons, are opposed to abortion.

I also know that no woman is likely to make the decision lightly to have an abortion. It is as emotional for them as miscarriage or stillbirth.

But the choice, I feel, should be the woman's. If her religious or moral beliefs cause her to decide against aborting the baby, she has at least made that decision herself.

Those against abortion should, perhaps, be putting more effort into helping those women who decide to have the baby and need practical and emotional support.

Changing the law gives the choice but does not remove the moral dilemma for individuals.

In the for and against arguments , it seems to be forgotten that no one is forcing any woman to have an abortion , but that those who’s conscience allows them has that choice . It is not an easy decision and Septima has put it better than I have

Changing the law extends to women and children in NI the human rights that they have in the rest of the UK. No one has to have an abortion - the issue is one of the right to choose.

X posts aggie I agree with you

I agree with all of you. I don't have much time for people who seem to think they have the right to tell other people what moral decisions they should make.

Nobody's forcing anybody to have an abortion, but it's good that NI women will finally have that choice and not have to travel to Liverpool.

Arlene Foster is still saying that it isn't the end of the matter and that the DUP will try to stop the law.

Of course she is - she’s all heart and full of love for her sisters.

Brought up pro life. But maturity brought sympathy, understanding and acceptance of life....... and technology. Virtual reality headsets give us an insight to other worlds and experience. Strange idea, but would it, could it, work for such an emotive subject? The “what ifs “ may be answered. How would we feel to be in someone else’s shoes.
Maybe we just have to practice empathy without judgment.

It's hard sometimes if we disagree totally, but you're right.

It’s not just abortion, it’s same sex marriage which is now legal in NI bringing it into line with the rest of the U.K. and Ireland. The hardliners made a farcical attempt to block it. They’ve shot themselves in the foot on this one and it’s a victory for equality.

Nonanna interesting that you frame it as ‘pro-life’. Actually I would say you were brought up ‘anti-choice’ - it’s quite wrong imo to imply that being pro-choice equates with being anti-life. The words chosen to describe positions are value loaded aren’t they?

suziewoozie, you are quite right. I support the right of women to have the choice of abortion if they need it, but I resent the fact that that is supposed to make me 'anti-life'.

I have a T-shirt which I got after a 10k race once but as one of the sponsors was a gym called ProLife, I don't feel I can wear it. Why they chose that name, I cannot understand. It's a shame, as it's a good-quality T-shirt!

I can understand ‘Pro Life’, if you believe life begins at conception.

If a mother had a child with a serious illness which meant a short life or serious disabilities and she killed her child she would be charged with murder . But taking the life whilst the child is in the womb is legal.

If the foetus could survive outside the uterus there might be a point to this argument but it can't, so the decision must be the womans and no one elses. It's her body. Pleased NI women will have the same rights as the rest of UK.

Not quite yet trisher but on the way.

The foetus is dependant on his/her mother

Regardless of the rights or wrongs of abortion and gay marriage, I find it bizarre that the DUP are so against different customs rules for NI saying it makes them apart from the rest of the UK but want to have different social legislation which does already set them apart from the rest of the UK.

If you believe life begins at conception, it is your choice to make moral decisions for yourself based on that belief. However, it is a belief rather than a fact and people don't have the right to make moral decisions for other people.

In any case, this is about bringing NI into line with the rest of the UK.

Unfortunately some people make the decision to have an abortion lightly. I have come across patients who have had 2,3 or 4 abortions. Reasons are sometimes tame eg we want to start our family next year, not this year. Sadly some people treat a new potential life with little respect.

I really don’t understand where your point takes us mum. I wish that didn’t happen, but I accept it does sometimes. Are you suggesting that if the reason for the abortion is ‘light’ (and who decides that) the woman should be forced to give birth? You are really making a point about people being more responsible in their sexual behaviour and this I have to say is nothing to do with the rights of women and girls in NI. They have been subject to the most heartless and draconian abortion laws in the world.