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** Religious liberty is at risk in Northern Ireland – please pray
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Dear supporter,

This afternoon, the House of Lords will hold its final debate on proposals to impose same-sex marriage and abortion on Northern Ireland.

The legislation is being rushed through at breakneck speed. It makes no requirement to protect those who for religious or other reasons, oppose the changes.

In the rest of the UK free speech and religious liberty protections are embedded into the laws which redefined marriage. Here they rest entirely on the discretion of the Secretary of State. Even if the incumbent Karen Bradley wants to introduce them, her successors could take a different view. The current wording offers no guarantees.

As it stands, the people of Northern Ireland would have fewer free speech and religious liberty protections than the rest of the UK. Church ministers could be compelled to conduct same-sex weddings. The freedom to criticise same-sex relationships and civil partnerships is not upheld.

We have already seen that The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland was prepared to pursue Ashers bakery through the courts for not endorsing same-sex marriage. Unchecked, this Bill could lead to serious difficulties for Christians and others who want to express the belief that marriage is only between one man and one woman.

Please pray for Lord Morrow. He is tabling an amendment to give the people of Northern Ireland the same protections as those enjoyed by the rest of the UK.

Another amendment could impose on Northern Ireland one of the most liberal abortion regimes in the world. It requires the Secretary of State to introduce abortion but leaves any regulatory framework to their discretion. As with marriage, there are no protections for those who refuse to be involved with abortion on grounds of conscience.

Please keep praying that same-sex marriage and abortion will not be imposed on Northern Ireland.

Yours in Christ,

Ciarán Kelly
Deputy Director (Staff and Communications)
The Christian Institute


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