THE leader of the TUV has urged Protestant churches to take a stronger lead in the campaign against abortion.
Jim Allister, MLA for North Antrim, said it appears the campaign is dominated by Roman Catholics, even though a great many Protestants also have strong feelings about abortion.
Mr Allister, who has received a huge number of letters from Catholic constituents on the issue, said: “I’m disappointed that, particularly from the major churches on the Protestant side, there’s been not a lot of leadership given on this issue.
“I would be quite happy to call on Protestant church leadership to be more vocal and declamatory.
“I’m not going to name churches. I think it’s across the board. Each will know what they’ve said and done about it.”
Stephen Lynas, spokesman for the Presbyterian Church, said the church had already spoken out on the issue, and he said they “oppose any attempt to undermine or liberalise abortion as it stands”.
He said they hope to seek a meeting with the clinic but that they “prefer to have face-to-face meetings”, not street rallies.
A spokesman for the Methodist Church said they are opposed to “abortion on demand” but have “no plans to make an official protest”, while a spokesman for the Church of Ireland said it was “imperative” for the clinic to act within Ulster’s strict abortion laws – but it had no specific protests planned.
The Free Presbyterian Church is planning a protest outside the clinic on Thursday at about 1pm.