Compulsory education of children at the age of eleven about abortion and the prevention of early pregnancy
Catholic bishops in Northern Ireland have hit out at plans to introduce mandatory lessons about access to abortion in secondary schools, describing the Westminster proposals as a form of “ideological colonisation”.
In a sharp statement, senior Church leaders rejected the Westminster regulations, slamming the proposals as “overreach” while emphasising the rights of parents.
They described the legislation as “radical,” adding that such legislation is not imposed on schools in Britain, “where the right of parents to be involved in decisions about such ethical and pastoral issues is fully respected”.
They further said that the right of parents to an education for their children that is an accordance with their ethical, religious and philosophical convictions, remains “an internationally recognised human right.”
Having already imposed some of the most radical abortion laws in the world on the people of Northern Ireland, without their consent, the Secretary of State now seems determined to impose an ideologically biased view of abortion on all schools, irrespective of parental rights or school ethos.
The regulations, which were confirmed this month by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, are set to come into force later this year, making it compulsory for all second level schools in NI to teach children as young as eleven about access to abortion and prevention of early pregnancy.
Up until now, schools have had the power to teach issues relating to pregnancy and abortion in line with their individual ethos.