The prevailing secularist Zeitgeist infects even a small, self-governing Crown dependency such as the Isle of Man.
Eager to make their ‘modernising’ mark, some of the island’s elected representatives (MHKs) are pushing for dramatically greater abortion availability. Leading the charge is Dr Alex Allinson, a practising GP who admits to working around the island’s existing Termination of Pregnancy Act.
Present law
The 1995 Act permits abortion by a hospital surgeon ‘if that surgeon and an independent medical practitioner’ believe it to be necessary to preserve the mother’s life. It also permits abortion up to 24 weeks if the baby is ‘seriously handicapped’, and up to birth when the child is thought unlikely to survive.
Last January, Dr Allinson requested leave to introduce a Private Member’s Bill that would grant abortion on demand up to 14 weeks of pregnancy, and allow abortion up to 24 weeks even for such trivial reasons as ‘serious social concerns’. He also proposes abortion up to birth where there is a ‘substantial risk of severe disability’. Of the 24 MHKs, 21 voted to permit Dr Allinson to introduce his Bill; just three voted against.
Abortion is a symptom of a sick and sinful society. Convinced that the only solution to sin is the finished work of Jesus, a group of Christians desiring to proclaim repentance and the forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ has initiated a campaign to abolish abortion in the Isle of Man.
Humanity of the unborn
The rescue.im campaign launched on 17 June, with 20 supporters holding a peaceful witness in the island’s capital. Passers-by saw vivid photographs showing the irrefutable humanity of unborn children, and were challenged to repent and be reconciled with God through Christ Jesus. Abortion advocates reacted with intense hostility, with over 100 comments quickly appearing on one distasteful Facebook thread alone. The vehement response, however, enabled the campaign’s report on the event to reach over 10,000 people on Facebook in just three days.
Please pray that God would have mercy on the Isle of Man, grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to many, and raise up moral leaders who oppose evil and promote good. Pray for all Christians, that God may give them the wisdom and courage to make a righteous stand against abortion. Finally, please pray that Christ would be glorified through the rescue.im campaign and that all involved may have godly wisdom and divine protection.
