PRAYER ALERT From Whistle Group Decision from Right to Life High Court Case

Justice Miller delivered his judgment on 3^rd August, ’09 regarding the Right to Life High Court Case held on Monday 20th July.

He has declined to issue declaratory orders concluding they are unnecessary as the Abortion Supervisory Committee (ASC) should now be fully aware of its statutory duties.

Some of his points were:

v There is no reason to suppose that the ASC will refuse to act now that its functions have been clarified. It remains the case that the Committee can be expected to administer the law as Parliament intended.

v Further non-compliance has been material. I found that the Committee has failed over many years to exercise some of its statutory powers at all…it is not possible to say how many unlawful abortions have been performed.

In his judgment of 9^th June ’08 Justice Miller stated that

v “There is reason to doubt the lawfulness of many abortions authorised by certifying consultants. Indeed the Committee has stated that the law is being used more liberally interpreted than Parliament intended.

v The abortion law certainly asserts a state interest in protecting the unborn child and not merely an interest that women may have safe and legal abortions. The law precluded abortion on request and as a matter between the woman and her own doctor.”

Justice Miller put the ball back into Parliament’s courts to hold the ASC accountable via the Select Committee process.

Please pray for those on that committee:

Chester Burrows, Nat, Chair

Simon Bridges, Nat, Dep/Chair

Paul Quinn, Nat

Kan Waljit Sing Bakshi, Nat

Dr K Graham, Greens

David Parker, Lab

Lynne Polley, Lay

(+ replacement for Richard Worth, Nat)

If you would like Justice Miller’s report emailed to you outlining all the reasons why he declined to make declarations, please email me.

Thank you for covering this court case in prayer.

Blessings,

Sue Rowe