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In the early hours of this morning (Friday 19th February) a majority of lower house MPs approved the abortion bill, in a very sad day for South Australia.
Voting 29 for the proposed law, and 15 against, the House of Assembly endorsed abortion up to 22 weeks and six days on demand, and under certain conditions beyond that point. The bill must now be considered by the upper house, which is likely to approve all the provisions in the bill.
While pro-life MPs were able to diminish some aspects of the emerging legislation, little comfort may be taken by those amendments. In particular, the specified conditions for late term abortion are the same as those currently flouted by the abortion providers in relation to early termination.
As we reflect upon this appalling result, it must be confessed that the bill has passed under our watch as the people of God. Clearly the influence of the Christian community as light and salt requires deep soul-searching.
Despite the stirling efforts of various pro-life groups, it must be admitted that Parliament has largely lost its way - but so have many of the churches.
Although FamilyVoice personally contacted about 250 pastors who are known to be conservative, only about 20 agreed to sign our open letter to MPs calling for a rejection of the termination of pregnancy bill. Shockingly, a number of Christian pastors in fact endorsed the proposed legislation.
Churches and most denominations were stunningly silent on this matter, leaving the heavy loading to the pro-family and pro-life organisations.
Nevertheless, we give thanks for faithful supporters who prayed and took action. We give thanks for generous donations that funded our engagement in social media, as we alerted supporters and facilitated pro-life action.
We give thanks for the pro-life medical practitioner who agreed to receive a grant from FamilyVoice (funded by a generous donor) to purchase copies of the powerful “Unplanned DVD” that especially highlights the horror of chemical abortion whereby women deliver their own deceased offspring, often in the family bathroom, and must dispose of little one. The doctor provided a copy to each lower house MP at the end of last year.
We are grateful to the donor who funded our quarter page advert in the Sunday Mail, along with full-page full colour ads in two rural newspapers, helping raise awareness and prompt action.
Resisting politically correct pressure, Life FM, Radio 5EBI and nationally broadcaster Faith FM gladly aired our concerns. We are grateful for their support in the fight.
We give thanks for a very brave young supporter, Ms B. Edwards, who had a surgical abortion and a chemical abortion in the years before she came to Christ as Saviour and Lord. Ms Edwards graciously agreed to put her testimony in writing in a letter we helped her send to all State lower house MPs, on the cusp of the debate.
In total, our abortion campaign consisted of a large number of emails, that supporters sent to MPs using our ‘OneClick’ system and Facebook ads which reached over 20,000 South Australians.
Interestingly, our supporters found mixed results when visiting or writing to MPs, which may provide a clue for future battles (eg concerning euthanasia, that is looming as the next challenge).
When one of our supporters visited a pro-abortion MP, the supporter found himself listening to a tirade of negative expression and could hardly get in a word edgeways. However, that supporter is to be commended for at least providing the MP with an opportunity to express herself as a basis for ongoing dialogue.
Only as more good people participate in the political process, through dialogue with MPs, and by joining and reforming the parties, can we expect to reverse the trend towards reckless social policy.
And as the battle for hearts and minds is won or lost not so much in Parliament, but in primary school, our vigorous encouragement to educate the young continues unabated.
While that approach to reform may take many years to bring fruit, we are ready now to tackle the next challenges as they arise.
But whether we win or lose, our prayer, alongside supporters like you, is to be faithful to the one who has already won victory for us all.
David d'Lima - SA State Director
FamilyVoice Australia