The Liberian Government is facing widespread pressure to remove the abortion section of the Public Health Bill that will lead to thousands of babies having their lives ended by abortion in Liberia.
Given the growing opposition to the proposed change to the law, pro-abortion campaigners have suggested changing the time limit in the extreme abortion section of the Public Health Bill from 14 weeks to 12 weeks.
The Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship of Liberia (CMDA) of Liberia has issued a statement sharply criticizing the attempt to ‘sanitize’ the bill with a very minor change, that will still allow for tens of thousands of lives to be ended in Liberia each year through abortion.
The statement reads:
“This appears to be a cynical move from abortion campaigners to make the abortion section in the Public Health Bill appear more moderate in an attempt to quell public outrage about this extreme abortion proposal.”
“Data from overseas shows that in countries that allow abortion on demand, the vast majority of abortions happen much earlier than 12 weeks, and a very small percentage happen between 12 and 14 weeks.”
“So this small change to the time limit would make very little difference and leave a change to the law that would lead to tens of thousands of lives being lost to abortion every year in Liberia.”
“For example in Sweden, where abortion is available on demand, 96% of abortions happen before 12-weeks. This data shows that the vast majority of the estimated 40,000 lives lost will continue to be ended if this very minor change was made.”
“We regret the claims from politicians like Senator Albert Chie, that opponents of the abortion section in the Public Health Bill are spreading misinformation. On the contrary, as highly educated medical professionals we believe that the public have been deceived about the extreme nature of this section of the bill, legalizing abortion for any reason up to 12 weeks or even later. We call for an extensive, transparent and comprehensive consultation before any extreme change of this nature is introduced. This should not be introduced under cover of night in an emergency special session of the Senate with little to no scrutiny.”
“Science confirms what scripture teaches: that human life begins at conception. Doctors and scientists have known that fertilization marks the beginning of an individual human organism for nearly two centuries. Nothing has contradicted this since. As such, human life must be protected from that point: not from 14 weeks, not from 12 weeks. From its very beginning at conception”.
“The medical profession has not called for this change to our abortion laws, nor has the public. This raises the question of where this proposed change to our abortion laws came from. Our own colleagues have reported pressure from European governments and American NGOs to support the abortion provision in the Public Health Bill. This is not a Liberian idea. This is a Western idea which has been promoted in Liberia with Western money.”
“Since the abortion section in the Public Health Bill stands so clearly in contrast with sound medical science, with our Christian faith, with Liberian values, and with the wellbeing of our children and families, we call for the abortion section to be completely removed. No amendment will rescue this attempt to legalize abortion: our current abortion law must stay exactly as it is.”
“We are calling on legislators to urgently remove the entire abortion section in the bill, so that abortion on demand is not allowed in Liberia. Any changes to time limits will in practice make next to no difference and allow for tens of thousands of lives to be ended by abortion in Liberia.”
