(ZENIT News / York, 24.07.2024).- During the recent Anglican General Synod, held in York, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, shared a moving personal experience about the pressure exerted on his wife, Caroline, by the medical staff at a hospital, to abort their daughter Ellie, who was born with dyspraxia, a condition that affects a person’s movement and coordination.
Welby recounted how, during Caroline’s pregnancy, concerns arose thar led the doctors to carry out a test to detect disabilities. “Before Ellie was born, there was a certain concern and a test was ordered,” explained Welby. “But it was made very clear to my wife that, if the test proved positive, it was expected that we would request the interruption of the pregnancy. It wasn’t a neutral process as they said it was expensive. “
The Archbishop described Ellie, now 32,, as “precious because she is wonderful, kind, and someone who gets angry, gets happy and sad. She doesn’t have such a serious disability,” stressed her father, who doesn’t pray for his daughter’s disability but sees it as an integral part of her identity.
Welby’s comments were aligned with a motion presented by the Venerable Pete Spiers, Archdeacon of Liverpool, who challenged the idea that to raise children with disabilities is a tragedy. Spiers advocated for better support for such parents and impartial information on the conditions diagnosed during the pregnancy.
The General Synod approved Spiers motion by unanimity, with 312 votes in favour and none against. This resolution urges health providers to give more support and resources to parents with disabled children.
The Church of England is opposed to abortions based on disabilities. During a parliamentary debate in 2013, the Anglican Church described as “discriminatory” the law that permits such interruptions. According to the 1967 Abortion Law, abortion is legal up to 24 weeks, although there are exceptions in cases of serious disability or risk to the mother’s life.
