The Diocese of Liverpool, The Ven Pete Spiers, brought the motion before the Synod in York, which sought to challenge the “common assumption that bringing a disabled child into the world is a tragedy to be avoided”. It called on the Government and healthcare providers to ensure that mothers who find out their unborn child may be disabled are given “comprehensive and unbiased information” about the condition and available support. The motion also called upon healthcare providers and other public bodies to improve the support they give to parents and families of children born with disabilities, as well as upon dioceses, parishes and chaplaincies to consider how they might improve available pastoral advice and support.
After a counted vote of the whole Synod, 312 voted in favour of the motion and 0 voted against. In his opening speech, The Ven Spiers made clear that the motion does not intend to “open up the debate about the rights and wrongs of abortion”. He said: “Whether a pregnancy proceeds or is ended, love, compassion and grace are needed more than anything.
“(The motion) does not intend to open up the debate about the rights and wrongs of abortion, but acknowledges that this is a part of the world in which we live that it is a woman’s right to choose, but she should have the opportunity to find out all the options available to her. “This is particularly the case if she has discovered that the child she is carrying might be disabled.” Following the op.
