“Called into politics – not to perfect the world, but to offer Gods perspective, a better way, & allow society a choice!” – Landa Cope

As a Member of Parliament, I had many opportunities over the years to challenge Legislation on abortion and initiated three bills in this regard. The first – a Constitutional Amendment – provided for the Right to Life of the unborn child. The second and the third were amendments to the CTOP Act. From my earliest days in Parliament, I experimented with drafting legislation and by the time I started on the 2017 CTOP Amendment Bill, I had learnt a lot. One of my many theories is that ‘if you do not have the courage and humility to crash and burn – at least a few times – you are unlikely to accomplish what you are meant to.’ 

Moms are also on God’s heart
I don’t believe a baby’s life should be taken at any stage in its development for any reason other than if the mother’s life depends on it. This legislative proposal, however, was different. I really sensed God’s specific leading in the crafting of it. It did not seek to challenge the constitution – which does not protect the life of an unborn child – but to improve existing provisions in legislation in line with the constitution. In this process, I sensed that moms were as much on God’s heart as their babies were.

What does the Bill entail?
The Bill aimed to ensure greater protection of a woman’s right to relevant information to make an informed choice and to ensure mandatory counselling and adequate budgets. It aimed to address discrimination against babies conceived by women in low-income families, providing that a social worker and a medical practitioner take the necessary decision together regarding ‘social and economic circumstances’ for termination after 13 weeks. Lastly, it aimed to remove ‘a risk of injury to the foetus’ as a valid reason to terminate an otherwise viable baby after 20 weeks. Every birth poses a risk of injury and provision exists for termination after the 20th week, if linked to severe malformation of the foetus. 

Is this a compromise?
The concern of some Christians, that this was a compromise, was valid because it was. We live in a diverse society, but when the majority of people in SA decide to stand for ‘the right of an unborn child to life’ and vote in line with their convictions – there will still be a need for compromise. But, that ‘compromise’ will more meaningfully reflect this view.

Date published: 16/03/2019
Written by: Cheryllyn Dudley
Article source: JOY! Magazine