British life groups back challenge to abortion of cleft-palate baby

Published: 2003-11-24

MANCHESTER, England (CNS) -- British pro-life groups have backed a legal challenge concerning the abortion of a child with a cleft lip and palate. An Anglican vicar, the Rev. Joanna Jepson, said Nov. 19 she was asking the courts to review the decision of her local police force, the West Mercia Constabulary, not to investigate the abortion recently performed at a hospital in western England. Newspaper reports of the legal challenge said the unnamed woman was more than 24 weeks pregnant and was therefore beyond the legal limit for abortion unless there is a risk of serious handicap. Rev. Jepson, 27, curate of St. Michael's Church, Chester, said a cleft palate was not a serious handicap and that the law should prevent late abortions for "trivial" reasons. As a teenager, Rev. Jepson had surgery for a jaw defect.

Copyright (c) 2003 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .