Anti-abortion clinic near Marie Stopes centre opens

An American Catholic congressman was in Belfast on Tuesday to help launch the first pro-life health centre outside the United States, writes Sean Smith.

One of the strongest opponents of abortion in the House of Representatives, Republican Chris Smith said the centre was a refuge for women facing crisis pregnancies.

The clinic has been opened by Stanton Healthcare, which describes itself as a faith-based organisation though it is not affiliated to any Christian denomination. It currently has clinics in Idaho and California.

Pregnant women are offered counselling and free ultrasound scans. According to the organisation, more than 90 per cent of “abortion-vulnerable women” who have ultrasound scans at the clinic in Boise, Idaho, choose to give birth.

Stanton Healthcare Belfast is located on Great Victoria Street – the same street as the Marie Stopes clinic, which has been the centre of a fierce debate over the status of abortion under Northern Irish law.

Unlike the rest of the United Kingdom, abortion is still illegal in Northern Ireland except in rare cases where the life of the mother is in danger.

Northern Irish women wishing to have abortions regularly travel to the UK mainland for the procedure.

The pro-life campaigning group, Precious Life, is working closely with Stanton Healthcare and its members are continuing their vigil outside the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast.