The Archbishop of Canterbury has revealed that his wife felt pressured by hospital staff to abort their disabled baby.
Justin Welby’s daughter Ellie, now 32, suffers from dyspraxia, a disorder that affects motor skills and coordination.
The bishop told a general assembly in York that he would “expect” his wife, Caroline, to choose an abortion if she tested positive for a disability during her pregnancy.
According to the Telegraph, the archbishop said hospital staff had spoken to him and his wife about the high costs of raising a disabled child.
Welby said: ” [Ellie] There was some concern during the pregnancy and I was instructed to get tested, but it was made very clear to my wife that if she took the test and it proved positive, she would be asked to have an abortion.
The Archbishop of Canterbury (pictured with his wife Caroline) revealed he was pressured by hospital staff to abort his disabled child. Justin Welby’s daughter Ellie, now 32, suffers from schizophrenia, a disorder that affects motor skills and coordination.
“We were told it would cost money, so it wasn’t a neutral process.”
He described Ellie as “a precious person because she’s a wonderful, kind person who gets angry, happy and sad. She doesn’t have a severe disability.”
Welby has previously said he doesn’t pray about Ellie’s disability because it’s a part of her.
The archbishop’s comments came after the archdeacon, the Rt Rev Pete Spiers, from Liverpool, introduced a motion challenging the assumption that raising a disabled child is a tragedy.
Archbishop Spears called for better support from health care providers to parents of children with disabilities.
He also calls on the government to ensure parents receive impartial information about any illness their unborn child has been diagnosed with.
Archbishop Spears’ motion was passed unanimously by the General Assembly with 312 votes in favor and 0 against.
Archbishop Welby (speaking in Parliament) had previously said he would not pray for Ellie in relation to her disability because it was part of her. The archbishop’s comments came after the archdeacon, the Rt Rev Pete Spiers, from Liverpool, tabled a motion challenging the assumption that raising a disabled child is a tragedy.
The Church of England opposes abortion on the grounds that the foetus is disabled.
During a parliamentary debate on the issue in 2013, the church described the law as “discriminatory.”
The abortion law introduced in the UK in 1967 allows abortions up to 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Abortion after 24 weeks is permitted in very few circumstances, such as when the mother’s life is at risk or when the baby will be born with a severe disability.
The General Conference is a national conference of the Church of England first established in 1970.
It considers and approves bills that affect the entire Church of England.
This includes inventing new forms of worship and discussing issues of national and international importance.