By Breaking Belize News Staff: Church Senator Pastor Louis Wade Jr. says Belize’s churches will strongly oppose any attempt to liberalize the country’s abortion laws, declaring that the existing legal framework is adequate and arguing that Belize should instead strengthen support for pregnant women and families.
Speaking in an interview with Breaking Belize News amid renewed national debate on abortion, Wade described abortion as the killing of an innocent human life and said the “body of Christ” would fight any effort to broaden abortion rights.
“Legalized abortion is something that we as a body of Christ will fight against,” Wade said, adding that he believes a large section of Belize’s population shares that position.
His comments come as the Belize Family Life Association (BFLA) renews calls for changes to the country’s abortion laws. Executive Director Joan Burke-Skeen has said the organization is not simply seeking to “promote abortion,” but wants the issue addressed through public health and reproductive healthcare, with a focus on reducing unsafe procedures and removing criminal penalties.
Burke-Skeen said BFLA and its partners are advocating for improved reproductive health services, better data and discussions with the Government on possible legislative reform. She noted that abortion is already permitted in Belize under limited circumstances.
Under Section 111 of Belize’s Criminal Code, unlawfully causing an abortion or miscarriage is a criminal offence. However, Section 112 provides exceptions where a pregnancy is terminated by a registered medical practitioner after two registered doctors determine in good faith that continuing the pregnancy would pose a greater risk to the woman’s life, physical health or mental health, or where there is a substantial risk of serious fetal abnormality. A woman’s actual or reasonably foreseeable environment may also be considered.
Wade argued that those existing provisions are sufficient.
“Belize’s laws are adequate,” he said.
The Church Senator also raised Belize’s falling fertility rate, arguing that the country should be discussing population sustainability alongside abortion. World Bank data show Belize’s fertility rate has declined substantially over recent decades and is now around two births per woman, near or below the commonly cited replacement level of about 2.1.
Wade said the focus should instead be on improving healthcare for pregnant women and strengthening foster care, adoption and assistance programmes for single mothers.
Asked about pregnancies resulting from rape or incest, Wade maintained his opposition to abortion, describing rape as a serious violation but arguing that ending the pregnancy would constitute a second wrong.
He also called on fathers to take greater responsibility for pregnancies, saying some women face difficult decisions because the men who impregnated them fail to provide support.
“Men need to step up to the plate,” Wade said, arguing that men should remain part of the abortion debate and provide financial and emotional support to mothers and their children.
Wade has faced criticism online over the forceful language he has used in discussing the issue, including a recent social media post in which he said abortion would not be legalized “on my watch.”
Asked about that criticism, Wade said he has no intention of softening his position, maintaining that thousands of Belizeans share his religious and moral objections to abortion even if they may disagree with his approach to the debate.
The issue is expected to remain contentious as BFLA and its partners continue advocating for reform while religious organizations signal strong opposition to any expansion of legal access to abortion.
The post ‘It’s the killing of babies’: Church Senator Louis Wade vows to fight abortion legalization in Belize appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Church Senator Pastor Louis Wade Jr. says Belize’s churches will strongly oppose any attempt to liberalize the country’s abortion laws, declaring that the existing legal framework is adequate and arguing that Belize should instead strengthen support for pregnant women and families. Speaking in an interview with Breaking Belize News amid
The post ‘It’s the killing of babies’: Church Senator Louis Wade vows to fight abortion legalization in Belize appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
