High profile Christians including the Treasurer Peter Costello, Labor's Foreign Affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd, and Bruce Baird, former President of the Australian Parliamentary Christian Fellowship, played a role in the success of the RU486 Bill yesterday.
All three voted against crucial amendments proposed by Jackie Kelly that would have given Parliament the final say in approving the abortion pill.
Mr Baird, well known to many Sydney Anglicans as member for the Sutherland Shire based seat of Cook, acknowledged his vote for RU486 would upset many of his fellow believers.
"Of course, a number of those lobbying have targeted me because I am known by many as a committed Christian," he says.
"Therefore, there is an expectation that I will take a similar view to that of many Christians in Australia and of course take note of the views of church leaders."
"One thing I am sure of is that Christ's significance in my life does not diminish because of my support for this bill," he says.
"Tolerance, acceptance and forgiveness are hallmarks of the Christian life, and my approach on these issues is motivated very much by the Christian concept of grace."
Click here to read the full text of Bruce Baird’s speech
