THE leaders of Ireland's four main churches have expressed "grave concern" at "almost unregulated" abortion being imposed from Westminster.
Unless a power-sharing assembly returns by October 21, abortion will be decriminalised the following day.
The impending legal changes follows a vote by MPs and peers in July to introduce abortion reform.
The church leaders, including Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland, Eamon Martin, said they hoped to meet Julian Smith to discuss their "grave concerns".
They are also urging the political parties to "take risks" and "make the compromises necessary" to restore the devolved institutions.
Their worries are outlined in today's statement, which is also signed by Dr Richard Clarke, Church of Ireland, Rt Rev Dr William Henry, Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Rev Sam McGuffin, Methodist Church in Ireland; and Rev Brian Anderson, the Irish Council of Churches.
The leaders express their consternation at the prospect of an "almost unregulated abortion regime being imposed on Northern Ireland from Westminster".
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The concerns outlined are that the legislation removes "all explicit protection" for the unborn child up to 28 weeks of pregnancy and that if offers no specific protection for unborn babies with disability.
They also claim it does not prohibit abortion based on the sex of the baby and creates a potential vacuum of up to five months in Northern Ireland for unregulated abortion.
The churches invited members to sign an online petition created by Baroness Nuala O'Loan, and added: "Our Northern Ireland political parties have it in their own hands to do something about this.
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"They all need to take risks and make the compromises necessary to find an accommodation that will restore the devolved institutions.
"We are calling on the secretary of state to recall the assembly before 21 October to provide an opportunity for the parties to take the necessary steps both to prevent these laws coming onto effect and to find a better Northern Ireland solution for these challenging issues.
"Finally, we hope to meet with the secretary of state to discuss with him our concerns, concerns that we share with a significant number of our fellow citizens of all faiths and none."
Aontú councillor with Mid Ulster District Council Denise Mullen welcomed the statement.
The all-Ireland party was launched in January in opposition to Sinn Féin's policy on abortion.
She said: "This joint statement shows a unity between church leaders on a fundamental matter of human rights. It is appalling, but not surprising that the political establishment is intent on allowing an abortion regime as extreme as, if not worse than, England's to take hold here.
"The fact that the majority of political parties here are content, overtly or tacitly, to allow Westminster to set the agenda in the area of abortion makes a mockery of the Good Friday Agreement and any supposed commitment to devolution."
Grainne Teggart, Northern Ireland campaigns manager for Amnesty International, said decriminalisation does not equate to de-regulation, but "simply means that women will no longer be treated as criminals for accessing healthcare".
She said the Northern Ireland Office will issue interim guidance in advance of October 21 and that the churches do not reflect the views of vast majority of the Northern Ireland public.
"Finally, we are getting to a place where we will have a compassionate response to crisis pregnancy," she said. "The UK Parliament has legislated to make abortion lawful including in circumstances of risk to health, serious and fatal foetal abnormalities and in cases of sexual crime - few disagree it should be available in these circumstances.
"There must be no return to Stormont before October 21 without abortion reform agreed on exactly the same terms as has been secured at Westminster."
A UK government spokesperson said the secretary of state could not recall the assembly.
"He has been clear with party leaders if they want to shape Northern Ireland solutions on abortion they must show leadership, resolve the remaining issues and get Stormont back up and running.
"He is of course happy to meet the church leaders, but the responsibility for affecting these changes in Northern Ireland lies with Northern Ireland political leaders. And it remains his legal obligation to implement regulations on abortion if the assembly is not reformed by October 21."
