Pro-life group challenges Department of Health in wake of mysterious abortion case London, : The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) www.spuc.org.uk has challenged the department of health following the verdict in the mysterious case of Sarah Catt. 

Mrs Catt was convicted of aborting her unborn baby at nearly full term, and sentenced to eight years in prison. According to reports, the sentencing judge, Mr Justice Cooke, said that Sarah Catt "had robbed the baby of the life it was about to have and said the seriousness of the crime lay between manslaughter and murder."

Commenting on the case, Paul Tully, SPUC's general secretary, said: "Abortion at any stage of pregnancy remains a serious crime, as the courts have recognised in this case.  Mrs Catt's mental state before the delivery of her child is unfathomable, and her state now is a cause for deep concern. "The penalty imposed should send a salutory message to the department of health and the Sexual Health Team in particular, which works to promote abortion.  Abortion remains illegal at any stage of pregnancy unless the requirements of the Abortion Act 1967 are fulfilled. The grounds of the Act apply in few, if any, of the 500-600 abortions performed by doctors every day in Britain.

"The department of health has worked incessantly since the 1967 Act was passed to maximise the provision of abortion.  Earlier this year Professor Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Officer,  issued a circular  re-stating the need to observce the statutory requirements.  But officials in the department along with the RCOG and others, continue to show total disregard for unborn children and the law, and instead promote a 'crime between manslaughter and murder', to quote Mr Justice Cooke," concluded Mr Tully. Paul Tully, SPUC Pro-Life's general secretary, can be contacted on mobile 07964 048373 or landline (office hours Mon-Fri) 020 7820 3127.

SPUC www.spuc.org.uk can be contacted on 020 7091 7091. Professor Dame Sally C Davies, Chief Medical Officer: