Left to right – Wikimedia Commons: Bishop John Sherrington 2024, Official portrait of Tonia Antoniazzi
Archbishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said the Church is “deeply alarmed” by last night’s vote to decriminalise abortion.
“This decision significantly reduces the protection of unborn lives and will result in grave harm for pregnant women”, Archbishop Sherrington said in the statement last night.
Yesterday evening, on 17 June, MPs voted by 379 votes to 137 to approve Tonia Antoniazzi’s NC1 amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill.
If approved by the House of Lords, the amendment would mean that “no offence is committed by a woman acting in relation to her own pregnancy” at any gestation.
A woman who induces her abortion at home using pills (or any other method) at any stage of pregnancy, including just before natural birth, would therefore not commit a crime. Abortion would essentially be decriminalised.
“Women will be even more vulnerable to manipulation, coerced and forced abortions”, Archbishop Sherrington said. “This legal change will also discourage medical consultation and make the use of abortion pills for dangerous late-term, at-home abortions more likely.”
Despite the setback, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference said “we cannot lose hope. The Church keeps working tirelessly to protect the dignity of every life. We will not abandon pregnant women and their unborn children in their most vulnerable moment.”
Yesterday, SPUC led a peaceful demonstration against abortion decriminalisation outside the Houses of Parliament.
Around 80 men and women, including many young people, held signs and placards that read, “Say No To Abortion Up To Birth.” SPUC was also joined by other pro-life groups, including Christian Concern and March 4 Life UK.
“Let’s be clear: this isn’t healthcare. It’s a moral crisis”, SPUC Executive Director Michael Robinson posted on X before the demonstration.
After last night’s vote, SPUC Public Policy Manage Alithea Williams said: “It is horrifying and heartbreaking that MPs have voted for this extreme and barbaric proposal.
“Our already liberal abortion law allows an estimated 300,000 babies a year to be killed. Now, even the very limited protection afforded by the law is being stripped away by MPs who seem to have no compassion for babies in the womb, even those ready to be born alive.
“They have shown just how out of touch they are with a public who certainly do NOT agree with abortion up to birth.”
Ms Williams added: “We continue to stand for ALL unborn babies, from the moment of conception. That the abortion lobby is prepared to go this far, to be this extreme, will be a wake-up call to society. We will use this to tell the truth that all human life is precious and should be protected by law.”
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