Image Sources: (L) RC Diocese of Aberdeen | (R) Scottish Parliament
Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB, the Roman Catholic bishop of Aberdeen, has written a strongly worded letter to Emma Roddick, the SNP MSP for Inverness & Nairn, after she signalled strong support for her Party’s last-minute cancellation of SPUC’s planned fringe event at the SNP’s annual conference in October.
On 11th October, just six days before SPUC’s event on coerced abortion was due to take place at the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) annual conference in Aberdeen, SPUC received word that the SNP’s Chief Executive – and former MP for Aberdeen South – Callum McCaig, had cancelled our planned event, seemingly because of internal pressure to do so.
SPUC’s pleas for the event to be reinstated were rejected, and as such, we have taken legal advice about potential breaches, by the Party, of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and Equality Act 2010.
In the run up to the SNP Conference, in response to a post on X from a user sympathetic to SPUC, Emma Roddick MSP posted the following:
Fast forward to early November, and Bishop Gilbert, in his letter addressed to Roddick, expressed his disappointment at the SNP’s decision:
“While political parties are, of course, entitled to decide which organisations participate in their conferences, I was disappointed to see the SNP cancel a legitimate fringe event, which was focussing on the specific issue of coerced abortion.”
Bishop Gilbert goes on to say:
“Many, and not only Catholics, hold pro-life convictions and participate constructively in public life. They should be able to do so without feeling that their views place them outside acceptable democratic and civilised debate.”
Commenting on Bishop Gilbert’s letter, SPUC’s Communications Manager, Peter Kearney, said the following:
“SPUC welcomes this intervention from Bishop Gilbert, and alongside a similar intervention from Bishop John Keenan, President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, it goes to illustrate the level of opposition to the SNP’s censorial cancellation.
“In declaring that “SPUC has no place at SNP Conference”, Emma Roddick has demonstrated a complete disregard of her pro-life constituents. I hope that Bishop Gilbert’s firm, but charitable, letter to her will make her reconsider the strength of her opposition to those with differing views.”
Bishop Hugh Gilbert’s letter is included in full below:
Dear Emma Roddick
I am writing about the decision by the SNP to cancel a fringe event organised by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) at its recent conference in Aberdeen.
While political parties are, of course, entitled to decide which organisations participate in their conferences, I was disappointed to see the SNP cancel a legitimate fringe event, which was focussing on the specific issue of coerced abortion.
Whilst acknowledging that there are differences of opinion on abortion, including coerced abortion, I am concerned that comments suggesting organisations such as SPUC have “no place” in political discussion on an issue like this may be disrespectful to constituents who shaw those convictions and who seek to engage respectfully in civic life, including in this instance the legitimate concern that there is a critical gap in Scotland’s legal protections for women coerced into terminating pregnancies, with no specific criminal offence for men who coerce women into having abortions. Surely this infringes “a woman’s right to choose”?
Many, and not only Catholics, hold pro-life convictions and participate constructively in public life. They should be able to do so without feeling that their views place them outside acceptable democratic and civilised debate.
I am sure you will agree that we need to encourage a political culture in which people can disagree profoundly on matters of conscience while continuing to treat one another with respect.
Yours sincerely,
Hugh Gilbert OSB
Bishop of Aberdeen
