The panel was commissioned by the Scottish government to consider waiving future prosecutions of abortions past the current 24-week limit, which would essentially decriminalise abortion in Scotland.
The review’s proposals will be subject to a public consultation next year.
However, Bishop Keenan has slammed the panel’s lack of “credibility and legitimacy” after it was packed with pro-abortion advocates.
“Of 13 members, six are abortion providers or practitioners and 10 have already expressed a view in favour or represent organisations that support decriminalisation of abortion. None represent a pro-life constituency or organisation”, Bishop Keenan wrote in The Times.
He continued: “Its terms of reference expect members to be ‘respectful of all views and opinions expressed within the group’ and yet, before a ball is kicked, as it were, it has censored any contradictory views and opinions, of which there are many, questioning the current liberality of our abortion laws.”
The review follows a vote by SNP party members voted to enshrine abortion as a guaranteed right to enshrine abortion as a guaranteed right in the constitution of an independent Scotland.
In September, censorious buffer zones were imposed around abortion facilities in Scotland. SPUC led a opposed by SPUC on the day the law came into force.
SPUC comment
A SPUC spokesperson said: “This outrageously one-sided review is part of a broader assault on pro-life opinion and the legitimate views of the Scottish public. Such a panel cannot be taken seriously when it is so clearly biased in favour of one conclusion – to decriminalise abortion.
“Scotland is currently ruled by abortion extremists bent on censoring pro-life expression. Their need to suppress opposition is alarming but also a sign of their insecurity.
“For the sake of democracy, the views of all Scots must be heard – not just a fraction of self-interested idealogues who want more abortion at whatever cost to the women and children involved.”
