RC Archbishop urges Peers to reject ‘distressing’ attempt to decriminalise abortion

Peers must protect the unborn by overturning an attempt to decriminalise abortion, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool has said.

Archbishop John Sherrington is Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference. He issued a statement urging the House of Lords to back moves to scrap the amendment and restore in-person appointments.

The Crime and Policing Bill, which is currently being debated in the House of Lords, includes an amendment (Clause 191) that would allow women to have abortions at any stage of pregnancy without sanction.

‘Threat to unborn lives’

Archbishop Sherrington reported that Bishops “remain deeply distressed” by the amendment, which puts “women at greater risk as well as placing them at risk of coercion, as more women may use abortion pills to perform late-term, ‘DIY’ abortions. The amendment also threatens the lives of many more children, who could be aborted after the current 24-week limit.”

“This is a dramatic proposed change in the law which surveys suggest is strongly opposed by the British public. It also weakens protections for women and children even further.”

He emphasised: “Pregnant women often choose abortion out of desperation and isolation. They need compassionate support and legal protection to be able to care for themselves and their children.

“Decriminalisation does not meet any of these needs, which need to be better addressed by society.”

‘Both lives matter’

Lord Alton of Liverpool, who was unable to attend a recent House of Lords debate on the Crime and Policing Bill, previously expressed his opposition to the decriminalisation amendment.

He stated: “We need to wake people up to what is being proposed and the cynical way in which it has been introduced into a Government Bill. If we fail to raise our voices now, if we fail to rouse the conscience of the nation, both women and unborn babies will be the victims. Both lives matter and we should be unhesitating in saying so.

“We are a civilised country – not a barbaric one. Introducing abortion up to birth should have no place in a civilised society. It is abhorrent.”