Christians have united in lamenting Parliament’s decision to decriminalise abortion as much as the purpose of birth, a move that can ensure Britain has essentially the most permissive abortion laws in Europe.
Previously abortion was legal as much as 24 weeks right into a pregnancy, although the overwhelming majority of abortions happen well before that time.
March for Life UK held a vigil outside Parliament throughout the debate, urging MPs to reject the proposals. After the vote in favour, the organisation called the result “horrific” and said it will “effectively legalise abortion”.
The Christian Institute’s Director, Ciarán Kelly, described Parliament’s decision as “deplorable”.
He said: “An unbearably large variety of babies — greater than ten million — have been killed in Britain because the passing of the 1967 Abortion Act. Now MPs have voted to ditch one in all the few remaining safeguards protecting the unborn.
“They have done so with little or no regard for the welfare of expectant moms. DIY abortions, at home, late in pregnancy, dramatically increase the likelihood of complications endangering women’s health.”
Writing on X, Peter Lynas, the UK director of the Evangelical Alliance, said, “This vote paves the way in which for sex selective abortion up till birth. The Justice Secretary is true to call it extreme. Few realise that we already offer a number of the least protections to the unborn – and at the moment are going to remove those.”
His sentiments were echoed by campaign group Both Lives Matter, which said, “This isn’t a victory for girls – it’s a tragic failure. The purpose of abortion law is to guard and support each lives in every pregnancy from toxic substances or dangerous operations.”
By removing any criminal penalties for abortion beyond 24 weeks, the federal government could be incentivising back-street abortions and putting women at greater risk, they said.
These concerns were shared by the Roman Catholic Archbishop John Sherrington, who said his Church was “deeply alarmed by this decision”.
“Our alarm arises from our compassion for each moms and unborn babies,” he said.
The archbishop added that by removing legal penalties there could be more incentive to perform abortions at home or without skilled medical assistance.
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