The United Kingdom Parliament voted 379-137 on June 17 to decriminalize abortion up to birth and even during birth, prompting outcry from pro-life advocates who are speaking out on behalf of the lives of women and children.
“This decision significantly reduces the protection of unborn lives and will result in grave harm for pregnant women,” Archbishop John Sherrington, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales lead bishop for life issues, stated after the vote.
The BBC reports that Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Tonia Antoniazzi spearheaded the decriminalizing amendment, New Clause 1, to the Crime and Policing Bill.
Abortion remains illegal in England and Wales except in cases when the mother’s life is in danger and she is less than 25 weeks pregnant; although with the new amendment pregnant mothers cannot be prosecuted or investigated by police for aborting their children up to and during birth.
According to the BBC, “The law will still penalise anyone who assists a woman, including medical professionals, in getting an abortion outside the current legal framework.”
In promoting the amendment, Antoniazzi argued that expectant mothers in crisis pregnancies who have an abortion after 24 weeks “need care and support, and not criminalization.”
Archbishop Sherrington warned in his statement that the amendment leaves women “even more vulnerable to manipulation, coerced or forced abortions” and that it “will also discourage medical consultation and make the use of abortion pills for dangerous late-term, at-home abortions more likely.”
“Abortion is often chosen because of the personal challenges that a woman faces, as well as the lack of proper suitable guidance and support,” the archbishop continued. “The enacting of New Clause 1 will result in women being more alone, vulnerable, and isolated.”
The archbishop emphasized that praying and fostering hope in this moment is crucial.
“The Church keeps working tirelessly to protect the dignity of every life,” he said. “We will not abandon pregnant women and their unborn children in their most vulnerable moment. I thank all those within and outside the Church who share this commitment and continue to serve parents in need and their babies.”
The same day, Parliament also considered two other amendments that did not advance. According to the BBC, Labour MP Stella Creasey proposed removing “any abortion-related clauses of the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act — which outlaws abortion — and enshrine abortion access as a human right.” Although it was publicly backed by 108 members of Parliament, the amendment did not go to a vote.
Conservative MP Dr. Caroline Johnson proposed an amendment to require pregnant mothers to have an in-person consultation before being able to obtain a prescription for a chemical abortion. This amendment was defeated in a 379-117 vote.