Scotland’s bishops have condemned a decision by the Holyrood parliament on abortion as “immoral” and “in conflict with public opinion”. Their statement follows an announcement by the Scottish Government’s cabinet secretary for Health, Shona Robison, that Scottish women will be allowed to take the abortion pill Misoprostol at home, making the country the only part of the UK where it is legally permitted outside a clinical setting.
A spokesman for the Church in Scotland said “Since abortion is never the answer to a crisis or unwanted pregnancy, making abortion easier ignores the disturbing reality that an innocent human life is ended”.
The bishops have written to Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon for “renewed discussions” and dialogue on abortion, drawing attention to the findings of a nationwide poll that suggests a majority of Scots do not support current abortion legislation. A ComRes poll published in May found that seven out of ten Scottish women wish to see abortion time limits reduced, with an even greater proportion supporting the idea of a waiting period between initial consultation and termination.
In the letter to Ms Sturgeon, copied to Ms Robinson and the minister for Health, Aileen Campbell, the Scottish Bishops wrote that “the Church continues to speak up for the intrinsic value of human life and the good of both the child and its mother”.
The new policy means that Misoprostol, which is one of two medicines used for abortions, could be taken at home. In 2016 there were 12,063 terminations in Scotland, the majority of which were carried out in the first nine weeks of pregnancy.
The Scottish government has defended the decision saying it believes that all women in Scotland, if they are having an abortion, should be always be able to access clinically safe and appropriate services.
PICTURE: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Health Minister Shona Robison (right), 2016 ©PA
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