Pro-Life Advocates Label the Increase in Abortions a “National Tragedy” as Pressure Mounts for Decriminalization of Abortion.
Newsdesk (24/06/2023 19:30, Gaudium Press) In a troubling revelation, official statistics released by the Department of Health and Social Care on June 22 have unveiled a significant rise in the number of abortions in England and Wales. The figures, covering the period from January 1 to June 30, 2022, show a staggering 17% increase compared to the same period in the previous year, with 123,219 abortions performed by residents. Pro-life campaigners have wasted no time in labelling the situation a “national tragedy.”
Catherine Robinson, the spokesperson for Right to Life UK, expressed deep concern over the escalating number of abortions, highlighting that 2021 witnessed the highest annual tally ever recorded in England and Wales, reaching a staggering 214,256. Each abortion, Robinson emphasized, represents a failure of society to protect unborn lives and provide comprehensive support to women facing unplanned pregnancies.
Under current legislation, abortion is legal in England and Wales up to 24 weeks of gestation, unless there is a perceived disability, in which case it can be performed up until birth. The recent surge in abortions coincides with growing pressure from pro-abortion campaigners to decriminalize the practice, effectively allowing abortions for any reason up to birth.
The call for decriminalization gained momentum following the highly publicized case of Carla Foster, who made headlines last week. Foster, a mother of three, illegally obtained abortion pills when she was between 32 and 34 weeks pregnant, resulting in a two-year prison sentence. Her case has reignited the debate, with pro-abortion campaigners citing it as a reason to push for full decriminalization.
However, pro-life advocates argue that the tragic increase in abortion numbers should not be exploited to promote extreme abortion legislation. Catherine Robinson criticized abortion provider BPAS (British Pregnancy Advisory Service) for seizing the case of Baby Lily, Foster’s daughter who was delivered stillborn, to advocate for removing abortion safeguards and permitting abortions up to birth.
Robinson urged the reinstatement of in-person appointments before abortions to ensure accurate gestational assessment, noting that if Foster had received an in-person appointment, her fully formed child would likely be alive today. She called for a thorough investigation into BPAS for sending abortion pills to a woman whose pregnancy was 22 weeks beyond the limit for at-home abortions.
Robinson concluded by urging the government to firmly reject proposals for legalizing abortion up to birth, emphasizing that further dismantling of abortion safeguards would only lead to more lives lost. The contentious issue continues to divide public opinion and raises significant questions about the future of abortion legislation in England and Wales.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA