Finally we thank many people, of religious faith and none, who have sought to protect unborn life and the life of the mother over the last fifty years; mothers who have continued their pregnancies in difficult circumstances, politicians who have sought to reform the legislation to better protect unborn life, those people whose prayers have been offered for greater respect to be shown to the wonder of the life in the womb, for mothers and those whose lives are cut short by abortion. Together let us better cherish life.

This statement presents a number of different challenges for the future: a new understanding of the intrinsic value and worth of every human life in the womb, a better protection of unborn children diagnosed with a disability, a great need for education in moral responsibility about human sexuality and the meaning of sexual expression within marriage. Many professionals face the challenge that respect for conscientious objection against abortion has been eroded. Personal conscience is inviolable and nobody should be forced to act against his or her properly informed conscience on these matters. We encourage greater debate about this right and these challenges in our society.

Today the language of ‘choice’ dominates discourse about marriage, gender, family and abortion. This needs further exploration. Choice has come to mean doing whatever I feel to be right for me - a very subjective view of the good - rather than taking into account a wider set of fundamental values. This is a very inadequate understanding of free choice, which requires an education in important truths about what is truly good and the possibility of other options. In this case, these must include the good of the unborn child, care and support for pregnant mothers, and the responsibility of the father.

Fifty years ago, few envisaged the possibility of that there would be almost 200,000 abortions in Great Britain in 2015. Every abortion is a tragedy and few consider that abortion is the desirable or best solution to a pregnancy, which may be challenging on account of many different factors. The complex set of conditions in which a woman finds herself pregnant and may consider having an abortion may limit the exercise of freedom and diminish moral culpability. When abortion is the choice made by a woman, the unfailing mercy of God and the promise of forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation are always available. There is always a way home to a deeper relationship with God and the Church, as recent Popes have emphasised, which can heal and bring peace.

This statement, published by the Catholic Bishops of England, Wales and Scotland, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the 1967 UK Abortion Act, is addressed not only to Catholics of our countries, but more broadly to all people who seek to uphold the dignity of human life and protect the unborn child. Over the last fifty years, the bishops of our countries, along with many other people, have spoken consistently in favour of the intrinsic value of human life and both the good of the child in the womb and the good of the mother. This anniversary provides an opportunity to lament the loss of life due to abortion and seek a change of minds and hearts about the good of the child in the womb and the care of mothers who are pregnant.

Executive Summary

Politicians who are unafraid to be honest about their pro-life views are fundamental to the changing of hearts and minds in the abortion debate. Their witness can bring about change at state level, ensuring that the rights of unborn children, their mothers, fathers and family are protected and that every life is cherished for being part of the one human family.

The Church is clearly setting out a message of hope for unborn children in this statement. Often forgotten in the debate around abortion they, along with their mothers, must become the focus of our attention as we seek to bring the world to recognise the intrinsic value of both lives. We can no longer allow humanity to destroy itself in this way. Political leaders, governments and authorities must be encouraged to see that all humanity is worth protecting; a task which is the responsibility of us all.

There is no doubt that every abortion is a tragedy and that very few would consider abortion to be a desirable or the best solution to a pregnancy, a view that appears to be widely shared given that most people in the UK believe there should be greater restrictions on the availability of abortions. The Bishops, in recognition of the heartache and pain that can arise from abortion, stress that the unfailing love and mercy of God is available to all people and that the Church can be a place of healing and peace. It is something that has been consistently restated by popes and is perhaps best summed up in the words of John Paul II when he said: "I would like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope."

The Bishops state that the anniversary "provides an opportunity to lament the loss of life due to abortion and seek a change of minds and hearts about the good of the child in the womb and the care of mothers who are pregnant."

The statement has been released to coincide with the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Abortion Act 1967 which will take place this Friday 27th October. It is naturally focused on the need to stand firm against the destruction of innocent human life in the womb. It is also clear on the need to ensure that mothers are cared for and given all the support they need in difficult times; an approach which believes that both lives are of intrinsic value and worthy of society's protection and support.

In a joint statement released to mark the 50th anniversary of the Abortion Act, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, and Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, said: "We are grateful to all those who work through our political system to protect human life from the moment of conception. We urge those who seek to reform the current abortion legislation to continue their good work."

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