Extreme UK abortion changes sneak through

You might have missed it amidst the understandable focus on coronavirus and its massive impact on our lives, but abortion law in England and Wales has changed. And not in a good way.

The law in Northern Ireland has also changed. Where once a law existed that saved lives, NI will now have one of the most permissive abortion regimes anywhere in the world. Meanwhile in England, women will be allowed to take both abortion pills at home (previously it was only one). The same is true in Wales and Scotland.

The move to allow both abortion pills – mifepristone and misoprostol – at home is perhaps the biggest abortion law change since 1967. It has happened without any Parliamentary debate or scrutiny. In response, CARE lobbied hard behind the scenes and secured a sunset clause in the new policy that means it will end when the Coronavirus Bill is no longer needed. We also secured some additional damage limitation by persuading the government to put in a limit of ten weeks. Not much, admittedly, when you would much rather the policy change wasn’t happening at all, but mitigating it a bit.

The announcement of the policy change was a complete farce. The Department of Health announced on Twitter that it was happening, then withdrew the policy, claiming it was an error. The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock told the Commons there were no plans to change abortion law during Covid-19. Then, lo and behold, following extensive lobbying by the abortion lobby, the policy happened. The government botched it completely, and in doing so demonstrated a complete lack of moral fibre.

For some, it might seem trite and ‘tonally deaf’ to be writing about abortion when there’s a global pandemic on the go. I’ve wrestled with this myself. But we cannot ignore, and nor should we turn a blind eye to, the damage that is being done by our country’s lax abortion laws. Since 1967, more than 9million abortions have taken place. If you take the view, as I do, that life begins at conception (just look at Psalm 139) then that is beyond tragic.

Maybe others will say that the move to allow women to take both pills at home is only right and fair, given the extraordinary circumstances we find ourselves in. That line of thinking sadly glosses over the very real risks to women of allowing both pills to be taken at home. For the time being, women will be able to take two powerful drugs in their own home in the first ten weeks of pregnancy. These drugs can cause serious complications if not used within established medical protocols, or in approved medical settings. There are significant safety concerns with their use. For example, did you know that medical abortions cause four times more serious complications than surgical? Or that a quarter of women experience things like heavy bleeding, infection, severe abdominal pain and hospitalisation from failed or incomplete abortions?

During this coronavirus pandemic, there has been much talk of protecting the vulnerable. Maybe this season will lead to a step change in our nation, in terms of how we treat the elderly, the sick, those with disabilities. But what seems awfully, terribly clear is that collectively, as a church and a society, we have a blind spot. We refuse to take seriously the right to life of babies in the womb.

At CARE, we have always taken the view that both lives in a pregnancy matter. We advocate against abortion because it is not in the interests of either the mum or baby. Let’s also recognise that in our churches there are those carrying the guilt and pain of previous abortions. Quite probably the way abortion is talked about (or more likely, not talked about) puts them off opening up. But the Christian gospel is a message of radical grace, radical forgiveness and reconciliation, through the Lord Jesus Christ. We must stand for life and hold out hope to those hurting because of abortions in their past. Above all, let’s pray the tide soon turns. Public opinion on abortion can, and I believe will, change one day.