Scottish government accused of downplaying pro-life views in abortion consultation

 (Photo: Unsplash/)

The Scottish government has been accused of "deliberately diminishing" the views of thousands of people who responded to its consultation on home abortions.

'DIY' abortions have been permitted since the start of the pandemic and the Scottish government intends to make the arrangements permanent.

The consultation asked people to comment on the impact of DIY abortions on safety, accessibility, convenience and waiting times for women.

In published results, the Scottish government differentiated between total responses and figures excluding standard submissions from a campaign run by pro-life group Right to Life UK.

When all responses were considered, the majority were negative towards all four points, but especially on safety (74%). When Right to Life responses were excluded, this fell to 47%.

Similarly, 61% of all respondents indicated they would prefer a return to the previous arrangements before home abortions were allowed, but when the Right to Life campaign responses were excluded, this fell to 21%.

But Anthony Horan, director of the Catholic Parliamentary Office, questioned why these pro-life responses were singled out for exclusion.

 (Photo: Scottish Government)

He said the Scottish government had "shockingly sought to downplay those individuals who raised concerns, labelling a significant number of the responses as 'organised by pro-life or faith groups' as if to downgrade their importance".

"The same treatment was not given to pro-abortion groups," he said.

DIY abortions make it possible for women to terminate their pregnancies at home after an e-consultation with a doctor.

The Scottish government published a health plan for women last month in which it set out its intention to "make telephone and video consultation universally available as an option for abortion services".

While it has promised to commission an independent evaluation into the effectiveness of home abortions, Mr Horan said the commitment in the Women's Health Plan risks undermining this.

He accused the Scottish government of being "hellbent" on making home abortion arrangements permanent.

"The Scottish Government is risking the health and wellbeing of vulnerable women and their unborn children and riding roughshod over democratic convention," he said.

"It is dangerous for women, and it is dangerous for democracy."

News
Russian courts ban more Baptist churches in continued crackdown
Russian courts ban more Baptist churches in continued crackdown

Russian courts have banned three more Baptist churches affiliated with the Council of Churches Baptists in the southern region of Krasnodar amid an ongoing crackdown on unregistered congregations across the country.

Evangelicals offer praise for Armenia PM after he recites Bible at prayer breakfast amid church tensions
Evangelicals offer praise for Armenia PM after he recites Bible at prayer breakfast amid church tensions

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, under criticism from rights groups over his government's treatment of senior clergy from Armenia's national church, received strong praise from American and British Evangelical leaders after highlighting his record at the country's first national prayer breakfast on Saturday. 

Hollywood stars Cate Blanchett and Spike Lee meet Pope
Hollywood stars Cate Blanchett and Spike Lee meet Pope

Pope Leo XIV welcomed a group of Hollywood luminaries to the Vatican on Saturday, including Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett and director Spike Lee. 

The gift of fellowship in building one body in Christ
The gift of fellowship in building one body in Christ

There’s a saying that a lone coal grows dim, but coals heaped together glow red-hot. The same could be said of the Church.