Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Benedict XVI has urged doctors to protect women from the misinformation that an abortion might be an acceptable solution to social or economic difficulties or health problems. His warning comes as outrage builds in the UK over controversial new advice from doctors that having an abortion is safer than having a baby and as Cardinal Keith O’Brien urged healthcare workers to speak out to protect life.

Strong opposition

The Holy Father reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s firm opposition to abortion in a speech last Saturday to members of the Pontifical Academy for Life, the Vatican’s bioethics advisory board, at the end of their General Assembly, which examined post-abortion syndrome.

The Pope said that women are often convinced, sometimes by their own doctors, that abortion is a legitimate choice and in some cases even a therapeutic act to prevent their babies from suffering. Church teaching holds that human life begins at conception.

Saying ‘abortion solves nothing,’ he called on doctors not to give up their duty to defend the consciences of women from such ‘deception.’

“It kills a child, destroys the woman, weighs on the conscience of the father and often ruins family life,” the Pope said.

He appealed to the moral conscience of all those considering an abortion, and argued that all of society should be dedicated to preserving the right to life. He also called for all the women ‘who have unfortunately aborted and thereby fallen into a moral and existential drama’ to be helped.

Abortion in the UK

Abortion is now more common than ever in the UK and there has been much evidence recently about serious physical and psychiatric consequences for women.

The total number of abortions in the UK continues to rise, now in excess of 201,173 in England and Wales and a further 13,081 in Scotland, bringing the total to a record 214,254.

However highly contentious new advice from doctors states that pregnant women should be told that having an abortion is safer than having a baby.

The guidelines, from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, also say that most women who terminate a pregnancy will not suffer any psychological problems as a result.

The guidance, which is still in draft form, has horrified medical ethicists and Christian groups, who say it forces an ‘absurdly liberal agenda’ on women in a vulnerable situation.

Dr Peter Saunders, of the Christian Medical Fellowship, accused the RCOG of ‘perpetuating a myth’ about the safety of abortion.

The guidelines have been slammed as ‘grossly inept’ by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC).

“The RCOG draft guidelines play down the physical and psychological side-effects of abortion, discounting the real and serious damage that abortion can cause,” Paul Tully, SPUC general secretary, said.

Josephine Quintavalle of the Pro-Life Alliance accusing the Royal College of ‘manipulating the evidence’ in a bid to promote the pro-choice message.

“I don’t believe that most women considering abortions are worried it will kill them or are worrying about dying in childbirth,” she said. “This is a blatant attempt to force an absurdly liberal agenda on women when they are at their most vulnerable.”

Professor Patricia Casey, a consultant psychiatrist of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said many studies show a clear association between psychological trauma and abortion.

“The message this sends out is very worrying,” she added.

Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said the draft guidance ‘isn’t a political document’ and ‘isn’t trying to persuade women to have abortions.’ However the Royal College said it is rewriting some of the recommendations in light of the concerns that have been aired.

Message from Scotland

Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Britain’s most senior Catholic clergyman, urged Catholic healthcare workers to stay strong to their moral code and speak out against attacks on life.

“You yourselves are what we might describe as the ‘cutting edge’ of morality in our society,’ the cardinal said during the the annual White Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church that he celebrated with Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow.

“You are the ones who know of the increasing numbers of abortions; you are aware of the ways in which sacredness of life is not always respected either at the beginning of life or at the end of life.”

He added that ‘we must speak out with the strength which comes from being members of our Catholic Church.’
Pontifical Academy for Life

The Pontifical Academy for Life, the Vatican department dedicated to studying issues related to bioethics and the protection of life, met in Rome last month with experts from different cultures and religions to talk about post-abortion trauma.
The academy invited Teresa Burke, president of Project Rachel’s Vineyard Ministries in the United States, and Justo Aznar, from the Institute of Life Sciences in Valencia, Spain, to discuss the impact an abortion has the psychology of women.
The academy was instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1994. It includes more than 70 members, representing the different branches of biomedical sciences related to the promotion of life.