CATHOLIC BISHOP OF PORTSMOUTH SPEAKS OUT AGAINST ‘SINISTER’ PROPOSALS FOR EXTREME ABORTION LEGISLATION IN GUERNSEY

Bishop Philip Egan of the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth has urged all people of good will in Guernsey to mobilise, to “resist and face down” the “detestable” proposals to liberalise existing abortion laws.

Bishop Philip Egan explains, “Two years ago, there was a misguided campaign to legalise assisted suicide. Now, under the bogus word “modernisation”, an attempt is being made to further liberalise abortion, to make it a lot easier and a lot more common. They want to allow abortions much later in pregnancy, abortions to be carried out with less red tape, abortions to take place at home and outside hospitals, and, grimly, abortions right up to birth for a disabled child, a child unwell, or a child with Downs Syndrome.”

He describes this move as “fundamentally detestable”.

“They refer to abortion euphemistically as a ‘procedure,’ a ‘termination’ with help from ‘the professionals.’ But what procedure can justify any professional terminating of the life of an innocent baby? The more you see what an abortion is, the more you can see it is anti-life, anti-human and anti-woman.”

Bishop Egan continues, “we do appreciate the pressures and the dilemma faced by anyone unintentionally pregnant and we pledge to do all we can to assist and support them. But Let’s be clear: there are two lives at stake here, a child and a mother. It is completely wrong to take away the life of either. Abortion has damaging consequences that result, sooner or later, in guilt and emotional trauma. Later, many bitterly regret it. Those who soothingly propose the new legislation never refer to this damage or to the medical complications that can arise or to the sense of grief or PASS, Post-Abortion Stress Syndrome.”

“The post-COVID lockdown is not the right time to ram through legislation like this, not without a full, open and frank consultation and debate” he argues.

He therefore makes an appeal to Catholics in Guernsey “to mobilise. Speak out against these proposals. Write to your deputies. March and campaign. Join with brothers and sisters from the other Christian communities. Unite with all people of good will. And above all, pray. Prayer is potent. Pray earnestly that this legislation will be overthrown. Pray that the rights of children - the right to life - will be upheld.”

For Bishop Egan’s complete letter to the people of Guernsey, click here

Ends

Background

The Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth comprises 91 parishes, 76 schools across Hampshire, Dorset, Berkshire (except Slough), South Oxfordshire, the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands. Formed 19th May 1882 by the division of the Diocese of Southwark, the Diocese of Portsmouth has a presence in every community and can offer ministry and mission to all who come to us, with a total population of 3.2million people.

Contact:

Chris Smith, Director of Communications, Diocese of Portsmouth, Tel: 02392 893607 Email: csmith@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk