Hundreds of protestors, including many Christians, from across the UK gathered outside Parliament on Saturday to take part in a mass rally marking the 40th anniversary of the passing of the Abortion Act.
The rally was held outside Parliament to raise awareness of the large number of people, from across the faiths and none, who believe the current situation is no longer acceptable, and that the Government should carry out a full review of the current abortion law.
A number of services of remembrance, repentance and hope took place at churches and cathedrals throughout the day. Demonstrators followed the rally with a march to Westminster Cathedral where they joined in an interdenominational service led by the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor.
Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor spoke of his hope that people would be “enlightened to think again” on abortion, adding, “There needs to be a mind change”.
He also urged believers to care for mothers, warning that many women felt they had no choice but to have an abortion because of a lack of help and lack of counselling.
The head of the Christian Medical Fellowship Dr Peter Saunders gave a stirring address during the service in which he said that people were beginning to wake up to the horror of abortion.
“Today we are here to remember, to reflect and to repent,” he told the packed congregation.
Dr Saunders went on to remind believers of the value of each life to God. “We are made in His image,” he said. “To Him every life is infinitely precious.”
