If we accept 'a woman's right to choose' as the governing principle of such a profound choice between life and death, then rather than encouraging men to accept responsibility, it can support their denial or avoidance.
For everyone involved, abortion will often have been a painful and shattering decision. For many women it is one in which they, perhaps even as much as their unborn child, will have been the victim.
This is why we believe that abortion is not only a personal choice, it is about the choices our society makes to support women, their partners and families in these situations.
If our society makes life its choice then there is no reason why the child, the mother and the father, and indeed the whole family of society cannot grow to fulfill their potential.
Abortion robs everyone of their future. Individually and as a society we believe we have another choice: to give birth to life.
How can we all help bring about change? There is nothing to stop our society from acting now to foster a new understanding and approach to relationships, responsibility and mutual support:
-By being parents and families who cherish life and support our daughters and sons in making decisions which are responsibly pro-life.
-By providing sympathetic counselling and help for young women who find themselves pregnant.
-By providing more and better facilities to support and help young mothers who choose to have their babies.
-By dismantling a conveyor belt that can often take a young woman through to having an early abortion without any of the alternatives being properly explored or resourced. Making genuine freedom of choice a reality is the first and crucial step in a fundamental change of mind and heart.
-By supporting and developing better educational programmes which place the gift of sexual relations within the context of marriage and fidelity. Such programmes can help people understand realistically the joy and sacred responsibility of parenthood. They can inform them about the resources available within the Catholic Church and society for supporting families and parents at moments of difficulty.
-By respecting and supporting the decision of those in healthcare who refuse to perform or assist in abortions on grounds of conscience.
-By pressing for achievable change in the law in the light of advances in medical developments, even if Parliament will not abolish the law. Whilst upholding the principle of the sacredness of human life, it is both licit and important for those in public life who oppose abortion on principle to work and vote for achievable incremental improvement to what is an unjust law.
The Catholic faith lets us see the radiant glory of human life from its beginning to its end. When we know that every person whatever their age, race or condition carries the image of God, we see their infinite value and dignity. Whether we have this vision of faith or not, cherishing life is the central value of every society that wants to flourish.
The Catholic Church offers to participate with others in working for this timely change of heart and mind. We hope and pray for the sake of our common humanity, and the lives at stake, that the next 40 years will tell a very different story. The time to take a different path is now.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien President
Catholic Bishops' Conference of Scotland
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor
President
Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales
