When Shepherds Struggle to Lead

Catholic bishops are called to defend human life and oppose abortion. But do they always fulfil this responsibility? When it comes to the UK, the answer is a resounding . . . . Despite growing abortion rates over decades, UK bishops have infrequently and not too loudly opposed Abortion. An admirable expression for Christians of their unwavering stance against abortion?   

The situation in the United Kingdom as a whole is that while abortion technically remains illegal under the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act, the 1967 Abortion Act removed criminal penalties for abortions carried out up to the 28th week of pregnancy. Later, in 1991, this timeframe was reduced to 24 weeks – still double the average limit across Europe. 

This disparity raises serious questions for the British Catholic community. In nations like Hungry, Malta, Portugal, Italy and Poland, we see bishops standing as resolute defenders of life, actively shaping public morality and resisting societal pressures. Conversely, in the UK, the Church’s voice often appears muted, its leadership less united in addressing this critical moral issue. Can shepherds truly guide their flock if their convictions appear to waver in confronting life-and-death matters? 

In England and Wales in 2022, over 250,000 abortions were carried out, in Scotland 16,596 (2,659 more than 2021), almost all of them funded by the state. Despite calls from pro-life organisations urging the Church to respond, their appeals have largely gone unanswered. British bishops have refrained from commenting, reportedly concerned about potential negative reactions. This moral hesitation was recently highlighted when revelations emerged that thousands of women were advised to terminate pregnancies based on incorrect prenatal diagnoses. The scandal centred on two NHS hospitals in Nottingham, which had previously been fined significant sums for inadequate care following reports that hundreds of newborns were injured or died due to neglect. Police investigations are ongoing, alongside the largest public health inquiry in the history of the NHS, which is set to address complaints from 2,500 local families. It is highly likely that this figure includes many Catholic families, yet the scandal in Nottingham has been met with silence from the Catholic Church.

“When deliberate killing of the unborn is called healthcare, we should not be surprised that a lack of ethics and morality permeates our entire medical system,” said Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, co-director of March for Life. “The Church can be a light of hope for those whose lives have been destroyed, as well as for those needing courage to face their own weaknesses. But the Church must also remember that truth is paramount. It should not offer false compassion that fails to help people accept responsibility,” she added.

It is worth recalling what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches – that those who procure an abortion incur automatic excommunication. Misled Catholic families have faced a triple tragedy: the loss of a healthy child, mental anguish and the loss of their good standing within the Church.

Let’s pray for a renewal of courage and clarity among our bishops, that they may steadfastly advocate for the dignity of all human life – from the moment of conception to natural death—and offer a faithful witness to a culture badly in need of truth and hope.