Forty years ago on October 27, 1967, the UK's House of Commons approved by a large majority a Bill that made abortion legal. Since then, six million lives have been destroyed in the womb, five times the number of British servicemen and civilians killed during the World Wars.
When the law was passed, it was hailed by many as a great step forward, a vote for democracy and freedom, a victory for women who were at long last given the "right to choose", even if no person, be it male or female has a right to kill another person unless in very exceptional circumstances. In 1968, over 22,000 legal abortions were recorded, rising to 100,000 in 10 years. Last year, the figures peaked at 200,000.
However, it seems that doubts are beginning to crop up even among those who are not morally motivated against the termination of life before birth.
A Catholic UK weekly has reported that according to a survey commissioned by "abortion provider Marie Stopes International", half of UK doctors are against "allowing women to have an abortion on request during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, and almost two-thirds were unhappy with the present 24-week limit". A significant majority of doctors (68 per cent) said they would declare their moral position on abortion to any woman who was asking to end the life of the child she was carrying.
Another poll showed that 85 per cent of those surveyed stated unequivocally that abortion should only be carried out as a last resort, and 68 per cent said that the UK should follow other European countries and only allow abortion up to 13 weeks.
Sixty per cent stated that the law should be reviewed to make abortion less accessible; 85 per cent said that the termination of pregnancy has very serious consequences on the health of the women and should therefore be seen as a last resort, if used at all.
Eight out of 10 women said those who wanted to abort should be offered attractive alternatives, and 93 per cent said that they "want a legal right to know the physical and psychological consequences of abortion".
To mark the Act's 40th anniversary, Catholics and others in the UK organised several activities, including a day of fasting and prayer, silent marches outside the Houses of Parliament, and ecumenical services, one of which was led by Cardinal Murphy O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster. Those who are against abortion on moral or ethical grounds are convinced that life, which begins at conception, is the most precious gift of God, and that no one has a right to terminate it. Murder can never be justified.