A senior UK bishop has warned that the push for unlimited access to abortion is a sign of Britain's growing moral decline. The comments come amid increasing political support for removing existing legal limits on abortion and fully decriminalising the procedure.
At present, abortion in the UK is legal up to 24 weeks under certain conditions. However, campaigners are now calling for those limits to be lifted entirely, allowing abortions at any stage of pregnancy. Pro-life advocates argue that this would eliminate protections for unborn children and undermine the value of human life.
The rise of telemedicine and the use of abortion pills by post, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, has added to concerns. Critics say this shift has made it easier to access abortions without adequate medical supervision, leaving vulnerable women without the support and care they may need. It has also raised fears about the long-term consequences for both mothers and unborn children.
Christian leaders have spoken out strongly against these developments. They say that permitting abortion without time limits reflects a deeper erosion of Britain’s Christian moral framework. One church figure described it as a “slaughter of the innocents on a biblical scale,” urging the nation to reflect seriously on the direction it is heading.
While the law technically permits abortions beyond 24 weeks only in extreme cases—such as serious risk to the mother's life or severe fetal abnormality—many are concerned that proposed changes could lead to abortion on demand at any stage. Statistics show that the vast majority of abortions in the UK are carried out on mental or social grounds, with only a small fraction due to medical emergencies or disabilities.
Church leaders are calling on Christians across the country to pray, speak up for the unborn, and advocate for a culture that respects life at every stage. They argue that true compassion involves supporting both mothers and their unborn children, and that society must find better solutions than ending life in the womb.
