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Scottish Catholic bishop: Scotland ‘must stand with both mother and child’

September 4, 2026 · 1 min read

Scottish Catholic bishop: Scotland ‘must stand with both mother and child’ President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland John Keenan is urging the Scottish government to reform the country’s expansive abortion law, calling on the government to reject efforts to expand the abortion regime there.

While the government doesn’t plan to change abortion law from 2026-2027, it intends to follow through with recommendations made by a pro-abortion advisory group and to fund late-stage abortion.

“Every unborn child is a unique human life deserving of protection, and every mother should be supported in ways that uphold her dignity and the dignity of her child,” Keenan said in a statement .

“I therefore make a direct appeal to all elected representatives who recognize the inherent dignity of every human life, to reject any further liberalization of abortion provisions in Scotland and to oppose measures that would remove essential safeguards or further weaken protection for unborn children.”

The advisory group “excluded prolife voices and … adopted a principle of ‘non-regression’ on abortion provision,” the bishop said, arguing that the group “lacks both legitimacy and…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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Олександр Ткаченко

Bishop Keenan rightly says that both mother and child must be supported. You can't just expand abortions and remove all safeguards, as suggested by this group, which didn't even listen to pro-life voices. In Ukraine, we also often forget that each child is a separate life, and not a problem that can be simply removed.

Людмила Шевчук

Totally agree, Oleksandr. It is especially important that the bishop emphasizes the real support of the mother - we often only talk about it in Ukraine, but in practice the woman is left alone with problems. Don't you think that more should be said about the maternity care centers at the parishes?

Христо Димитров

That's right, Bishop Keenan is right - we really need to support both the mother and the child, and not just remove all the safeguards, as this group that has not even listened to pro-life people wants. Here in Bulgaria, too, they often only talk, and sometimes a woman loses herself. It's good that he directly addressed the deputies, maybe someone will hear.

Соломія Коваленко

I agree with you, Ludmila, about supporting the mother in action. There is a small center in our Vinnytsia near the church where women are helped with things and advice, but they really need to be told more. Have you seen how it works in your parish?

Теодора Василева

I agree, Hristo, it is really important not to leave the woman alone after giving birth - here in Tarnovo, in the municipality, there are some benefits for mothers, but until they reach them, an eternity passes. The bishop has well said that both must be supported, otherwise everything remains just words. And what do you think young mothers in our country lack the most - money, counseling or just someone to listen to them?

Іван Коваль

Yes, Solomiya, in Vinnytsia there is such a center at the church - it is good that there is at least something. In our parish in Lviv, several women also received help with things after giving birth, but we really need to talk more about it, because many people don't even know. And how often do women come to your center, haven't you heard?