PA NEWS
GOD HAS MERCY OVER ABORTION - CATHOLIC CHURCH
 
RELIGION Abortion
14 Jun 2007 - 02:47
By Martha Linden, Press Association
 
Page 1
 
The Catholic Church in England and Wales will today attempt to highlight its practical help and "merciful" approach to women in crisis pregnancies following strong attacks on abortion by senior clergymen.
 
Bishop Bernard Longley, an auxiliary bishop of Westminster, and Martin Foley, chief executive of Life, will outline support available to women and babies in need at a news conference today.
 
The event comes as the Catholic Church in England and Wales prepares for its Day for Life on July 1 aimed at explaining why the Church opposes abortion and the care offered to women and babies in need.
 
A collection will be taken in Catholic parishes in aid of Life, the UK pro-life charity which provides care for pregnant women, unsupported mothers, women with problems relating to pregnancy, or suffering from the effects of abortion.
 
A spokeswoman for the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales said: "The central message that we want to get out is that all human life is valued from conception to natural death.
 
"We are highlighting the practical and emotional support offered to women who have decided against abortion, and counselling services available to those who are making decisions about the life of their unborn child.
 
"We are also highlighting the support and care services available to those who have had abortions.
 
"God is always merciful, whatever the situation we find ourselves in.
 
"He always offers us forgiveness and for those who are traumatised by the after- effects of abortion the Church will always be there for them."
 
Bishop Longley said: "This year's Day for Life has been prompted by a number of anniversaries, these coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Abortion Act and it is very timely for us to look again and be clear about what the Church teaches regarding the sacredness of life."
 
The news conference comes after the head of Catholics in Scotland, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, said abortion was an "unspeakable crime" and likened abortion statistics to "two Dunblane massacres a day in our country".
 
He also questioned whether politicians who support abortion could continue to take Holy Communion.
 
The Archbishop of Cardiff, the Most Rev Peter Smith has said Catholic politicians who vote in favour of abortion should remove themselves from receiving Holy Communion.
 
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the leader of Catholics in England and Wales, also emphasised that the "long-standing" tradition of the Church teaches that anyone who commits a "mortal sin" should approach the Eucharist only after having gone to Confession.