Scotland's Catholic bishops have expressed serious concerns about renewed calls to decriminalise abortion, warning that proposed changes could weaken legal protections for unborn children.
The Bishops' Conference of Scotland has urged the Scottish Government to reconsider proposals to reform abortion law and instead increase support for women facing difficult pregnancies.
The intervention follows calls from the Scottish Greens for ministers to bring forward a consultation on decriminalising abortion and removing the requirement for two doctors to approve the procedure.
Bishop John Keenan, who leads the Bishops' Conference's work on marriage, family and life, said the Church was deeply concerned about the potential consequences of changing the law.
In a statement published by the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, the bishops warned that the proposals could permit abortions up to birth, including on the grounds of sex selection.
The Scottish Greens argue that abortion should be treated as a healthcare matter, with fewer legal restrictions on women seeking treatment. The party's health spokesperson, Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill, has called for the Scottish Government to move forward with reforms, arguing that decriminalisation would reduce stigma and remove unnecessary barriers to accessing abortion services.
However, the Catholic bishops challenged the party's position, insisting that the rights of unborn children must also be considered.
"Every human life possesses inherent dignity and worth; a dignity that does not depend upon age, size, ability, dependency or stage of development," their statement said. "Scotland should aspire to be a society where no woman feels abandoned during pregnancy and where every human life is welcomed, valued and protected."
The bishops acknowledged that some women face extremely difficult circumstances during pregnancy but argued that greater practical and emotional support should be the priority. They called for increased investment in maternity services, perinatal mental health provision, pregnancy counselling, and financial assistance for families.
The statement also urged politicians to consider the ethical, medical, and social implications of changing the law.
The Scottish Government's independent expert group has recommended retaining the existing 24-week limit for most abortions, with specified grounds for procedures after that point.
Meanwhile, Scottish Government has previously said it has no plans to reform abortion law during 2026-27, although it remains committed to consulting on the expert group's recommendations.
