As the House of Lords prepares for a critical vote on abortion legislation, the presence of Archbishop Sarah Mullally has been confirmed, following a wave of concern from pro-life advocates. Her anticipated absence due to a pilgrimage prompted significant backlash, yet Lambeth Palace reassures that she will be present for this pivotal decision.
Archbishop Mullally had announced a six-day pilgrimage to Canterbury, raising doubts about her attendance at the vote on the Crime and Policing Bill. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) and others within the Church voiced their concerns, emphasizing the importance of her presence.
A spokesperson from Lambeth Palace confirmed, “The Archbishop will be in the House of Lords on Wednesday to vote on the proposed amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill. It will not affect the pilgrimage or its route, which starts this afternoon.”
The contentious bill involves amendments to the UK government’s Crime and Policing Bill, with a focus on a clause proposing to decriminalise abortion at any stage of pregnancy in England and Wales. Last year, MPs in the House of Commons supported the move to amend the law, permitting women to end their pregnancies without facing prosecution, even beyond the 24-week limit.
Opponents argue that this change effectively allows abortion up until birth for any reason. Dr. Calum Miller, a medical doctor and ethicist, commended Archbishop Mullally’s decision to attend and urged other bishops to do the same.
Archbishop Mullally’s pilgrimage from St Paul’s Cathedral in London, a 140km journey, is part of her spiritual preparation before taking on her role as Archbishop of Canterbury at her installation service in Canterbury Cathedral on March 25.
Since her appointment as Justin Welby’s successor, her views on abortion have been scrutinized. She previously identified as “pro-choice rather than pro-life,” a stance she has since clarified.
In an interview with Church Times last October, Mullally stated, “I am aware that I have in the past been labelled as ‘pro-choice’ — perhaps because of my previous career — but this is a complex debate, and I don’t think my or others’ views can be so simply categorised.”
She added, “I support the Church of England’s principled opposition to abortion, which comes with a recognition that there can be strictly limited conditions under which abortion may be preferable to any available alternatives. Above all else, women facing unwanted pregnancies require compassion and care, and a path that supports them. They are confronted with the hardest of choices, and they must be supported.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
