Politicians and public urged to ‘Stop and Think’ on anniversary of Abortion Act

Christian Concern is urging politicians and members of the public to ‘Stop and Think’ on Wednesday, October 27, the 43rd anniversary of the passing of the Abortion Act (1967) as a new survey reveals widespread ignorance about the scale of abortion in Britain.

Since the 1967 Act, over 7,000,000 babies have been aborted in Britain, with more than 200,000 taking place in 2009 alone.

However, the poll undertaken last weekend by ComRes* revealed that nearly one-third of all people (30%) say that they think fewer than 20,000 abortions take place in Britain each year, and one in ten people (10%) say they think 20,001-50,000 abortions take place. A further 41% say they do not know the figure. Only 3% estimated a figure between 150,001 and 250,000.

In the 18-24 age group, 45% polled believe fewer than 20,000 abortions take place each year – one tenth of the real picture!

To help highlight the ‘hidden reality’ of the situation, Christian Concern has booked adverts on buses around central London. The group will also be leading a Vigil outside Parliament on the day as well as hosting a national ‘Service of Lament’ in Westminster, at which the former Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev’d Michael Nazir-Ali will speak.

Christian Concern believes that MPs and Lords who voted in the 1967 Act never imagined that within four decades 7,000,000 babies would have been aborted, or, that the reasons for abortion would have been so relaxed over the years.

Andrea Minichiello Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, said: “As this survey reveals, there is widespread ignorance in our nation as to the scale of abortion. On the 43rd anniversary of the Abortion Act, through these adverts, acts of witness and lament, we aim to provide individuals, the Church and our nation with an opportunity to stop and think about the wide ranging implications of an act that has affected so many families in this country. For too long abortion has been a taboo subject, a situation that only compounds the problems that abortion brings. It is time for society to face up to the hidden scale and consequences of abortion.”