UK bill to decriminalize abortion up to birth labeled ‘insane’ by pro-life chief

(SeaPRwire) –   EXCLUSIVE: The head of a global pro-life organization is speaking out against a bill under consideration in the UK that would shield women from criminal charges for having abortions right up to the time of birth.

In an interview with Digital, Shawn Carney, CEO of 40 Days for Life, stated that British legislators are emulating the efforts of U.S. Democrats to permit abortions in such cases, a move he called “absolutely ridiculous.”

“They haven’t actually pushed for this,” Carney noted. “Usually, Europe takes a much more conservative stance on abortion than the U.S. Most European nations limit abortion to 12 weeks. England allows it up to 16 weeks, and in some cases, late-term abortions up to 24 weeks. But now they’re aiming to allow abortions throughout all 40 weeks of pregnancy. This feels completely unexpected.”

Carney expressed concern that if this bill becomes law, it could “spark an undesirable trend across Europe.”

The Crime and Policing Bill contains Clause 208, a provision that would eliminate criminal penalties for women in England and Wales who terminate their own pregnancies at any point. The bill is currently in its final phase in the House of Lords and is set to be voted on as soon as Wednesday. Should the House of Lords approve the clause, the bill will go back to the House of Commons for any last-minute adjustments before being granted Royal Assent to become law.

Under this provision, women would no longer face investigation, arrest, or prosecution for ending their pregnancies at any gestational age—even though the current standard legal limit for most abortions in England and Wales is 24 weeks.

Although women terminating their pregnancies would be free from criminal responsibility, doctors and other individuals who help with an abortion after 24 weeks without a medical reason could still be charged.

As legislators review Clause 208, multiple amendments have been proposed: completely removing the clause, revising it to exclude late-term abortions, and adding a requirement for in-person medical consultations to discontinue so-called “pills-by-post” services.

Carney contended that the last two amendments should still be rejected, claiming the clause seems to reflect “a desire to kill.”

“I think this is crazy,” he stated. “I understand what they’re attempting to do, but the way to fight these laws is to say we won’t allow abortions of children at 40 weeks. The left built an entire movement around the concept of viability—being able to survive outside the womb. As science and medicine advanced, viability shifted because we could provide more care for unborn babies. Initially, they said it was 24 weeks, then 22 weeks. Some claim it’s 20 weeks now, others still say 22. No one has ever said it’s 40 weeks—everyone agrees that a baby can survive outside the womb by then. This just seems like a desire to kill at 40 weeks.”

“I get the idea of trying to reach a legal compromise,” he went on. “But this compromise would mean you all have lost your senses. You want to abort a child the day before it’s born, and there’s no medical need for it. The baby is fully viable … so that’s how I believe these bills must be defeated.”

Carney also noted that “people don’t want to celebrate abortion” and “definitely don’t want to boast about being able to have an abortion up to 40 weeks,” adding that opponents of the UK bill are “lacking common-sense responses” to attempts to permit abortions right up to birth.

He further stated that although most people aren’t “monsters” looking to have abortions at 40 weeks, eliminating legal consequences for women in such cases could make abortion more socially acceptable.

“I think this removes some of the stigma from abortions at 8, 10, 12, or 16 weeks,” Carney explained. “Because in the U.S., when states allow abortions throughout all 40 weeks, people tend to think, ‘Well, I’m not that bad—my abortion is only at 10, 12, or 16 weeks.’”

“It’s not that we’ll see a lot of 40-week abortions,” he continued. “It’s the mindset that abortion isn’t a serious matter—you can even do it the day before birth, so it becomes more acceptable to most people.”

“People aren’t monsters,” he added. “The monsters are the ones writing these bills—usually very liberal White individuals who say we need to allow abortions the day before a baby’s due date. Most people would look at someone saying that and think they’re clinically insane.”

The left “has fully committed to this cause,” Carney stated.

“They believe unfettered access to abortion at all times is necessary for a free and just society,” Carney said. “But no one actually has a genuine medical need for that.”