Scotland's most senior Roman Catholic has urged the Scottish Executive to put pressure on Westminster to change the laws on abortion. Cardinal Keith O'Brien spoke out after delivering a sermon in which he claimed the existing legislation was founded on "lies and misinformation". He also warned Catholic politicians that they should not take Holy Communion if they support the Abortion Act, which was passed exactly 40 years ago.
"I ask them to examine their consciences and discern if they are playing any art in sustaining this social evil," the Cardinal said in a sermon at St. Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh.
"I remind them to avoid co-operating in the unspeakable crime of abortion and the barrier such co-operation erects to receiving Holy Communion." The SNP-led Executive has so far refused to be drawn on the issue, pointing out that abortion laws are reserved to Westminster. But Cardinal O'Brien said that was unacceptable and that they should make "representations" to their counterparts in London urging them to amend the current legislation.
He said: "Our Executive must seriously consider these issues as the Executive have seriously considered other issues which are not of immediate concern to themselves, such as the Third World."
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