BISHOP PHILIP’S STATEMENT ON DECRIMINALISATION OF ABORTION
BISHOP OF PORTSMOUTH
Rt. Rev. Philip A. Egan BA, STL, PhD
MESSAGE FROM BISHOP PHILIP EGAN
to the Clergy and Laity of the Diocese
on the House of Lords vote on the Crime and Policing Bill
March 2026
Dear Friends,
Last week, the House of Lords, in a misguided and sinister move, backed
legislation to decriminalise abortions up to birth. Although the current legal limit
of twenty-four weeks will remain for doctor-induced abortions, it will soon be
legal for mothers themselves, if they wish, to kill their unborn child at any
moment up to full term. This is a truly shocking development. When abortion
was first legalised in 1967, abortions in England and Wales were few and far
between, yet by the end of the 1990s, almost 175,000 a year were taking place.
Today there are over 300,000 a year – one in every three babies conceived.
Abortion has been normalised, even though we know that as well as destroying
the baby, abortion greatly damages the mother.
This new legislation is deemed a triumph by pro-choice activists. In reality, it is a
terrifying development. It is a further advance for the culture of death. “Thou
shalt not kill” is an instinctive principle written into every human heart, one that
grounds the laws that govern every civilised society on earth. It is the teaching of
all major religions, and it is fundamental to Christian morality and Catholic social
teaching. The new legislation sets aside this principle with the same false and
emotionally-charged logic campaigners use for assisted suicide and euthanasia.
It is a logic that diminishes the dignity of human life. It is a logic that brazenly
empowers the strong to determine the life or death of the weak. More, the
prospect of late-term abortions taking place at home raises the real danger of
premature babies being delivered alive but then furtively being terminated. Have
we now returned to the morality of the Roman Empire, which permitted
infanticide, especially if a baby or child was handicapped, weak or of the wrong
sex?
As Catholics, we know that every human being has been created and willed by
God. This is why we must calmly but insistently work to protect the unborn child
in the womb and to protect women from abortion. We must continue to witness
Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth Registered Charity 246871
to the truth about human life and campaign to change people’s hearts and
minds. We must also support and pray for women who have had abortions and
for those who find themselves in a difficult situation. I ask: Have we really done
everything we can to make our voices heard above the clamour for death?
We are people of life. This week we keep the Solemnity of the Annunciation when
the Blessed Mother conceived the Christ-Child in her womb. Please offer the
Rosary for the abolition of abortion and in celebration of motherhood. Every
Saturday in the Church’s year is dedicated to Our Lady, so let’s remember this
intention in prayer every Saturday too. Let us also bring this matter in prayer to
our annual diocesan Day of Prayer and Reparation for Life on 23rd October. And
why not join me for this year’s March for Life in London later in the summer?
In Corde Iesu
+Philip
Bishop of Portsmouth
19th March 2026
Solemnity of St. Joseph
Praise, Worship and Hospitality
Canon John Cooke invites you to join Sacred Heart Parish, Fareham and Portchester for Praise & Worship
Evenings at 7.30pm on the third Friday of each month…
PORTSMOUTH DIOCESAN “DON BOSCO” BOYS CAMP:
We are delighted that camp will be going ahead again this summer for boys of secondary school age at
St. Cassian’s, Kintbury. There will be plenty of sport, outings, competitions and fun and games to ensure that boys will have a fantastic few days. This will continue to take place within the context of the celebration of the Catholic Faith, including daily Mass and morning prayer. The cost of the camp is £230 (part bursaries may be available on application).
To find out more or to reserve a place, please email dbcamps@portsmouthdiocese.or.uk.
Called and Gifted 2026 – Registration Open!
Called & Gifted is returning to our Pastoral Area. C&G is a great way to prayerfully discover your spiritual gifts (called Charisms) and use them in your everyday life. As a result, you become more fully the person that God created you to be, leading to deeper peace and joy and greater confidence in being a channel of God’s love for others. For a short video (1m 30s) from the authors of C&G, the Catherine of Siena Institute, click here: https://vimeo.com/322254299
There will be four 90 minute sessions on Monday evenings, 13, 20, 27 April and 11 May from 7:30 to 9:00pm at St Bede’s Hall. These sessions will enable you to learn about the charisms and get an initial insight as to which ones you may have. You will then have the opportunity to book a personal discernment meeting with a trained member of the Called and Gifted Team to deepen your discernment. Finally you will have the opportunity to join a small group of people with similar charisms to you to help you complete your discernment and start using your charisms. For more info on C&G, please see www.calledandgifted.org.uk
The cost per person is £30 which covers the learning, discerning and using stages above plus a comprehensive workbook that covers the whole journey and access to a library of online resources. To register, please email Joan Kent at jkent@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk with your name, contact details and the church you attend.