Cardinal asks British government to allow review of abortion law

LONDON (CNS) -- Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor of Westminster has asked a top British government official to allow a review of the country's abortion laws. Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor met privately in London with Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt June 21 to ask that the 1967 Abortion Act be scrutinized by a parliamentary committee. Hewitt had rejected calls from politicians for a vote to decrease the time limit for legal abortions, now allowed until 24 weeks, following opinion polls that revealed the majority of women are uncomfortable with current laws. Cardinal Murphy-O'Conner said in a statement after the meeting that "there is substantial and growing disquiet in Britain at the numbers of abortions." "Our laws should reflect this disquiet," he said.

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