“Today, Parliament passed an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, that effectively decriminalises abortion after the maximum legal term of 24 weeks. Women who end their pregnancy after such time limit, at any time, up and even during birth, will not be investigated or sentenced. We are deeply alarmed by this decision. Our alarm arises from our compassion for both mothers and unborn babies”. With these words, Archbishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, commented the decision taken by Westminster Parliament, that yesterday voted, with a majority of 379 votes for and 137 votes against, to decriminalise the abortion law. Such amendment, put forward by MP Tonia Antoniazzi, after some women had been investigated and imprisoned for ending their pregnancy after the legal term of 24 weeks, aims to protect from investigations and questionings those women who have abortion too late. The requirement to abide by the 24-week term will still apply to doctors. “This decision will result in grave harm for pregnant women and will leave them more vulnerable to manipulation, coerced and forced abortions”, Archbishop Sherrington went on, “Use of abortion pills for dangerous late-term, at-home abortions will also be more likely, and fewer women will ask for medical consultations”.