Shawn Carney, CEO of 40 Days for Life, has criticized a proposed U.K. bill that would decriminalize certain abortions up until birth, calling it “insane” and a potential threat to European abortion regulations.
Shawn Carney, the CEO of 40 Days for Life, has voiced strong opposition to a bill currently under consideration in the United Kingdom. The legislation aims to protect women from criminal liability for abortions performed up until birth, a move Carney describes as “insane.”
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Carney expressed concern that British lawmakers are mirroring efforts by Democrats in the United States to expand abortion access. He characterized these developments as “absolutely absurd.”
“They haven’t really lobbied for this,” Carney noted, highlighting a notable shift in the U.K.’s approach to abortion. Traditionally, European countries have been more conservative regarding abortion laws compared to the United States. Most European nations limit abortion to 12 weeks, while England currently permits it up to 24 weeks in certain circumstances. However, the proposed bill would allow abortions throughout the entire 40-week gestation period, which Carney finds alarming.
Carney warned that if this bill is enacted, it could set a concerning precedent for abortion laws across Europe. The Crime and Policing Bill includes a provision, known as Clause 208, that would eliminate criminal penalties for women in England and Wales who terminate their pregnancies at any stage. This clause is now in the final stages of review in the House of Lords and is expected to be voted on soon.
If approved, the bill would return to the House of Commons for any final amendments before receiving Royal Assent to become law. Under the proposed provision, women would no longer face investigation, arrest, or prosecution for ending their pregnancies at any point, even though the current legal threshold for most abortions in England and Wales is set at 24 weeks.
While women terminating their pregnancies would be exempt from criminal liability, medical professionals who assist in abortions after 24 weeks without medical necessity could still face prosecution. As lawmakers deliberate on Clause 208, several amendments have been proposed, including the complete removal of the clause, modifications to exclude late-term abortions, and the introduction of an in-person requirement for medical consultations regarding “pills-by-post” services.
Carney expressed his belief that even the proposed amendments would not be sufficient, arguing that the clause reflects a troubling mindset. “I think it’s insane,” he stated. “I know what they’re trying to do, but you need to combat the laws by saying we’re not aborting children at 40 weeks.” He pointed out that the left has built a movement around the concept of viability outside the womb, which has evolved with advancements in science and medicine.
Initially, the viability threshold was set at 24 weeks, then adjusted to 22 weeks, and in some discussions, even 20 weeks. However, Carney emphasized that no one has ever claimed that viability extends to 40 weeks. “This is just a desire to kill,” he asserted, referring to the implications of allowing late-term abortions.
He further criticized the notion of seeking a legal compromise on this issue, stating, “You want to abort a child the day before he or she is born, and it’s not medically necessary. The baby’s completely viable.” Carney believes that opponents of the U.K. bill are failing to provide rational responses to the push for unrestricted abortion access.
Carney also remarked that the public generally does not want to celebrate abortion or boast about the ability to terminate a pregnancy up to 40 weeks. He warned that removing legal liability for women could inadvertently normalize the act of abortion, making it more socially acceptable.
“What it does is it takes a little bit of a stigma away from abortions at 8, 10, 12, 16 weeks,” he explained. He noted that in the U.S., states advocating for unrestricted abortion access often lead individuals to rationalize their own decisions, saying, “Well, okay, I’m not that bad. My abortion is not that bad because it’s only at 10 weeks, it’s only at 12 weeks, it’s only at 16 weeks.”
Carney emphasized that while the number of abortions performed at 40 weeks may not be significant, the shift in societal perception regarding abortion could be profound. “It’s the mentality that abortion is not a big deal,” he said, adding that the idea of being able to terminate a pregnancy the day before birth could lead to broader acceptance among the public.
“People aren’t monsters,” he concluded. “The monsters write these bills, which are typically very liberal White people who say, you know what, we need to be able to have an abortion the day before your birthday. And most people look around at a party and say that person’s clinically insane.”
Carney criticized the left for their unwavering commitment to unrestricted abortion access, stating, “They believe you need unfettered abortion at all times in order to be a free and just society.” He argued that there is no genuine medical necessity for such extreme measures.
As the debate over the proposed bill continues, the implications for both U.K. and European abortion laws remain uncertain, with advocates on both sides closely monitoring the developments.
According to Fox News, the outcome of this legislation could have lasting effects on the landscape of abortion rights in the region.