Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien, President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, has taken the unprecedented step of writing to every individual Member of Parliament.
The Cardinal's letter comes in advance of consideration by MPs of amendments which could further withdraw legal protection of unborn children.
The amendments, proposed for the Report Stage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, seek to permit abortion on request with the approval of only one doctor; and also to permit nurses and midwives to perform abortions.
Condemning the fact that these proposals will "make early abortion more readily available", Archbishop O'Brien stated: "We already have a shamefully high level of abortions in the UK."
He continued: "We face the prospect of making the UK more ubiquitous in Europe for its barbarity in dealing with the unborn...our spiraling abortion statistics are already a badge of shame for our nation."
Asking all 646 MPs to extend equality and anti-discrimination legislation to the child before birth, Cardinal O'Brien stated: "Now the ideologues would have us remove what little restraint there is in relation to abortion".
News
New ‘Tyndale Trail’ launched to mark 500 years of English New Testament
A new long-distance walking route tracing the life of Bible translator William Tyndale has been launched in south-west England, as part of commemorations marking 500 years since his groundbreaking English New Testament.
Russia and Ukraine agree to temporary Orthodox Easter truce
In the Orthodox calendar, Easter falls one week after the date celebrated in western Europe.
Bishop urges people of Britain to stand up for Christian truth
It follows an earlier open letter addressed to King Charles, calling upon him to defend Christianity in line with his titles of Supreme Governor of the Church of England and "Defender of the Faith".
Fundraising Regulator reminds churches that collections are subject to code of practice
Churches can breach the code even when acting in good faith.