Scottish Catholic Observer

Anthony Horan was speaking to the Equalities and Human Right Committee at the Scottish Parliament on April 19, where he addressed MSPs on the issues of abortion and euthanasia. Mr Horan said abortion is an issue ‘which attracts much controversy and is very sensitive’ but he said that ‘doesn’t mean we should shirk from it—on the contrary we have a duty to engage in respectful but vigorous dialogue.’

He said that while politicians can shy away from controversy due to ‘vitriolic’ attacks they receive on social media, he’d like to see ‘parliament be more open to the views of all people’ interested in the right to life and have a ‘meaningful search for the truth.’

On March 22, the Scottish Parliament held a debate on Down’s Syndrome Awareness Week. However, Mr Horan said he was disappointed that ‘a debate on challenges facing people with Down’s syndrome failed to face up to the biggest challenge faced by those people and that is that nine in every ten unborn children in UK with Down’s syndrome are aborted.’

“Weather it’s this committee or in the main chamber I’d like to see more open and honest consideration of all the issues related to human rights,” he added.

The committee also heard testimony on euthanasia, with MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton saying he ‘would very much like to see a refreshed inquiry with a view to bringing forward cross-party sponsored legislation,’ on this issue, adding that ‘those people who have previously voted against assisted dying are increasingly having conversations where they’re indicating that they may be on a journey, and perhaps even willing to change their position.’

However, Bill Scott of Inclusion Scotland, the national disabled people’s organisation, said MSPS should ‘take more notice of the need to live rather than the need to die.’

Mr Horan, director of the Catholic Parliamentary Office, pointed to cases in other countries where people have been euthanised for addiction to alcohol and where there are concerns around coercion.

“We should not go down the road of making the vulnerable more vulnerable or risking trust between doctors and patients or undermining palliative care,” he said. “All human beings must be protected. Nobody can be left behind.”