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Shock rise in teen abortion

More underage girls in Scotland have had abortions carried out than ever before with an average of almost one a day now going through the trauma.

The record level last night sparked renewed calls for changes to sex education in the country's schools.

New government statistics have revealed a six per cent rise in terminations among girls under the age of 16.

The figures came as health officials also reported rising levels of sexually transmitted disease among young people.

Yesterday the Scottish Catholic Church blamed government attitudes to sex education.

Peter Kearney, spokesman for the Scottish Catholic Church, said: "These figures are staggering, but not surprising.

"The increase in teenager abortion coincides exactly with increasing use of explicit and graphic sex education materials in Scottish schools, and the introduction an approach to sex education which is completely devoid of morality.

"Sadly the conventional orthodoxy in health and education circles is to see sexual activity, not as part of a life-long commitment, but as a social activity."

Last June Cardinal Keith O'Brien leader of Scotland's Catholics compared the UK wide abortion rate to "two Dunblane massacres a day", in a sermon marking the anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act.

Mr Kearney added: "This massive life of life across Scotland is staggering, and just shows that an immediate change in the law is more necessary than ever.

"We would urge the Scottish Government to make available funding for agencies like the Cardinal Winning Prolife Initiative in Glasgow, which provides support and counselling to teenagers in a crisis pregnancies."

Full story at the Daily Express.