President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, Bishop Hugh Gilbert, wants the First Minister to provide public reassurance that freedom of conscience will be protected in the SNP and wider public life.
His letter addresses the experiences of MP Dr Lisa Cameron, who represents East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, who said her office had received more than 900 messages, including “abuse” and “cyber bullying” after her stance sparked an angry reaction from some, including SNP members.
She fears being deselected from the party after voting in the House of Commons against lifting the ban on abortion in Northern Ireland, where terminations are currently only allowed if the mother’s life is at risk or there is a danger of permanent and serious damage to her mental or physical health.
While the matter was a free vote, enabling individuals to decide in line with their own conscience, Ms Sturgeon made clear if she was in Westminster she would vote in favour of “women’s right to choose” and the result was 332 votes for to 99 against.
Dr Cameron, a consultant clinical psychologist whose anti-abortion stance is partially due to having suffered two miscarriages, said since the vote she has been subject to “attacks” including a person threatening to “come over and ‘abort me'”.
In his letter, Bishop Gilbert writes: “In the days following the vote Dr Cameron has been…
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