London, England, Apr 6, 2004 / 22:00 pm
A controversial new documentary will be the first to break through one of Britain’s last television taboos and show footage of an abortion. And the Catholic Church in England and Wales is supporting it, saying that it "could prove a powerful anti-abortion message."
“My Foetus”, which will be aired on Channel 4 this month, will show a "vacuum-pump" abortion. The results of the three-minute procedure, generally performed on pregnancies under 12 weeks gestation, are then placed on a petri dish. Viewers will see fetuses aborted at 10, 11 and 21 weeks.
In a press release from Channel 4, a spokeswoman for the network said the film uses the images of the abortion procedure in the context of a wider discussion about the fierce debate between pro-life and pro-choice groups.
"Television images of an abortion, disturbing and repulsive as they undoubtedly would be, could prove a powerful anti-abortion message, highlighting the full horror of abortion,” said Archbishop Peter Smith in a written statement. “The truth of what is being done out of the public gaze is the true scandal of abortion. Every day in England and Wales there are 481 abortions on average."